How can I stop being constantly afraid of the law?

[hewlett]

Recently I got in trouble for a stupid thing I did in college, but I was able to get the case dismissed in the end. Anyways though, I have been soooo afraid of the law recently because before the thing that I did I had never done anything illegal or gotten any type of ticket from a cop before. I'm a 19 year old caucasian girl and I feel like the cops that I encountered wanted to make me feel as scared as possible, so they gave me the harshest punishment that they could.

I am just frustrated because I have always thought that cops were out there to protect us and not there to just try to feel more powerful than everyone. I now feel like they are all around me and that I can get in trouble for ANYTHING if i get on their bad side. I also feel like it's so easy to break the law and end up with a misdemeanor (aka a criminal record) if you do something like accidentally walk out of a store holding something that you didn't pay for (something I once did on accident but i wasn't caught and I ran back in with it because I didn't I realize I was holding it til I left), being in the car with a friend who has an open container of alcohol sitting in their car that you didn't know about, or just accidentally committing a crime that you might not even know exists. I feel like it's so easy to get in trouble and I am so scared!!! How can I relax? I don't know what to do!

[pete]

Stop breaking laws.

[tonibraxton]

Try to follow the rules. But even you break one accidentally, don't freak out but be brave and try to correct your mistake. And even if the cops get you, stand up to them and tell them it was a mistake and that you will correct it.
You are right, cops are there for your protection and are your friends, nothing else.

[hawiovi]

Through my late teens and twenties I had the same feelings that you are having now. I realized that I was more concerned with a run-in with a cop then I was about the potential of being robbed or being a victim of a crime. I think your concern is mostly well founded and therefore you are maturing and understanding how the world works. Ignorance is bliss, right? I think that you just need to be at peace with yourself and try to do the best you can. You can be responsible for your actions and decisions as to who you hang out with and who you don't. I certainly could have been arrested plenty of times and by the grace of God I wasn't. But I also avoided blatantly stupid behavior.