These Movie-Inspired Romantic Gestures Could Land You in Jail

Sometimes it seems like people who fall in love simultaneously lose their grip on what can end up landing them in big legal trouble. Their irrational or impulsive acts, often inspired by famous movie scenes, are meant to be grandly romantic gestures—so they're understandably shocked to realize that they've just committed a crime that's going to damage their lives from that point forward.

Here are three romantic gestures that can result in criminal charges:

1.) Running through airport security for a kiss.

Blame this idea on everything from 1980s-era teen romance movies like Sixteen Candles to the 2003 movie Love Actually. In fact, the idea of a romantic kiss prior to takeoff may go all the way back to that famous scene in Casablanca.

However, these days, running past security (or otherwise dodging it) in an airport is going to get you arrested and interrogated on suspicion of terrorism. It's probably also going to cost the airline a great deal of money. The immediate reaction to a security breach is to shut down all flights until everything is inspected and secured.

A real-life romantic overture in 2010 by a man in New Jersey netted the culprit community service and a fine—and also inspired some serious revisions in the law. Jumping the airport line for a quick, last-minute kiss with your beloved today could cost you up to 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

2.) A romantic rendezvous on the beach.

Many people find the ocean and an empty beach to be romantic. Hollywood set the stage for the beach as an idyllic place for a romantic rendezvous more than 60 years ago, in the movie From Here To Eternity. Countless other movies from The Blue Lagoon to The Thorn Birds have followed suit.

In real life, however, public nudity and sex on the beach can result in a jail sentence and a lifetime on a sex-offender registry. For example, a Florida couple were found guilty of a lewd and lascivious exhibition charge after they were caught in a sexual act on a family beach. They could have each faced 15 years in prison. Ultimately, the woman was given time served and the man sentenced to 2 ½ years (because he had a prior criminal record), but both are now registered sex offenders for life.

3.) Secretly watching the person you love.

What some people call persistence and protectiveness, other people call stalking and a reason for a restraining order. While thousands of adolescent girls thought it was romantic for hero Edward to sneak into heroine Bella's bedroom at night in the movie Twilight, in real life that will get you arrested—quickly.

Following someone around without their consent (or refusing to stop if they're aware) is considered stalking. In most states, that's a felony. Penalties can include hefty fines and jail time of up to five years, depending on the circumstances. If you decide to do something even more drastic (like sneak into their home, even if it is just to leave a bouquet of roses), the charges could also include things like breaking and entering.

If you've made a romantic gesture that somehow went awry and you're now facing criminal charges, contact a criminal lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case.

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