Differentiate between a RULE and A LAW?

Question

One can be penalised for either infringement . I was of the opinion that a law was for everyone in the country to follow whereas a Rule can be just localised. So every box Junction infringement is breaking a LAW or a Local rule ? If it is a law then size and layout should relate to the width and the road links from it. I would love to hear your views .

Answer 1

Rules can be broken, Laws cannot?

Answer 2

A law is a type of rule, a special one passed by parliament, that it is a criminal offense to break.  

Anyone can write rules, from members of a household, to a club, to a local council.  

Answer 3

A good question!A law is decided by Parliament,EC and judges Rulings!A rule has been decided by people themselves for convenience and safety's sake!Such as waiting in an ordinary line of first come first served! Such as in a Super Market queue or waiting in a bus queue!No law says you have to do this!

Answer 4

Laws are a set of rules - but not all rules are laws.  It depends on the authority that backs the law or rule up.  Justice is the exercise of authority in the pursuance of right.

The rules that it enforces are rules laid down by an Act of Parliament which are then enforced by the Judiciary and Police.  These are the Nation's laws.  

Unfortunately during the last ten years in the UK Parliament has implemented so many new 'laws' or in this case prohibitions that neither the Police or legal profession has much of a grip what they are now.  This, and the fact these rules always have a cash value to the exchequer, has created a culture of contempt for the law.  

Answer 5

Crudely put, a law is something laid down by authority, either a law passed by Parliament or a bye-law passed by a body authorised to do so by Parliament, such as local authorities, harbour authorities etc. It can be enforced by legal processes.

A rule can be created, for instance, by your employer in the terms and conditions of employment and enforced under those terms. Or by, f'rinstance, a club under their terms of membership and, again, enforced under those terms. You cannot make up your own rules for the public at large, I'm afraid.  Sorry.

Answer 6

a rule will get you penalised from what ever it is, and a law would get you convicted. A road law is a technical offence, rather than criminal (unless you are talking about the more serious offences).

Answer 7

Don't think your opening sentence is quite accurate. It depends on the nature of the rule. The word "rule" has a number of meanings and in general describes some principle of routine behaviour which groups or individuals follow. You can have rules "of law" but the difference between a simple rule and a law is that the simple rule does not involve legal sanction. Lawyers distinguish between "substantive" and "procedural" (rules of) law.

It is substantive law that a motorist cannot enter a box junction if the exit is blocked. There is also procedural law regulating the design and siting etc. of box junctions. The difference is that you can be nicked for stopping in a box junction but the Highways Authority cannot be charged with building a box junction which does not comply with  design rules. However if you stop in box which does not comply with the design rules no offence is committed as the box junction is not really a box junction in law.