What does it mean to obey the law That 1 where you are. Different cultures have very different views of obeying the law. In some cultures, law-abiding citizens try to keep the letter of the law. That is, whatever the law says, they do. In other cultures, good citizens live by the 2 of the law. They see the law only as a general 3 . Often they obey the law only when someone official is looking. The situation in America fits into the first 4 . That doesn"t mean all Americans keep the law. But American culture teaches people to respect the law—even to the smallest detail.Driving habits 5 American respect for the law. A driver will usually stop for a red light, even when there are no other cars around. People treat the lines marking streets and roads as 6 boundaries, not just decorations. Vehicles yield to those with the right of way—particularly pedestrians. Actually, though, drivers don"t always keep traffic rules. For example, many drivers 7 freeway speed limits. But Americans generally drive with careful attention to the traffic rules.Of course, not everyone in America abides by the law. Crime is a growing problem. For that reason, law enforcement officials will never 8 a job. Police officers have their hands full trying to arrest lawbreakers. Detective agencies spend countless hours trying to 9 unsolved crimes. Nevertheless, most Americans still like to believe that the law will 10 catch the bad guys.