Well..... I'd liken it more to a pet, in the eyes of the city? They may not be well-enforced, but you are meant to have some protections and freedom of choice; the ideals behind the system are far kinder than its execution tends to be.

I'd say the best thing you can do is take your time and find someone you can really trust; you have three months to pick a contract partner, after all. Most things you can take care of just by making friends with a Dominant and asking them to accompany you on errands, but you're temporarily putting your life into someone else's hands when you sign a contract with them.

Even beyond your safety, they can make your life a lot easier, too. They might not be able to defy the city's laws, but if they care about you and your happiness, they can write things into your contract that you usually wouldn't be allowed.