Guilty by association
Guilty By Association can be problematic. If you associate with people specially during travel or vacation who aren’t trustworthy, you may regret it later. There may even be legal consequences.
Right to travel is a fundamental right of an individual. You can travel to any place in the world and it’s up to you to decide the place. But when you travel you meet different groups of travellers, solo travellers and also local people. You must keep a close eye on people whom you are creating an association with. You should be mindful that “Association” during travel should not end up in “Guilt By Association“.
Also Read: https://nomadlawyer.org/travel-scams-how-to-avoid-these-tourist-traps/
What Is Guilty By Association?
Guilt refers to a feeling of having done something bad or a perception that you did something wrong. Guilt by association means that you personally didn’t really do something wrong but that people who you are associated with did. You are judged by the company you keep, so you can be viewed as guilty because of your association with wrongdoers
Why Is Guilty For Association Important During Travel?
All humans have the desire to belong and this is especially true when you are at a new place for a long stay. At some point, most people will likely join a group, class, or club where they can meet other like-minded people. If you’re a member of an organization, it’s important to consider the quality of the people in this group. For better or worse, humans are at least partially judged by the people they associate with.
Don’t Hide Or Help
The way an individual normally becomes an accessory to a crime is by taking steps to hide evidence of the crime, or helping the perpetrator in carrying out the crime. Whether the friend had “good” intentions in helping his friend, or whether he claims not to have known what his friend was truly doing, neither of these explanations tends to function as a solid legal defense in the field of criminal law.
For instance, imagine that Person A drives to a drug store with Person B, shoplifts, and returns to their car where their friend is waiting for them. If Person B then drives off with Person A in the car, he or she could be viewed as an accessory to Person A’s robbery, whether Person B knew about it or not. It’s still quite a slippery slope that could go either way. For this reason, it’s important to vet your friends and trust your instincts.
Furthermore, guilt by association applies in drug crimes. People who sell or deal drugs, stash drugs in their homes or cars, provide money for the purchase of drugs, or even help a drug offender hide from law enforcement, open themselves up to being charged as accessories to a drug crime. If the accused accessory was truly unaware of the crime, they may be free of all charges. However, it may be difficult to prove their ignorance.
Making Friends During Vacation
Making and keeping friends is an important part of wellness. Our connections can impact us positively or negatively. During travel and vacation the opportunity to meet different people increases manifold and hence, we should be aware of the situation and try to understand what people around you are doing. If we see or sense anything is not legal try to refrain from doing it and abstain yourself from being part of such groups.
Use Of Social Media During Travel May Lead To Guilt Of Association
In today’s environment of global internet, instant communication and leveraged social media, you must consider rapidly emerging risks and unintentional consequences surrounding the endorsement of individuals or companies without first doing your own reference check.
Is Guilty By Association Fair
Over the years, there have been many debates regarding the fairness of the association fallacy. Some people argue that guilt by association is completely fair, especially if we assume that people tend to surround themselves with people who are similar to them. However, arguments that oppose guilt by association affirm that only individuals are accountable for their actions. No matter which side of the debate resonates with you, it’s a good idea to choose friends carefully because guilt by association can have life-impacting consequences.
Guilty By Association: Legal Ramifications
The association fallacy is applicable in real life because it’s a valid principle in the legal and criminal justice system. Although each case and situation varies according to the circumstances and the individuals involved, there are many scenarios where people can be (and have been) held accountable for the actions of their connections, even if they did not break the law.
Proper Due Diligence
It is always very important to do proper due diligence of the person or a group of people with whom you are forming an affiliation or association. This is especially true when you are travelling or on a vacation because you are not sure about the laws of the land and may end up receiving punishment in a foreign land. Travelling or vacation is generally taken for relaxation and learning or knowing about the place and no one wants to be in a soup during travel.
This blog is to create awareness but the ball is always in your court to protect yourself.
Please note- this blog constitutes personal opinion of the writer and would request the readers not to construe it as legal opinion.
Travel Laws By NomadLawyer- Ignore At Your Peril.
No one wants to be Banged Up Abroad. Research the local laws of your destination before traveling abroad.
An important and often overlooked part of travel preparation is to review the local laws of your destination. When you travel to a different country, you are subject to that country’s laws. Even if you unknowingly break those laws, you may be held responsible and pay the penalties.
NomadLawyer’s Travel Laws section covers the basics insight on local laws, consumer rules and rights pertaining to travel so that you can be prepared the next time you book a plane ticket or hotel room.
In this section, you can find articles on travel related laws of a place and unique or weird rules a traveler must follow.