When are legal questions on-topic?

Question

This answer from early in the private beta argues that legal questions should generally be off-topic, giving the following examples:

• Is keeping pet x in jurisdiction y illegal?
• What permits do I need for pet x?
• My dog bit someone, am I gonna be sued?

Since then we've reached some concensus that for medical questions the topic is more nuanced; specific, localized questions aren't a good fit, but there are all sorts of other questions that would be on-topic (see here). And today Chad wrote:

Why are legal questions off topic? I understand not allowing questions that ask does X law apply to my problem being off topic. But general legal questions should be answerable. Especially questions on importing and exporting pets, the use of medications, and any other that do not have hyper local answers. Do I need a licence is hyper local because it is going to vary by county and city sometimes in the US, and I suspect other places. But In the US where should I go to find out about licencing requirements? should be on topic.

So, how do we feel about legal questions? If some are on-topic and some off-topic, how do we characterize the difference?

Answer 1

I've always been uncomfortable with these all-out moratoriums against anything that brushes up against so-called "legal questions." If I want to know if it's okay to capture Bald Eagles for pets, there's an answer; and we — even as mere non-lawyerly citizens — are perfectly capable of discussing such issues.

That's a far cry from asking what to do (legally) if my dog bites someone. That type of highly situation-dependent, custom legal advice is only appropriate coming from a lawyer that can look at your case specifically. But "what permits do I need for pet {x}?" … or "is keeping pet {x} legal?" … I think those are perfectly appropriate, given enough information to answer the question.

And before someone argues "but jurisdictions differ… and laws can change", that's true for a lot of issues you can ask about on any of these sites. Yes, answers can change, and good advice can vary based on your specific circumstances. But that's why we describe how to ask complete, well-considered questions… and offer wiki-style editing and voting as the best answers change over time and expertise.

I just don't see the need of getting too worked up over these questions. I believe a conscientious community will just know when to say "we're not comfortable answering this question" without codifying a knee-jerk moratorium whenever anyone dares mention an issue law or a legal issue.

Answer 2

Questions asking for facts about the law reguarding pets should be on topic.

For example:

• What would I need to do in order to legally import a Capuchin monkey to the US?
• What is the legal status of ferrets in the United States?
• How would I find out about licencing requirements for my pet Skunk?
• Are there any cage size requirements for Rabbits in the UK?

Questions asking about applications the law should be off topic.

For example:

• I have had a pet Oranatange since 1980. Do changes to the endangered species act affect me?
• My neighbor's dog likes to play in my yard, can I be sued if he gets?
• My dog destroy something on my neighbors property. Do I have a legal obligation to inform then neighbor it was my dog that did it?
• Can I sell my goats milk to my neighbors?

Questions that are hyper-local should also be off topic because the rules and governing bodies change to regularly:

• Where do I go to get a dog licence in Los Angeles?
• Am I required to get a parvo vaccination in (insert small town here)?
• What are the regulations reguarding keeping Chickens inside the City Limits of Chicago?

Keeping the answers to these questions updated is going to be very difficult and we are likely to end up with alot of out dated answers which will degrade the quality of the site.

These questions can be saved by changing them to ask How do I find out... ie:

• How can I find out where to get a dog licence in Los Angeles?

These questions are useful and while the exact place to look in LA may be different than NY I suspect if you start at that place in NY you will get to where you want to go eventually making the question useful.