But They Didn't Read Me My Rights! - Myths, Oddities, and Lies About Our Legal System (Paperback)

Do the police have to read you your rights when they arrest you? Can you get charged with drunk driving if you weren't even driving the car? Do contracts have to be in writing to be enforceable? If you break up with your fiance, can you keep the ring? Do you have to pass the bar exam to become a lawyer? As the above questions illustrate, we live in a society where the law affects nearly every aspect of our lives. Unfortunately, much of what we think we know about the law is actually a myth or misconception. But this book debunks many of those myths and misconceptions by providing an entertaining yet educational tour of our American legal system, including its many oddities. In the process, the book answers some of the most interesting legal questions about some of our most important, fascinating, and surprising laws in an array of areas. For example, the police definitely do not have to read you your rights when they arrest you; in fact, sometimes they can even interrogate you without reading you your rights. Moreover, you can be charged and convicted of drunk driving for just turning the key, even if you never drive the car or even start the engine While some contracts do have to be in writing to be enforceable, most don't. The authors explain why. Depending on the state in which you live, you might be able to keep the ring if you break it off with your fiance. And finally, you don't always have to pass the bar exam to become a lawyer; in fact, in some states, you don't even have to go to law school Whether devotees of Law and Order, CSI, or Judge Judy, readers will discover much more about the law than they already knew--or thought they knew. Written in a lively, appealing style, the book is composed of self-contained chapters, each addressing a distinct legal myth, oddity, question, or misconception. Select your favorite topic or enjoy the authors' witty and very informative discussion of the law cover-to-cover. Either way, you are assured of being entertained, enlightened, and surprised