You've got the right? It might be hard to believe you have any rights at all when you can get totally grounded for something your little brother did. Brutal. But teens do have rights, and here are some you should know about.

The days of chugging Pepsi from a school vending machine are probably gone. And remember when boys used to wear low-ridin' pants that fell to their knees? Seems teens have less and less rights--and not just at school. But can a teacher give you a pat-down any time she feels like it? Can you be forced to take a drug test if a school official thinks you're a little too happy? Is your locker truly your locker? While laws and policies differ from state to state (and school to school), it's crucial to know how to protect yourself if a line is crossed.

You're at the mall and have just finished drooling over those Ray-Bans you can't afford. You walk out of the store, and a security officer approaches you and says, "Come with me." Excuse me? You were just looking--no crime there, right? What should you do?

Many stores have security staff, but laws vary in each state as to what they can do. Some have a relaxed law stating that if personnel believe you've shoplifted, they can hold you for a short time to recover stolen merchandise. Other states are stricter--before you can be stopped, store personnel must 1) have seen you hide the merch or leave without paying for it and 2) approach you outside of the store. If they don't follow those rules, they could be liable for a bevy of violations. To find out exactly what the law is where you live, contact the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in your state for a clue-in. Best advice if you are innocent-yet-busted? Calmly, tell the security officer you haven't stolen anything and that you are leaving. If he or she tries to physically take you somewhere, tell him not to touch you and that you will wait outside the store until the police arrive. Don't wait in a private office where there are no witnesses--and a greater possibility of having your rights violated.

Big announcement at practice: Everyone on your softball team is going to be drug-tested. Oh, goody. A urine sample! Even though you've never touched anything harder than Red Bull, you feel weird about going wee-wee for the coach. Isn't that an invasion of privacy?

Eek! Scary to think a teacher, principal or coach can make you pee in a cup. Although most schools do not allow drug testing, it is legal if there is suspicion a student is using. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that school officials are allowed to give random urine tests to students involved in athletics or other voluntary extracurricular activities. The idea is to deter kids from using illegal substances. The court figured invasion of privacy--uh, like peeing on demand--wasn't that great considering the risk. After all, kids are subjected to routine vaccinations and physicals so ... what's the biggie? Even more fun is the fact that your parents can also test you for drugs, alcohol or tobacco if they desire. "Hey, mom, what's up?" "Oh, a urine sample, honey!"

Your least fave person in the world has had her purse swiped, and someone claims you did it. But you're totally innocent! The vice principal calls you in to tall you your locker will be searched pronto. Hey, can they do that?

Even if another student unfairly fingers you as a thief, school officials can rifle through your locker. Under the law, they only need a reasonable suspicion that they'll find something in your locker that is against the law or school rules. Many school policies go even farther, allowing searches of your locker at any time simply because they own your locker. So if you don't want to chance anyone catching a glimpse of your embarrassing collection of bare-chested Orlando Bloom photos--or anything else that would ruin your chances of running for class prez--leave 'em at home. It's also good to be aware that you can have your pockets, backpack and lunch bag searched at any time if a teacher suspects you're carrying something illegal or in violation of school rules, such as cigarettes.

Just about everyone heads for the corner store for some munchies after school. One day, you notice a new sign in the window: "Only one student at a time." Hey, isn't that discrimination?

Stand in line. It's usually legal. Shop owners have the right to limit the number of students in a store in order to deter shoplifting. It would be discrimination if students were considered a "protected class" based on ethnicity, sex or age. You'd think being a student implies you're a certain age and therefore protected from age discrimination. Depends on your slate. Seven states do consider those signs to be discriminatory.

You went to a party last weekend, and things got way outta control, When some kids were seen throwing back some brewskies in the yard, the cops came and Immediately shut down the party, Just when you thought it was history, you get called into the principal's office and told that you and the other party-goers will not be allowed to attend any school events for the rest of the yaar! Can your school tell you what you can and cannot do even when you're net at school?

As Big Brother as it seems, some schools do have policies that anything illegal you do outside of school--like smoking, drinking or doing drugs--can be punishable by school officials. Ouch! Sounds like your school administration is sticking its nose into your private life? It sure is, and the legality of those policies are being argued in courts across the nation by kids and parents who feel schools have gone way too far. Fortunately, most schools have a less harsh policy whereby they are not allowed to control kids' off-campus activities--unless it happens during school hours, at a school-sponsored event, or while a student is traveling to or from school.

Still, many schools continue to base such policies on the notion that any student involved in an extracurricular activity, like baseball or chess club, is an ambassador and role model for the school. As a result, if those kids screw up, even off campus, they can be prohibited from those activities. If you are banned from all school events just because you were at a party where other kids were drinking, your school is skating on thin ice. You have rights under the U.S. Constitution, and one of them is the right to due process. Basically, that means that you must be adequately notified of charges against you, given the opportunity to be heard, informed of the evidence and allowed to have witnesses. If the school doesn't give you this opportunity, they could be violating your rights. What to do? If your school refuses you the right to clue process, call the ACLU in your state for advice on how to proceed.

It's a steamin' hot day and you can't wait to hit the vending machines at lunch for a nice, cold Coke. When you notice the machines have vanished, a teacher tells you sodas are no longer allowed at school. Can the school actually dictate what you can and can't eat or drink?

It is totally legal for schools to have a policy against soda on campus. States and school districts can ban not just sodas, but gum, candy and all junk food--even Ding-Dongs--from school. In fact, if you live in Maine or Texas, you probably haven't seen a Ho-Ho around campus in years. The argument is that not only are those foods bad for you, but they're causing obesity among America's Kids. Bummer--but legal. Save it for your after-school snack attack.

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BREAKING NEWS: If you go to public high school in District 128 of Illinois, you'll have to sign a pledge if you want to join band or chess club. No, this is not the Pledge of Allegiance--it's an agreement stating that school officials can discipline any student who takes part in extracurriculars if evidence is found on the Internet that he or she has exhibited "illegal or inappropriate" behavior. The rule--which got a unanimous vote from board members--takes effect the first of this school year. Many parents feel it's not OK for the school to monitor their children's off-campus activities, while school officials argue that there's no such thing as invasion of privacy if it's up on the Web for the world to see. We're not advocates for anything illegal, but it is possible for the word "inappropriate" to be construed umpteen ways--so careful what you post on your MySpace page.

THEY CAN DO THAT?!?

You know that boring-looking school handbook? Read it! It spells out all your rights and could save you a lot of headaches. And while campus rules vary from each school, here are some doozies!

Schools can prohibit you from bringing your cell phone, iPods or any other electronic instrument to school. Some schools allow them to be kept in your locker, but many others will confiscate them.

You can be ticketed by the police if you are caught off-campus during school hours.

The handbook of the Milan Middle School in Tennessee states that no "unnatural" hair color is allowed at school! So purple is out of the question?

Broadhead Middle School in Wisconsin prohibits kicking snow in the schoolyard.

The Marcy Open School in Minneapolis, Minn., says "no" to sunflower seeds. Seriously.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARK POUTENIS