A Red Light For Scofflaws Summary

You can break the law in many ways, even when you do not recognize that you are doing it. Frank Trippett, in his passage “A Red Light for Scofflaws” claims that Americans believe that law-and-order is threatened by things such as violent and major crimes, he believes that the foundations of social order is shaken when citizens do not take the law seriously. Trippet supports his argument by first describing the actions that citizens take to not pay enough attention to the law. He gives evidence of the crimes that people commit in order to make people aware of how easily the law is broken, and how it does not register in their minds. The author creates a serious, factual tone and presents it to the people that do not recognize the things that they do to break the law. Imitating a scofflaw is something that citizens do not realize that they are doing, therefore they only pay close attention to the laws that are considered “major” crimes. Some citizens know what they are doing, and know they they are being a scofflaw. Many people believe that they can do things, and not get …show more content…
This can also be caused by the thought that you are too cool to follow and obey the law. For example, “You’re a fool if you obey the rules.” (Trippet). Most teenagers, and some adults think that if others do not follow the rules, then they should not either, it is the case of leading and following. For example, my brother attended Santana High School, the rules for Santana are that you can not skateboard on the campus. My brother saw his friends skateboarding in the parking lot after their swim meet, and he joined them. H is considered a follower. He did not think about what he was doing, he did it because his friends were doing it too. Even when he thought he wasn't gonna get caught he did, and got his skateboard taken away by the cops. The minor laws are always accounted for, when being stopped by an