TABLE1 Characteristics and examples of effective laws Criteria Description
Examples
• Designated smoking areas and smoking bans reflect changing values in relation to the harmful health effects of smoking.
Reflect society’s values
People are more likely to follow laws that reflect the values of their society.
• In Victoria it is illegal to harness a goat or dog to a vehicle and drive it through a public place. • People will have different ideas about the meaning of public place.
Be clear and understood
The law must be written in a way that makes it easy for people to understand.
• Advertising campaigns for mask- wearing and vaccination • 40 km/h school zones, mobile phone bans
Beknown
People cannot obey the law if they do not know about it. However, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Individuals are expected to know the laws that are relevant to them.
• Laws typically do not change often and the government uses the media to conduct education campaigns.
Be relatively stable
If laws were constantly changing people would have difficulty understanding and keeping up with changes.
• Modern technology such as speed cameras make traffic offences easier todetect. • On the other hand, anti-piracy laws are more difficult to enforce as new methods of using the internet for illegal downloads are developed.
Be enforceable
Effective laws can be enforced. This does not mean that all breaches will be detected and offenders punished. It means that it is possible to catch those who break the law.
528 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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