In Italy, a saying goes, “The world is beautiful because it’s full of variety,” even when that variety is just… plain weird.
Specifically, laws can be downright crazy. They’re meant to be a set of rules we all agree on because they just make sense, but sometimes things clearly get out of control. And we’re not just talking about weird laws in the US, despite them making up the majority of our list.
You’ll soon realize that making random things illegal is a worldwide habit. Like, who came up with a law forbidding people to ride a cow while drunk in Scotland? Or who’s that party pooper who made playing dominoes in Sevilla illegal? And these are just the tip of the “funny laws” iceberg you’re gonna uncover today.
We’re about to take a look at some of the weirdest laws from around the world that were actually passed by lawmakers. A lot of them are just plain funny, but others are so strange that we can’t even imagine how they came about.
And while some of these laws may have been long forgotten over time, they still stand as a testament to the fact that weirdness is alive and well in the world’s legal system — and that sometimes, it’s not even close to being dead.
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You must walk your dog daily in Rome.
My dog literally hates walks, and she’s certainly far to old to go on them every day!
Load More Replies...Should be a law everywhere, I see so many people get these little "lap dogs" thinking they don't need a lot of excersise THEY DO. YOU SHOULD. WALK. YOUR. DOG. and whilst you're at it, it should be law to pick up after said dog, too.
In my country it is and some still don't. As a dog owner who always picks up I got so irritated as we all get tarred with the same brush as 'irresponsible owners'. I'm just as likely to step in it by mistake as the next person😡👣
Load More Replies...It feels like anything else should be considered animal abuse, unless you have a large backyard they have free access to
Even then the same area is boring for a dog - they like to explore places other dogs visit, read the pee-mail and have a good sniff.
Load More Replies...My neighbors have two big dogs and they only get walked in the evening if the owners feel like it. They're young dogs and because they're in the garden all the time (it's not normal here to have outside dogs) they bark the entire time because they're so frustrated. It's so sad.
Dogs must be walked more than once a day. It's important for their physical antenatal health (they also need a social life)
Yes! Especially since they often don't exercise themselves if you only have a big yard they can go to. Most dogs prefer to stay with their humans, so if you just open the door, they go out, do their Business, and come back. And the owner think that doggo doesn't need or want to walk, which makes the dog untrained, hardly muscled and has their toenails grow lo g. Which in turn makes it uncomfortable to walk if they ever so get out, further confirming the wrong belief that doggy doesn't want to
Load More Replies...Really? I lived in Rome. We had lots of pets, German Shepherds and Dachshunds (odd combo, I know). We had a large yard (lived a bit outside the city) so probably it wouldn’t have applied to us, but I have never heard of this. Maybe it's new?
It's illegal to ride a cow while drunk in Scotland.
Anybody ever see that Andy Griffith episode where Otis gets drunk and rides a cow down mainstreet??
In Samoa, it’s illegal to forget your wife’s birthday.
As always, the wife decides. Oh, you mean the legal one?
Load More Replies...It's illegal everywhere else too, but the courts in most places decided to let the wronged party enforce and levy punishment, since according to the chief justice, "the stuff these people come up with we couldn't do, since most of it comes under the heading of 'cruel & unusual'. And honey, I'm sorry I forgot. I promise I won't do it again."
It's illegal to reincarnate without permission in China.
This is a tactic to prevent the Tibetans from finding the new Dalai Lama. When the current one dies, the Chinese authorities will of course give 'permission' to someone under their complete control.
The panchen lama has already been disappeared and replaced. One more to go then they will have total control of that religion.... sad really 😞 edited for spelling
Load More Replies...I read somewhere that had something to do with the Dalai Lama thing. Basically, the old Dalai Lama chooses the new one, preferably when that person is a child. He is presented with different candidates that have "the gift" and he can feel who the new one is where the spirit of Budha is reincarnated,,,,or something. The chinese didn't want to have any correlation with that as they can't control the figure of Dalai Lama and didn't want it to inspire people so the forbade anyone to declare themselves the new Dalai Lama. It's about control as it happens in dictatures.
Well, they tried the death penalty, but .., you know.
Load More Replies...Canadian radio stations must play Canadian artists' music as a certain percentage of the total playtime.
It's a bit misleading. Canadian radio stations must play Canadian artists' music as a certain percentage of the total play time. I don't know the current percentage but without this rule, Canadian airwaves would be overrun with US music and those great artists that Powerful Katrinka mentioned probably would never have become known.
it has it's purpose - how is it misleading though?
Load More Replies...I know France has the "Toubon Law," which requires 40% air time in the French language, but I didn't know they had a law about the country of origin of that music. Do you know the name of the law? PS - The Toubon Law is strict as it excludes songs that are mostly in French with a little English thrown in. I think that's one of the reasons why German music often features several English words, while French music rarely does. The other reason is cultural.
Load More Replies...Ah yes, CRTC rules. They’re….complicated. “Artist “ includes things like, producers, writers etc. It’s more about including Canadian content. Again, very convoluted.
Ummm.... Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, K.D. Lang, Alanis Morissett, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Robbie Robertson... are just a few famoumusicians from Canada.
Load More Replies...I remember having Canadian consultants visit my office once (in Illinois) and when they connected to our wifi and fired up their streaming app, they exclaimed how much more music variety became available. This was about 8 years ago though so it may be different now.
They can play others. A certain percentage has to come from Canadian artists.
You must walk your dog 3 times daily in Turin, Italy.
Well at least that's a bit nearer, but it's still 975 miles. Some of these laws are going to be a bit of a bind to obey.
Let us know how it goes... I'm just going to take the risk and break the law.
Load More Replies...A bit much, especially in summer. My dog gets morning and evening walks. If I took her out a third time in summer, she'd most likely get heatstroke
It's too enforce the opportunity for a dog to go outside to do its business. City life is typically small or no garden. These don't have to be long walks, although one walk at least should be a longer one to give the dog more exercise and a chance to have a good sniff - for most dogs a good walk is roughly 30% sniffing.
Load More Replies...It doesn't have to be at least half an hour every time, just at least enough so the dog can do it's business. For a lot of dogs, two ten minute walks and one walk that's at least half an hour is just fine
Load More Replies...Sounds great for people who don't have to go to work outside their home :)
Okay, legit question though... what if your dog can't go out for walks three times a day? 2 lb Chihuahua with fatigue? No bueno. Elderly bulldog? Nuh-uh. Rottweiler with mobility issues? That's a no. Some dogs (and people!) just aren't up to three outings interspersed in their day, especially as they grow older... although, I have a feeling this one has more to do with intent than strict adherence, so props to them for the sentiment.
It's illegal to handle salmon suspiciously in the U.K.
that guys handling salmon but he is handling the salmn suspiciously lets arrest him
Load More Replies...This is Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986. It is an offence to have a salmon in your possession, if you have reasonable grounds to suspect it was caught illegally.
What's the sus way to handle salmon? Hanging a bunch of fillets inside a trench coat and approaching innocent bystanders saying "Pst, check out these primo cuts, now only (something) apiece"
*slips whole salmon inside trench coat while wearing a bowler hat and comically large sunglasses*
Load More Replies...I don't even wanna know what occurred that led them to this decision
It's illegal to eat cats and dogs in South Australia.
South Australia is the name of a state. The one to the north of it is called Northern Territories.
Load More Replies...You can eat cats or dogs, you just can't eat both. Pick one!
It's illegal naming your baby something weird in Denmark.
We have a list of approved names. If the name you want is not on that list, you have to apply to get that name.
Load More Replies...There's a board that must approve because it's considered abuse to saddle a child with a name they might be teased about later. *looking at you Elon*
Making international calls is a crime in North Korea.
From the nighttime aerial photos, owning a light bulb seems to be a crime.
No, no. You can have a light bulb. It's using electricity that's the crime.
Load More Replies...
No driving while wearing flip-flops in Spain.
This is not crazy, it's common sense. Flip flop may bend and get under your pedals
I've driven in flip flops for years and never had an issue
Load More Replies...actually a sensible none...ran into another car n a drive thru b/c flip flop got stuck on the accelarator
If a child burps during a church service, his or her parents may be arrested in Nebraska.
Pretty sure that's some old law noone cares about anymore
Load More Replies...Burps are a sign of Satan's presence in the child LULZ
Load More Replies...I'd be staring at my kids the entire service dating them lol. No soda before church service either!
Love how the laws from other countries are reasonable and actually helpful while we’re here in the US trying to make more stupid punitive laws. Hey, baby….stop acting like a baby! SMH
Does the burp have to be in Nebraska, or is an Iowa burp actionable in Nebraska?
In Kentucky... a woman cannot marry the same man four times.
Actually this is either not true or is no longer acknowledged because I'm from Kentucky (I do wear shoes and no I'm not dating my relative..I don't think..) and I know a lady who ironically enough works at our local Walmart lol and she married same guy SIX times. I can't wrap my head around it either. I think after a couple of tries ya gotta give up eventually. (Upvote for most redneck comment here lmao)
I'm thinking there's a story behind all these laws, and I'd love to hear them.
Load More Replies...It’s against the law to have a sleeping donkey in your bathtub after 7 pm in Arizona, USA.
Here is the origin to that law: "In 1924 a merchant near Kingman used to allow his donkey to sleep in an old bathtub. The town was flooded when a local dam broke and the donkey, still in the tub, was washed a mile down the valley with the rising waters before he finally landed in a basin. The donkey survived the trip, but locals spent a lot of time, manpower and, as you can imagine, money to rescue the animal. A law banning donkeys in bathtubs was passed shortly thereafter. Similar laws exist in South Carolina and New York, but for different reasons, we’re sure." Source: http://www.phoenixarizonacriminallawyer.com/criminal-attorney/arizona-criminal-law/the-stories-behind-arizonas-weirdest-laws/
THE REASON FOR THE LAW: donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs, Arizona, USA This crazy law was brought into effect due to a public menace case in 1924. A merchant near Kingman used to allow his donkey to sleep in an old bathtub. The town was flooded when a local dam broke and the donkey, still in the tub, was washed a mile down the valley with the rising waters before he finally landed in a basin. The donkey survived the trip, but locals spent a lot of time, manpower, and, as you can imagine, money to rescue the animal. A law banning donkeys in bathtubs was passed shortly thereafter. Similar laws exist in South Carolina and New York, but for different reasons, we’re sure.
I had an old uncle on my {adopted} moms side, he was one of the family cowboys {one of the few that actually had a ranch, the others traveled}, he got arrested for this once and we have it somewhere of him and that donkey, he had an old bathing tub that was outside and that donkey liked to curl up in it... well when someone came to check out {i think bobcat sightings?} they saw old Hubert sleeping and well at least it was only a fine then, I only got to see Hubert once before he passed away later that year, like 25 years ago
Just out of curiosity, do you normally sleep with him?
Load More Replies...Yes unfortunately camels can no longer spit shine dishes
Load More Replies...I think someone needs to tell Puscifer about this, I'm sure they'd made a lovely song out of it!
In Baltimore, Maryland, it’s illegal to bring a lion to the movies.
Simba I know it's your premire but I can't take you. Blame the law system buddy.
Got to be a pain in the a*s if you live there, having to leave town every time you and your lion want to see a flick. And you know the lion ain't chipping in for gas, either...
You can't turn off your phone's camera sound in South Korea.
Yeah, that's the point. Same thing in Japan. They have a bit of a hard time with perverts.
Load More Replies...Still makes sounds. All phones sold in Korea are like this even when you take that phone to other countries the sound cannot be turned off
Load More Replies...It seems that taking pictures at your kid's piano recital is going to be annoying.
No more annoying than old school 35mm cameras. At least on my android phone the camera shutter sound is similar to that.
Load More Replies...In New Jersey... bullet-proof vests are banned while committing a crime.
Omigosh. Bc whoevers commiting the crime will for sure listen to the laws…
This is purely done so they can "pad" the list of crimes, nothing else.
Load More Replies...The reason for the law is to impose a stiffer sentence. A bulletproof vest is a clear indicator of the perpetrator having knowledge and understanding (forebearance) that the crime he will commit is likely to result in lethal violence and that he had the desire to survive said crime. Well he can survive it a few more years in prison.
Really similar to why robbery and ARMED robbery have different sentences.
Bob, you hold up the cashier, Jeff, put your gun on the director, Tom, you carry the duffle bags, but take that flack jacket off, you don't want to get arrested, do you?
What a ridiculous statement. No one is named Bob, Jeff or Tom anymore. Sheesh.🤣
Load More Replies...pretty sure this is the law in other states as well even though, like people said.... Im sure those committing crimes are really gonna abide by the law
It is against the law to tickle women in Virginia.
Gonna move to Virginia and laugh at my siblings... "Can't get me now!"
No driving with a child on the hood of your car, Oregon.
Minimum two, they’re like llamas, they get lonely when flying solo.
As someone living just across the Columbia River from Oregon and working in Oregon, this isn't surprising.
It is illegal to bite off another person’s leg in Rhode Island.
Stop and actually think about this one. You can't bite a leg off in one go. You'd have to sit there and chew through it. The person couldn't possibly be alive or in any condition to stop you if you tried. How would you even get through the bone? If you use any kind of tool then you're not biting it off. WTF actually happened in order for this to even be considered as a law?
Flying a UFO over Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France is illegal.
Well, it's an "Unidentified Flying Object" so if you acquired or built something that wasn't considered a flying object it'd fall under the rule. Flying BBQ for example.
Load More Replies...Excuse me Mr. Alien, but you have illegally made first contact.
um excuse me alien yah get down here right now you can not drive a ufo here so be undetified other palces okay
According to a law in Scotland, you must allow someone into your house if he knocks on your door and needs to use the bathroom.
I mean, I knocked on a house asking to use the bathroom, is it really this bad?
Load More Replies...BPs from Scotland, have you really ever let strangers in your house for this reason? Or is this like the law where you can’t carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket? (I forget which US state).
Yes, I did! A guy who had come to visit our neighbours - they weren’t home so he knocked on our door. I was a teenage girl in the house alone and he was a big guy in biker gear, so it was very ill-advised, I’m sure, but he did just use the bathroom and leave.
Load More Replies...If someone comes knocking and I don't know them, no way I'm home at that moment... you just never know who'll enter your house. Lots of seniors got mugged by letting strangers in the house "to pee"...
Its an urban myth. the Scottish Law Commission (whose job is to review old laws) confirmed some years ago that no such law has ever been made
Sorry, thats never been aa law. However if you want a true one, its illegal to grow certain plants (dangerous weeds act). The plants on the list are poisonous to humans but thats not why they are on the list - it was to prevent grazing horses eating them by mistake
Sharing your Netflix password is an offense in Tennessee, U.S.A.
Anyone from Tennessee want to share their password? Just to see if SWAT invade your house.
I'm from Tennessee and this is the stupidest law that I've ever heard of. 😂😂😂 Anyone from anywhere else want to share their password with me? Lmfao!
I live in TN and have never heard of this. Netflix does have it as part of their contract though.
Isn't everything an offense in Tennessee? It is one of those red states.
In Ohio... it's illegal to sell dyed chickens.
In Ohio it's against the law to kill a housefly within 160 feet of a church without a license. In Cleveland: It's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. In Marion: You cannot eat a doughnut and walk backwards on a city street.
The dyed chickens is because people would buy them as an Easter novelty, and then abandon the chicks when the holiday was over and they got bored.
I have seen dyed baby chick's for sale for Easter. I hope this law was passed because of that!
I think that’s exactly it. It is luckily banned in many places now.
Load More Replies...Bunch of city slickers. Chickens are like cats - there are different varieties, some worth more than others when trading / buying / selling. You can dye the feathers of a chicken to make it look like another type to dishonestly fetch a higher price. Sheeshhhh
Students may not hold hands while at school in Tennessee.
STUDENTS may not hold hands, not teachers with students.
Load More Replies...So those teachers that told us to hold your partners hand while exiting for a fire drill were wrong huh ?
But...couples in high school used to do it all the time. What the f**k? 😂😂😂
Men cannot wear strapless gowns in Florida.
they said *strapless* which means a man can still wear a dress with straps/sleeves
Another Florida one is you can only throw liquid water and chicken feathers from a moving vehicle. That's what a driving instructor told me a long time ago.
It's illegal to wear high heels to the Acropolis.
Above all you are going to ruin the Acropolis with some stilettos.
Load More Replies...This is not strange. High Heels hit the surface with tremendous force. Over the years, they would have done significant damage.
It should be illegal to wear high heels to a night club in a Las Vegas casino. Because has anyone ever seen the amount of women walking around Sunday morning with broken or spained ankles in Vegas, its an eye opener.
why is it still there? it's over 3000 years old. you can't put in a hotel with a Starbucks? damned waste of real estate
The famous big, ancient building in Athen with the many columns
Load More Replies...Nordic bars need a license to allow dancing on their premises.
Nordic - containing Nords. I hope that clears that up /s/
Load More Replies...That was sort of a law here in New York, You couldn't dance in a bar unless they had a Cabaret license.
In many US cities bars need a "Cabaret License" to allow dancing. It's an outdated law (probably from the days of prohibition) that's used by alcoholic beverage commissions and cops to harass bars they don't like. Some even have a limit on the number of dancers allowed.
The license is given to public establishments by the police. The license intends to keep police informed on potential large gatherings of people, so they have an overview of happenings in town. At least in Sweden I have never heard about any controversy or someone being filed for breaking this law. Politicians have also aimed at abolishing the law, since it's not much use. I guess the police have control over these types of gatherings in other ways nowadays.
Load More Replies...In Chicago. Probably you have to prove your dance floor is strong enough. Lot of night club fires, collapsing stairways, etc. Building codes so people don't die.
You need a permit and insurance in Massachusetts because dancers can injure themselves especially if they've been drinking.
Actually, I have heard similar laws before. You need a permit to allow dancing in many places.
It's illegal to be shirtless in Barcelona.
Unfortunately there are so many hairy beer bellies everywhere, I don't mean sixpacs
Load More Replies...In public or public places? Barceloneta is a public beach in Barcelona and I’ve seen people with shirts off. I’ve seen people with shirts off in fountains in the city.
I saw a nude dude in Barcelona. Seems that's how he had chosen to enjoy his lunch break, on the public beach/promenade. Perhaps it doesn't count as "shirtless" if you're fully naked?
It's illegal to disrupt a wedding in South Australia.
seems reasonable unless something very serious/urgent happens
What happens if the minister asks "if anyone objects to this union...."?
I suspect that this is allowed, as the full version is "if anyone knows of any lawful impediment", rather than just objecting, but the thought crossed my mind too.
Load More Replies...You cannot die without a pre-purchased burial plot in part of France.
Burial space in Europe is very very limited so they’ll probably just cremate you
Load More Replies...It is illegal under the terms of the Prohibition and Inspections to cause a nuclear explosion, U.K.
Congrats you just added yourself to a list. They will be visiting you shortly
Load More Replies...Just think how many nuclear explosions this law has stopped!
Registering as married at a hotel makes it so in North Carolina.
Depends on the hotel. You might have to factor in medical expenses if you dine in.
Load More Replies...In Arkansas... you can't honk your horn near a sandwich shop after 9 p.m.
I read about this. If I remember correctly, it was a particularly popular shop that allowed people to phone an order in and pull in and honk to let employees know they were there for the pickup. People living in the area were none too happy...
Load More Replies...It's illegal to run out of gas on the German Autobhan.
wait!!! hold on what if you are coming into Arizona and have no gas stations... you're stuck in Arizona bud at least till you bail out...
No it only in Germany and the UK.
Load More Replies...It's illegal to wear a suit of armor in British Parliament.
Also the monarch can not step foot in the house of commons, they can go into the house of Lords though.
Its illegal to wear a suit of armour or a sword in the UK Parliament but it is legal in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or the northern Irish
It's illegal to wear lacy undies in Russia.
Well... It would be long to explain all the details, but what's actually forbidden is certain synthetic materials for underwear. Coincidence or not, they were mot used for cheap laced undies, which caused a little hype about 12 years ago (and I'm kinda surprized that someone remembers it). Other materials are still permitted.
I volunteer to be the enforcer and checker!!! I volunteer as tribute for this "awful, terrible" job!!!
Carrying more than 50kg of potatoes in West Australia.
It's illegal to kill Bigfoot in British Columbia, Canada.
Although those guys on inexplicably-still-on-the-air TV series Finding Bigfoot have yet to actually live up to the show's title, if they happen to come across a Sasquatch in BC they'd be wise to not harm a hair on its furry body. That's because an obscure law (which may or may not be an urban legend) states that it's illegal to shoot a "Mowgli" (the nickname for Sasquatch back in the day). However, on a broader scope, current legislation states that all native species of animals in the province — excluding invertebrates and fish — cannot be hunted, which would presumably include Sasquatch should the mythical beast ever decide to reveal itself to humans. https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
It’s illegal to whistle in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada between 11 PM and 7 AM.
It's illegal to whistle in Petrolia, Ont., between 11 P and 7 AM, so keep your lips zipped. Apparently, this weird law is part of a anti-noise bylaw that prohibits "yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing" during the wee hours. https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
Ok that makes more sense. U can whistle but only during the daytime
Load More Replies...As an aside: The oldest golf course in Canada is located in Petrolia. It was there before Canada became a nation. It was originally located in what was known as Upper Canada.
Imported water is prohibited in Nigeria.
The leader has a family member who owns the water plant?
Load More Replies...I'm from Nigeria, and recently the importation of rice was just lifted, after the country couldn't meet up production. So yes, we have clean water and wouldn't want any imported.
In Virginia... you can't go trick-or-treating if you're over 14 years old.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Load More Replies...So if I lived in Virginia, I'd have broken the law four years in a row, SUCK IT, VA!!!!
It's illegal to swear in the U.A.E.
Another reason among a s**t load of others to stay the hell away from Dubai, then. F**k that.
Hmmmm I’m from the UAE and poeple swear everywhere this is FALSE information…
Elephants are not allowed to be used to plow cotton fields in North Carolina.
What a frustrating evening it is today, isn't it? Nothing I wanted to do is allowed
Load More Replies...In South Dakota... it's illegal to sleep in the cheese factory.
And the service was so slow that people kept nodding off.
Load More Replies...It's illegal to wear a mask in public in Denmark.
It is illegal to cover your face with clothing, mc helmets, hoddie, ect in a way that it will hide your identity
In Louisiana... it's illegal to send a surprise pizza.
Click the link. This is super simplified. The law sounds like it's more about in a harassing way or like a prank order that is COD.
Load More Replies...It's illegal for your chicken to cross the road in Georgia.
It's also illegal to use utensils while eating fried chicken in Gainesville GA, USA
Throwing octopuses is illegal in Michigan.
It's a Detroit Red Wing's thing. The legend of the Octopus. Tradition to throw then on the rink during playoff games.
Load More Replies...It should be illegal to throw these intelligent and sentient creatures everywhere. And to eat them.
It's illegal to feed pigeons in Venice, Italy.
It's illegal to pay with too many coins in Canada.
Anyone who's ever tried to get rid of some change at the checkout counter had best know the rules, as there are specific limits set as to how much can be paid with coins. For example, a federal government website notes that the limit is $25 if you’re paying with loonies, $5 if you're using nickels. If you're trying to get rid of pennies, the maximum legal amount per purchase is a mere 25 cents. https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
Canada no longer has pennies. They're gone entirely.
Load More Replies...It's not illegal in the UK per se, but when it comes to making a payment for something (a purchase, repaying a debt, etc.) you can refuse to accept more than 40 coins in a single transaction, and trying to do so doesn't count as an attempt to pay; it stops malicious compliance, for example someone salty about a speeding fine can't rock up with a huge sack of pennies.
Its not "illegal" , its a law that allows a vendor to refuse payment. The Canada's Currency Act sets a limit on the number of coins on any type you can use in any single transaction. You can use no more than 25 pennies, 100 nickels, 100 dimes, 40 quarters, 25 loonies and 20 toonies. If you try to use more coins than the limits above, the vendor can refuse to accept them.
Carrying a plank of wood down the street in London, U.K.
Ever seen the documentary The Plank, 1967? That shows the trouble carrying a plank can cause.
Man, I haven't seen that for decades, but I'm now frightened to watch it in case it's not as funny as I remember.
Load More Replies...It is illegal to be drunk and in charge of cattle in England and Wales.
I need the story behind this. What in the world happened that one faithful day that required this law?
It's a blanket law against being drunk in charge of cattle, horses or steam engines.
Load More Replies...ah, wales. the land of my relatives and wtf happened here
How about being in charge of people? King Charles won't be able to get drunk!
King Charles III isn't really in charge. He's a figurehead.
Load More Replies...In Delaware... you can't sell dog hair.
In Oregon... it's illegal to go hunting in a cemetery.
It's illegal to wear camouflage in (much of) the Caribbean.
No selfies with Buddha in Sri Lanka.
No mooning in the hellenic republic, Greece.
It's illegal to kiss at French train stations.
In France they just call that kissing, so that's still a no no.
Load More Replies...Destroying currency is considered a criminal offense in Turkey.
In the US, defacing currency is max fine of $100 or max jail time of 6 months. I'm sure that's a great conversation to have when you are in a holding cell. What did you do? .... hmmm I wrote on a $1 bill
You're getting off lightly. In Australia, the penalty is "in the case of a person, not being a body corporate – $5,000 or imprisonment for two years, or both."
Load More Replies...It's illegal to cut cactus, in Arizona.
Preservation. Nothing wrong with that. Some cacti take decades to mature and grow
The Saguaro cactus is protected, there may be other breeds too, but it is not all cacti.
If you're clearing ground for building and there's a saguaro cactus, you have to call the Cactus Police who tag it with its orientation so that when it's replanted it's in the same orientation as it was. The sun side of it will have thicker skin, so if you don't replant it properly it can burn and die.
Legal prostitution and the earnings are taxable, The Netherlands.
Well if it's legal then it's taxable income; that's typically how jobs work
Earnings from prostitution, legal and illegal, are taxable in the US.
Also illegal drug sales. Remember the "Crack tax" stamps?
Load More Replies...It's illegal to publicly displays affection in the United Arab Emirates.
In Alabama... it's illegal to drive blindfolded.
It's illegal to sell chewing gum in Singapore.
Are you saying it is legal to chew chewing gum? Because the post says it's illegal to sell chewing gum. These are different things.
Load More Replies...The Gum Disposal Task Force will follow you until you swallow it. Then it will be inside you for three years.
It's illegal to wrestle a bear in South Africa.
This is not a real law. South african here. I know there is a law not to wrestle a bear somewhere but not here, we don't have bears.... so why a law even around it
I am a South African, and this is the first time I am hearing about this law.
There are a lot of laws that we are not aware of, even in our own country. You can't possibly know them all.
Load More Replies...It is illegal for a pub to serve alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated in Australia.
We have that here in New York. If your drunk enough and cause a car accident, the bartender can get in some trouble for proving alcohol to an already intoxicated person.
Establishments here in Pennsylvania, USA, have the same. We call them V.I.P.s for Visibly Intoxicated Persons.
As far as I know, that's the law across most if not all of the U.S. If you appear drunk, they're not allowed to sell you any more drinks.
Many Aussies I know are much too intoxicated to be able to see if someone is visibly drunk.
No water pistols on New Year's in Cambodia.
It's illegal to build a sandcastle in Spain.
Married women can only have one glass of wine in Bolivia.
That is a stupid rule, but the solution to it is to use a giant glass. I mean a HUGE glass.
The bottle is a glass. Have fun. Maybe have a Melchior(18 Liter) bottle
Load More Replies...You can drink more, but you need your husband’s permission to do so 🤦🏻♀️
Load More Replies...No walking cows down the street in daylight in London, U.K.
Yes, because it's about controlling traffic flow.
Load More Replies...It is illegal to sing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit in Florida.
Also in Kentucky, you're only allowed to drive wearing a swimsuit if you're carrying a weapon, or two police officers.
In Wisconsin... butter substitutes are banned without permission.
It is no longer enforced, but as a child we drove to the UP of Michigan to obtain margarine. We concealed it under cloth in a picnic basket when we came back, just in case.
What agency approves the butter substitutes? ... I don't believe this is butter ... please?
Belly dancing is only for ladies, Egypt.
In Milan, Italy, it is illegal for citizens to frown in public—unless they’re at a funeral or visiting someone in the hospital.
You just need to wear a mask with a smile on it, then you aren’t breaking the rules.
We can still see your eyebrows with a mask, unless you're talking of a complete mask like during Halloween.
Load More Replies...In Maryland... sleeveless shirts are banned in public parks.
samee i dont really think its true or maybe OP was talking abt some other part of MD?
Load More Replies...In Mexico, it is illegal for bicyclists to lift their feet off the pedals while riding as this might cause them to lose control of the bike.
It is illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon and New Jersey.
Safety and liability issues. Though almost all other states do self serve
OR lifts the ban on very hot days, and the ban was lifted in rural areas. This applies to larger cities.
It's illegal to fly a kite in Victoria, Australia.
I guess I've broken the law a few times then. Never heard of this law....I just checked it out and "It is an offence in Victoria to fly a kite to 'the annoyance of any person' in a public place. Maximum penalty is a $777.30 fine". https://www.slatergordon.com.au/media/14-of-the-most-obscure-australian-laws-youve-never-heard-of....so maybe I haven't actually broken it, if no one wad annoyed.
It's illegal to climb a tree in Oshawa, Canada.
A typical childhood pastime in the rest of Canada has been outlawed in Oshawa, Ont., where it's illegal to climb a tree. According to the local bylaw, "No person shall interfere with a tree or part of a tree located on municipal property, including but not limited to attaching, affixing or placing upon in any manner any object or thing to a tree or part of a tree, and climbing the tree." So hurry up and climb down before the cops arrive! https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
I bet it relates to municipal liability if the climber is incompetent.
Load More Replies...You must provide for your elderly parents in China.
I think they have something like this in Japan too. So if you live in either and hate your parents, move out of the country
Just read an article about a girl abandoned by her parents as a toddler. Grew up well off. Parents show back up. Court says she must support them as per this law
It's illegal to tell fortunes in Maryland.
Finnish taxi drivers must pay royalty fees for songs they play in their cars.
It's a fixed rate of around 16 or so euros a year, not a massive amount, but still, a strange law considering the radio already pays royalty fees...
"Here's my band's demo. We're blackened deathgrind. We're called Satan's Ruptured Perineum."
No selfies with Tiger in New York.
Does this mean no selfies with Tiger Woods or no selfies with a tiger, any tiger?
It's for when Detroit comes in to play the Yankees.
Load More Replies...Only compliments for the king in Thailand.
If you don't like the way he's doing his job, just shut up and vote for someone else next time.
It’s illegal to sell one’s eye in Texas.
In Iowa... you can't throw a glass bottle onto a highway.
You can't kiss on the street in Guanajuato, Mexico.
It's illegal to drive a dirty car in Russia.
Capri, Italy may bust your dog with DNA.
It's a typo for "bust", as in "arrest". Capri takes DNA profiles of all dogs for blood disease. They're now using those profiles to trace owners who allow their dogs to foul the pavement and don't pick it up.
Load More Replies...In Paris (France) too. It has cut down irresponsible dog walkers quiet considerably!
Don't hang your dirty laundry in public in Trinidad and Tobago.
It's illegal to play Dominoes in public places in Sevilla, Spain.
Wives must have their husband's OK to get false teeth in Vermont.
Moose viewing while airborne in Alaska is strictly forbidden.
So if you're in a plane and spot a moose ... I have to close my eyes?
I suspect this is to keep small planes from harassing moose, otherwise I could see tourists in a small plane buzzing animals for a closer look. No idea if correct, but seems like it'd be similar to laws in California that require boats to stay a minimum distance from whales.
This is hunting related. Moose spotting is sending up a plane to locate moose and having the pilot direct the hunters on the ground to said moose. That is what's illegal.
It is illegal to order or permit any servant to stand on the sill of any window to clean or paint it, U.K.
Can't find a source for this but seems like basic health and safety
It is illegal to fire a cannon within 300 yards of a dwelling in London, U.K.
And for the third time, nope. Only in London. The UK is bigger than London, folks.
The way it is written, with the comma between London and UK means they are saying London is located in the UK, for those who don't know where it is.
Load More Replies...A person riding an elevator must talk to no one and must fold his hands while looking at the door in New York.
That sounds like the best law it the universe. It is so awkward when there are strangers in the elevator and you are just staring at each other. I think I want to move to New York now.
"Sure I'll take your case, but why'd you kill him?" "He kept staring at the back of my head."
That's one of the nonwritten basic etiquette rules in Finland. Never talk to anyone in the elevator.
Close the gate or you'll be fined in Nevada.
No testing your physical endurance while driving in Oregon.
You must honk when passing a car in New Jersey.
I learned to drive in NJ (okay, it was 35 years ago, but still) and I did not learn this law in Drivers' Ed...
It was the same in Missouri too back many years ago when i got my licence. They have probably changed that by now.
In Minnesota... dirty tires are banned.
It's illegal to interfere with a homing pigeon. You have to let them be, Australia.
No, totally the opposite. It's illegal to interfere with a homing pigeon. You HAVE to let them be.
Sara Pascoe: It's impossible to lose a homing pigeon. If it doesn't come back, what you've lost is just a pigeon.
Canada: It's illegal to remove a band-aid in public. Canada has also banned elephant rides at all of its accredited facilities - this one is recent. Toronto bylaw that prohibits dragging a dead horse down Yonge Street on Sundays. Edit: Source: https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
Germany: It's forbidden to cross brigdes while marching in step. (It can cause bridges to swing and collapse)
Yep. Sets up a resonant frequency. The dumbfuck who designed London's Millennium Bridge forgot about resonant frequencies and it was nearly the River Tay disaster all over again.
Load More Replies...But there's a May-February squirrel hunting season. I guess you can't scare them, but you can blow their brains out with a rifle.
Load More Replies...Albania: it is illegal to be left handed…. I guess I can’t go there without being arrested lol.
In Massachusetts I can order 60 cases of wine a year from another state, but I can't order any amount of distilled spirits from outside the state.
I recently learned that in the majoritx of the US, it is LEGAL to just ignore someone in need of help. That you can not be legally made to give first aid or even call the police. So i might add to this list that in Germany, it is illegal to not give some kind of aid in case of emergency. (if you are firs in scene) You can go to jail for not stopping for an accident. Although if it is night or otherwise suspicious, it is enough to call police.
That depends on the state and in some states it may only be the case in certain cities . Re-check this.
Load More Replies...Whats fkd up is this stuff prolly happend in order for it to become a law...maybe im wrong...jus seems too random
It would be interesting to hear some of these back stories.
Load More Replies...I expected more of North Korea looking at what of a country it is. Also most of those UK laws are old and were just left. I remember some guy breaking as much as he can of those stupid laws in one day
I really need to know the back stories for why most of these things are illegal lol where can I find out
I'm fairly certain it's illegal, at least in the US, to shoot large numbers of people on public (or private) land. Maybe if more people knew this, there would be fewer shootings.
Canada: It's illegal to remove a band-aid in public. Canada has also banned elephant rides at all of its accredited facilities - this one is recent. Toronto bylaw that prohibits dragging a dead horse down Yonge Street on Sundays. Edit: Source: https://www.slice.ca/35-weird-canadian-laws-you-didnt-know-existed-2/
Germany: It's forbidden to cross brigdes while marching in step. (It can cause bridges to swing and collapse)
Yep. Sets up a resonant frequency. The dumbfuck who designed London's Millennium Bridge forgot about resonant frequencies and it was nearly the River Tay disaster all over again.
Load More Replies...But there's a May-February squirrel hunting season. I guess you can't scare them, but you can blow their brains out with a rifle.
Load More Replies...Albania: it is illegal to be left handed…. I guess I can’t go there without being arrested lol.
In Massachusetts I can order 60 cases of wine a year from another state, but I can't order any amount of distilled spirits from outside the state.
I recently learned that in the majoritx of the US, it is LEGAL to just ignore someone in need of help. That you can not be legally made to give first aid or even call the police. So i might add to this list that in Germany, it is illegal to not give some kind of aid in case of emergency. (if you are firs in scene) You can go to jail for not stopping for an accident. Although if it is night or otherwise suspicious, it is enough to call police.
That depends on the state and in some states it may only be the case in certain cities . Re-check this.
Load More Replies...Whats fkd up is this stuff prolly happend in order for it to become a law...maybe im wrong...jus seems too random
It would be interesting to hear some of these back stories.
Load More Replies...I expected more of North Korea looking at what of a country it is. Also most of those UK laws are old and were just left. I remember some guy breaking as much as he can of those stupid laws in one day
I really need to know the back stories for why most of these things are illegal lol where can I find out
I'm fairly certain it's illegal, at least in the US, to shoot large numbers of people on public (or private) land. Maybe if more people knew this, there would be fewer shootings.
