The sentence 'can't just run around doing whatever they want' doesn't make sense to me. I mean there's some rules to follow but not laws. And different areas have different rules.
So pre-war Midwest? I have no idea about any of that. I've been in the Capital Wastes my whole life. I've heard of the Commonwealth but I've never been. It's further North of my territory and I haven't needed a reason to go. It's possible though.