WHY ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ IS AGAINST LAW
(' Millions flouting rules
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BRITS are regularly breaking the law without realising it.
The average person commits 32 offences every year, with singing Happy Birthday in a restaurant the biggest clanger.
Nearly half of us admitted doing it. But the song is actually copyrighted by firm Warner/Chappell, meaning anyone caught singing it in public without paying for the privilege could be sued.
Another common “crime” is vacuuming early in the morning or late at night. It can breach environmental health laws if carried ® out between 6pm and 8am on a weekday or between 1pm and 8am at the weekend.
If found to exceed noise levels, offenders can be fined and even prosecuted for repeated breaches.
Parking on a pavement, even outside your own house, is illegal in some other parts of the UK – with offenders facing £70 fines if caught.
Other common offences include drinking under the age of 18, swearing at other road users and eating while driving. But despite the vast majority of people falling foul of the law, 98% of us consider ourselves law-abiding, according to research by BT TV.
The majority of people think many of these laws are unnecessary.
Nearly 85% are confused about what is and isn’t illegal and more than one in 10 claim they didn’t realise they were committing a crime.
And although most Brits break the law, 60% of us get annoyed when we see others doing the same.