toothless law

toothless law

An official law or rule that cannot actually be enforced in a meaningful way. The county recently passed a controversial smoking ban, but it's a toothless law, as they have not included any fines or punishments for those who violate it. The international mandate on recycling has long been a toothless law, relying on the honest efforts of its participants with little in the way of restrictions or disincentives.

See also: law, toothless

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