Minor Offenses: A Threat to Social Order

¨How could someone commit a crime like that? I would never do that, I’m the perfect citizen!” Says the American as they throw their cup out the car window, turn up the car radio to a ear tearing volume, and push on the gas pedal, not caring about the highway patrol waiting just ahead. Frank Trippett in his excerpt “A Red Light for Scofflaws” argues that when law-abiding citizens start committing petty crimes like littering or speeding that they are shaking the foundations of social order. Trippett supports his argument by saying that these “minor laws” are meant to protect and nourish society. He continues by calling out these “law-abiding citizens”and saying that theyŕe wrong for thinking violent crime is the only threat to law-and-order. The author’s

purpose is to remind every American that a crime is still a crime, no matter what it is. The author presents a critical tone for an average American audience, those who break laws almost everyday. The law does not have exceptions, they cannot be undermined because they are not considered violent or life-threatening, all laws should be treated equally and should always be followed if society wishes to stay intact.
Those who would disagree with Trippett’s argument would claim that if all the laws were treated the same, the country would have higher jail populations and many people would have “felon” listed on their record for their whole lives. Though it is true that the population would rise from the already too high amount, we can just make exceptions to what laws can and cannot be incriminating enough. The country shouldn’t have to ask “Should we let this person go, I mean they only littered and went over the speed limit by about 30 mph, it’s not like they killed anyone. Compared to this other person who was found with a small baggie of marijuana, give them 20 years in a federal penitentiary!΅ Maybe not all crimes should be treated equal like rape and murder, but crimes like drug possession and excessive speeding go hand-in-hand. An American should lose their freedom for 20 years over drug possession while another citizen only pays a measly fine because they nearly ran over a kid. Society cannot function if it’s constantly comparing crimes and deciding which is worse because the bar is set so high that no one is treated fairly and there is no justice.
Laws, minor or big, help keep our society in order and make life livable.

I was in a major car accident in 2008 with my mom, hit head on by a drunk driver that was going 60 miles over the speed limit. I had just come back from summer camp and was excited to see my mom after so long, we went out to buy ice cube trays. We drove through the under pass when suddenly a big black SUV came barreling down our side of the road, there was no stopping it. My mom did the first thing she could think of and threw herself in front of me, she saved my life. She received most of the injuries: both legs smashed, half her ribs broken, neck slashed with seatbelt burns causing lifetime whiplash. The man who his us drove off and was never charged with the crime because he was a El Cajon Sheriff. He got a slap on the wrist while my mother laid on a hospital bed for 6 months, unable to walk. This “minor crime” cost my mom her health and constantly reminds me that laws are always equal and should always have consequences. If everyone was able to just get a fine or a small reprimand every time they cost someone their health in an accident society would be chaotic, no one would ever take blame for their actions more lives would be

affected.
Having a society with unequal punishments for crimes is a society that will eventually crumble and fail. There can be no exceptions to how minor a crime is, a crime is a crime and anyone affected should be able to have justice and not worry if the government will let a little petty crime go because they can not afford another prisoner or they think it is a crime that can easily be buried away with if they pay the victims. A society should be equal in everything.