2006-10-12 13:31:46 · 16 answers · asked by Bont11 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Sorry mate!! I heard this one before....
One's a sick bird, the others against the law.
2006-10-12 13:55:19 · answer #1 · answered by shuey71 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unlawful generally relates to civil law, whereas illegal generally concerns criminal law. Examples: 1. Under civil tort law, a plaintiff may sue for unlawful private nuisance if a defendant neighbor burns tires in his/her suburban backyard. 2. Under the Penal Code, it is illegal to burn tires anywhere within State boundaries, without first obtaining an license from the State Environmental Protection Agency. A reasonably survey of appellate court case law opinions will quickly demonstrate that judges rarely associate "unlawful" in a criminal law opinion, and never use "illegal" when writing a civil law opinion. So, contrary to what Madison posts above, it's not the general public that necessarily distinguishes between the two words, but rather it is the courts that do so routinely.
2016-05-21 21:38:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illegal is when it's against the Law,
Unlawful is when it's against civil law.
I.E. If you break into a house to squat it is illegal and you can be prosecuted and fined/jailed but if you walk in through a open door or climb through an open window it is unlawful and you can only be removed by a civil court.
2006-10-12 13:40:05 · answer #3 · answered by Kyle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3 to 10 years
2006-10-12 13:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the difference is certain things that are illegal can get in major trouble like drugs and unlawful is like having a brake lite out or something silly like that for example speeding is unlawful and weed is illegal.
2006-10-12 13:35:23 · answer #5 · answered by Angel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unlawful relates to an action whereby a law is broken. Illegal is a sick bird.
2006-10-12 13:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by kamaole3 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is illegal it is against the law. If it is unlawful, then a law has been broken.
2006-10-12 13:38:14 · answer #7 · answered by firewomen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In every day usage, nothing. Correctly speaking, an act is either lawful or unlawful.
2006-10-12 14:16:35 · answer #8 · answered by tyrsson58 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a whole lot , when you get busted I bet they would like you to ask them that question. If it's unlawaful it's against the law...illegal means it's not legal. It's just terminology. Un means against....il means the opposite of. It's just two ways of saying the same thing. They're both wrong and will get you in trouble if you're caught.
2006-10-12 13:43:47 · answer #9 · answered by MISS-MARY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no difference. The more artful term in the legal context is "unlawful," though.
2006-10-12 13:40:22 · answer #10 · answered by mike225 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illegal means they will do you for it Unlawful means they won't dare.
2006-10-12 13:47:27 · answer #11 · answered by DGR 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋