Things New Visitors/Residents Should Never Do in the US

If you've grown up somewhere long enough, you know how things will work. You know what the weather is like, the laws, traditions, customs and more. But if you're not from that area, things can seem odd, especially if you're a visitor from another country. Here are things that visitors/residents should never do in the US.

1. No Trespassing

-This is obvious. For those unfamiliar with the term, it means do not go on someone else's property without permission from the owner. This is one of the most commonly broken laws in the US. NO TRESPASSING signs are usually posted on railroad tracks because you're not supposed to be there. Trains can come by at any time of day or night and kill those who are walking there. These signs are posted on abandoned buildings because of danger. And if you're caught by the local law enforcement, they will not hesitate to slap you with a fine, citation or even some time in the local law enforcement-owned bed and breakfast for trespassing. NO TRESPASSING signs are posted anywhere that you look where someone doesn't want people just walking around as if they own the place. If you come on to someone else's property with out permission, the homeowners could suspect you're up to no good

2. When you see red, white and blue in the rearview mirror, and you know it doesn't mean freedom, do not get out of your car to approach the officer who pulled you over

-Police officers are under constant threat. Especially when they pull someone over. As they approach the vehicle, they are unclear if that person is armed or what kind of person they pulled over. There have been many instances where police have pulled someone over only to get shot at by a vehicle with heavily tinted windows or by someone who failed to mention they were armed. The police officers in these situations, depending on the severity of the injury, either luckily live or tragically die. Or police pull someone over, wait until the officer is at their window and then take off. The officer then has to engage in a high speed chase while calling in for backup.

-The proper etiquette for dealing with the police in a just-got-pulled-over situation is to have license and registration out and ready, music turned down and hands visible. Basically make it easy on the officer; they're just trying to do their job. Also, if you do happen to be carrying a gun, have the permit stating you are licensed to carry out as well. Alert them and say "I do have a gun, here's my permit". Also, be nice. I know it's hard for some people, as they think getting pulled over is an inconvenience to their supposed "busy lives". But just be nice. The officers are just trying to do their job and enforce the law. If you behave nicely and even manage to make the officer laugh, it de-escalates the stressful situation and makes it a little better for the both of you. Just cooperate and be nice.

Depending on the jurisdiction in which you're pulled over, the lights may be blue and white, not red, white and blue. The blue and white lights are on a lot of the local police cars around me, like Delhi Twp, Fairfax, Blue Ash

3. Do not act like you went to law school and know every single law out there

-There are tons upon tons of idiots out there that claim they are Moorish-Americans, sovereign citizens, etc. This refers to the concept where they claim they are not subject to laws of the country they live in. This makes it hard for the legal system and law enforcement to do their jobs. Every state has different laws. For example, it's legal to buy marijuana in Colorado because it's legalized there. Here in Ohio, where I live, it's not been legalized for recreational use just yet. It's only legalized for medicinal use and you have to have a card signed by a doctor stating you need it. If you get caught with drugs anywhere, you'll be slapped with a possession charge. Don't act like you went to law school and know all the laws and know more about the law than the friendly local law enforcement. Those enforcers of the law may not have gone to law school, but they do know a lot more about the law than you!

4. Bribing police officers-NO!

-This isn't the 1940s and you're not Al Capone, "Trigger Mike" Coppola or any other number of mafiosos. Those guys bribed the police. Bribing the police today is a big, fat no-no! In some countries, you can pay your fines with the police right then and there, but it doesn't work like that in the US. If you get pulled over by the police and charged with something, you're going to pay the price for it, whether it be probation, prison/jail time or a fine/citation/ticket

5. Never underestimate the size of the country

-Some people think the US isn't that big. They are mistaken! There's no way you can visit multiple locations in the US in a week. That's a lot of flying or driving. Some states are so massive that you can be driving for 8+ hours and still never leave. Kentucky is like that and so is Florida. When I was a kid, I was convinced God was moving the state of Kentucky to make it seem bigger, like we'd never get out of it, because my father hated flying. He insisted on driving to Florida (big mistake when you are the driver and have a short fuse temper and two kids in the car afraid to make a noise out of fear of getting punished). The US is actually nearly 2x the size of Europe and some states are bigger than some countries

6. Border Patrol don't play around

-Whether you're crossing the border into Canada or Mexico, it doesn't matter the border. These patrols do not mess around. They have to be strict, especially south of the border. You just do what they ask, answer their questions truthfully and be respectful. They're just trying to do their jobs by enforcing the laws. The reason they ask so many questions, questions that might seem odd, is to gauge anything suspicious. If you're nervous, moving around a lot, looking around a lot and generally looking suspicious, then the border patrol is going to sense something is up and they will investigate. And their investigations can sometimes turn people people smuggling drugs, humans or even fruits and veggies which can introduce invasive species of insects to the environment. If you've ever seen any of those shows on National Geographic about smuggling, you'll know what other countries face on a daily basis with borders and even in the airports

7. Never urinate in public

-First of all, this is wrong. If you have to use the bathroom, find an actual bathroom and go there. At least you have privacy. Don't be "that person" who has had one too many drinks and can't hold it until you find white porcelain and then decide to let loose in public. In many cities and even countries, you can get arrested for that. It's called public urination.

8. "Ambulance" "Free" "Cheap" are three words that DO NOT belong in the same sentence

-A lot of people are convinced that rides to a medical center in an ambulance is free and cheap. It's not. In a lot of cities, neighborhoods and even townships, you get dinged with a bill charging you for ambulance services, even if it's a 10-20 minute ride. It's either Uber/Lyft/bus/cab it to the nearest hospital or begrudgingly pay the not just gross, but disgusting amount of money charged to you for the ride in an ambulance

9. Don't cheat the IRS-they will find out

-If you think for even one second that you can cheat the IRS and they'll never know? You are really playing with fire here and you are going to get third degree burns from it! Just pay your taxes and you'll be fine. If they audit you, it's probably because you made a slight mistake on it and they are trying to help you clear it up. Simply put, if you do make a mistake, they reach out to see what is going on. They will work with you to help clear the confusion and set things right. But if you do something massively wrong, like evade taxes like you're Al Capone and think you are exempt from taxes, they'll be at your door and on your phone in record time!

10. Arguing + Police = Big trouble

-First of all, don't be "that person" who argues with the police. You'll lose almost every time. They are simply trying to do their jobs and their jobs get harder when some jack knob wants to try and prove they're right when they're not! Even if the police are wrong, it will be cleared at a later time. Just be respectful and calm when talking to the officer. Police have enough to worry about as it is. When they pull people over, they never know what they're walking into. They could be walking towards someone with harmful intents in their mind, armed to the teeth, hoping to wound/kill a police officer or worse. So you can't blame officers for being on edge. And fighting just increases the tension they're under in addition to the tension you're under

11. Every part of the US is not the same

-Some assume that every part of the US is the same. No it's not. While most laws are city-wide, state-wide, some states don't have the same laws as others or they have slight variations on those laws. For example, in Colorado, the use of marijuana for recreational use is legal but is illegal in other states. Another example is that in the state of Nevada, the age of consent is 16. Which means if you had sexual intercourse with someone under 16, it's statutory rape. But if the person is over 16 and consented, no laws broken. Most major laws - gun laws, sale of alcohol laws, age of consent laws, labor laws - are the same in most states. But some states have different variations on those laws. Also, from one state to another, etiquette can also vary, just like the cost of living, the general lifestyle around, the sociopolitical views and the like. The US is incredibly diverse and unique in the sense that the differences between states is like night and day. Each state is unique and diverse and those who visit it once sometimes assume all states are the same. Some who visit Florida and witness the odd behavior there sometimes assume everyone in the US is like that. It's not. People don't call it "What the Florida?" for nothing

12. Underage drinking will get you in big league trouble

-In most countries, the legal drinking age is 18. That's not how it works in the US. In the US, the legal drinking age is 21. That's the thing I've never understood. At 18 in the US, you're old enough to enlist in the military, die for your country, buy tobacco and are generally considered an adult. But you can't legally drink until you're 21? That's messed up. Just because the legal drinking age is 18 in one country does not mean it's going to be the same everywhere you go.

-A good example here. The first time me and my sister went to Mexico, I was 21, she was 19. I was already of legal age to drink, but I'm not the heavy drinking type. I have to play bodyguard for my sister, who is built very well and keep "land sharks" away from her. About halfway into our flight, the stewardesses came by with drinks and food (by "food" I mean little piddly bags of pretzels that will hold you over for a second). My mom then told her, since she was sitting next to her "By the way, when we get to Mexico, you're legally allowed to drink!" My sister's eyes were as big as dinner plates. "WHAT? You mean I can legally go to the bar and order a drink and no one will question my age?" "Yes. The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18." Suddenly my sister's flight just got a whole lot more exciting. Sure enough, when we land, get to the hotel and changed into our swim gear, we go to the bar and my sister, without missing a beat, asks for a beer. You would have thought it beer from God's personal tap the way she enjoyed it. She had a smile the size of Texas on her face as she drank a cold beer, in a nice, cool water pool and she said "Oh, this is gonna be a goooooood vacation!"

13. Don't Stand So Close to Me

-Like the song by The Police, not everyone is comfortable with standing so close. Especially in this current day in age with the COVID virus still kicking everyone's butts and everyone preferring 6' of space between each other. Give some people personal space because that's just the thing to do

14. Fistfighting - Just Don't Do it

-First of all, it's idiotic to try and pick a fistfight with someone. You don't know if that person has serious fighting skills. You don't know if that person was in the military and was trained to fight or if they have multiple belts in martial arts. For all you know, you could walk up to some random person and pick a fight with them, thinking they're a pushover only for them to kick your butt Bruce Lee-style. In America, fistfighting carries legal charges. And it gets worse. The whole "one punch manslaughter" idea is real. Some think it can't happen. It can happen. All it takes is for someone to take a hit to the head, they fall, hit their head on something hard, like the pavement, a hydrant nearby or something hard enough to crack the skull and they either die instantly or end up in a coma as a vegetable due to brain bleeding. That will lead to manslaughter charges and some prison time. Or you could be on the receiving end of someone's fist. It only takes one wrong blow to the head and you'll be in a coma for life. The head is a specially sensitive part of your body. The hit to your head, depending on where, could turn you into a vegetable, could ruin your memory, all five senses and more. Basic rule - just don't fight!

15. How you forget your child is anyone's guess!

-This country always seems to have a never-ending rash of people leaving their kids in hot cars to die of heat exhaustion. And it's not just babies either. Dogs are victims of this too. People leave dogs in hot cars to die, conveniently "forgetting" about the dogs or kids. But, God forbid, they shouldn't forget their phone. They're more worried about their phone rather than the beautiful child they lovingly brought into this world or the cute dog they claim to love. And it's not just the "hot car" situation. People leave their kids unattended all the time, whether it be at the supermarket and other places. You'll get arrested and labelled unfit parents for doing that. In some Nordic countries, people leave their children outside in strollers thinking the good, clean mountain air will strengthen their immune system. You leave your child unattended here in the US and people will fry you on the six o'clock news. YOU will be their breaking news story.

16. Do not touch other people's cars

-I know this sounds like common sense, but just don't do it. If the owner of that car catches you, the first thought running through their head is the natural thought: "they're going to steal my car". In some countries, people will gently nudge a car to get into a tight space. Here in America, people are so overprotective of their cars it's like an additional body part. I know it's hard for Americans to realize, but not everyone is highly protective of their cars.

17. Do not drink alcohol in public

-If you're at an outdoor arena enjoying a sporting event or a concert, that's fine. If you're at a bar or restaurant with outdoor seating, that's fine. But if you're out walking around, openly drinking liquor and the local law enforcement catch you, that can land you in jail for open container and public drunkenness. It's illegal to drink in public here in the US. And some people will try and get around it by putting their liquor in to a container that is opaque. I have a great example. While riding the bus home from work one time, a gentleman got on the bus, carrying a thermos. He sat directly behind me and not two seconds later, I caught the wheaty aroma of beer. Being around three people who drink beer on the weekends, I recognize the smell. I went up and kindly alerted the driver to the fact that the most recent passenger who boarded is consuming alcohol. Needless to say, that passenger was asked to leave the bus. There are often designated spots that restaurants or businesses who sell liquor have designated as public drinking spots. This has become a thing in recent years. It's called DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area). This applies to any business that sells liquor. Customers must buy a specially designated cup for their drink and they can walk around with it. But the cup must say DORA on it. A lot of businesses make additional income from that. When the police see this, they are fine with that. They just better hope that those same people aren't behind the wheel later.

-But, if you intend to drive after all that booze, you may want to think twice. The police are always on high alert for drinking and driving, especially when major holidays are coming up, like Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, even Christmas and Thanksgiving. When holidays like that come up, the police are out in full force to catch any drunk drivers and warn all other motorists about "sobriety checks", which check for the drunkenness or sobriety of drivers. And if you are found guilty of OVI (operating a vehicle under the influence), DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), you can be pulled over and arrested. This doesn't just apply to alcohol either. If you're driving under the influence of meth, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, opium or others and you get pulled over, you can still be arrested for OVI, DUI.

-And if you get arrested for it more than five times, AND you live in the state of Ohio, you will be forced to get a special license plate and will be put on the Ohio DMV Habitual Offender List. It used to be called the Ohio DMV Habitual OVI List, but that's just a mouthful. So it was changed to the Ohio Habitual Offender List. Ohio is the ONLY state to have a special list of offenders who have been arrested 5+ times for OVI violations and requires its list members to get a special plate so that police, when they see them, know it's a Habitual Offender driving. Some say it's shaming drunk drivers; others say it's a safe way of knowing who's been hitting the bottle or narcotics hard and then taking a spin behind the wheel

My sister gets the biggest kick out of seeing these plates. To her, it's like seeing a Bigfoot or an alien