Sometimes you have to read people the Riot Act. And sometimes you have to read yourself the Riot Act. The Riot Act in English law was a law passed in 1715 that said if twelve or more people unlawfully assembled and disturbed the public peace, upon the reading of the Riot Act, they must disperse or they were liable for life imprisonment. One time an official read the Riot Act. But the people got off because he forgot to say "God save the king".