Many people think they know the law, however there are some laws that people might be breaking without realising.
One study found the average person commits 32 different 'crimes' every year in the UK.
It also said two thirds think many of these laws are unnecessary, with seven out of 10 people admitting to feeling guilty after breaking them, reports the Mirror.
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The study of 2,000 UK adults was carried out by OnePoll.
An example of one of these 'crimes' is singing 'Happy Birthday' in a restaurant, as it is technically an infringement of copyright because the song has been owned by a private company since 1988.
While swearing or gesturing at other motorists is also against the law, as is vacuuming after 6pm on a weekday and flying a kite in a park.
The 41 laws most of us break without realising are detailed below.
Some of the laws you could be breaking are very obscure.
A survey of 2,000 people in the UK, carried out on behalf of BT, found that 34 percent of people have sworn at or gestured to other road users, while 36 percent have vacuumed after 1pm at the weekend.
Only 5% did not realise they were committing a crime and 98 percent believe they are law abiding.
Across the UK, three in five (60%) respondents said it bothers them when they see others breaking the law – even if it’s something relatively small.
On average, UK adults spot people doing something they shouldn’t four times a day – although just 10% would ever confront the offender.
The offences that leave people frustrated when they see someone committing them include using a mobile phone while driving, people dropping litter and cycling through a red light..
Listed below is a total of 41 laws you could be breaking without realising:
- Sang Happy Birthday in a restaurant
- Drank alcohol under the age of 18
- Sworn or gestured to other road users
- Vacuumed between the hours of 6pm and 8am on a weekday or 1pm and 8am on a Saturday or Sunday
- Parked partly on a pavement
- Cycled on pavements
- Speeding whilst driving
- Beeped a horn for any reason other than alerting traffic
- Been drunk on the street, or in a pub or restaurant
- Eaten or drank whilst driving
- Pocketed change when given wrong amount
- Changed a CD whilst driving
- Had sex in a public place
- Bought cigarettes under the age of 18
- Dropped litter
- Taken illegal drugs
- Disturbed people by ringing their doorbells / knocking at their doors and leaving before being answered (or playing knock, knock, ginger - also known as known down ginger)
- Not worn a seatbelt during a car journey
- Flown a kite in a park
- Used a fake name on the internet
- Stuck a postage stamp upside down
- Used a mobile phone while driving
- Cycled without lights after dark
- Parked on double yellow lines
- Driven through a red light
- Not paid for a carrier bag at a self-service check-out
- Had sex when you were under 16 years of age
- Not had a TV licence and watched TV
- Used someone else's Wi-Fi without them knowing
- Smoked in a non-smoking area
- Thrown tree cuttings back over your neighbours' garden
- Claimed an item at the self-service till without paying for it
- Taken a child out of school for a holiday - without the head teacher's permission
- Not informed the DVLA of a change of name or address
- Not cleaned up after your dog has pooed on the street/public path
- Cycled through a red light
- Fiddled your expenses
- Sung or chanted a crude football chant in the street
- Gone fishing without a license
- Parked opposite a junction
- Put make-up on while driving
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