Legal Definitions - overinclusive

Definition: Overinclusive means that a law or regulation goes beyond what is necessary to solve a problem and affects more people than it was intended to.

Example: A law that requires all people to wear helmets while walking on the sidewalk would be overinclusive because it would burden people who are not at risk of head injuries, such as those who are walking in a quiet residential area.

Explanation: The example illustrates how an overinclusive law can burden more people than necessary. Requiring everyone to wear helmets while walking on the sidewalk is not necessary to protect those who are not at risk of head injuries. This law would be burdensome and inconvenient for many people who are not at risk of head injuries, making it overinclusive.