NationStates Jolt Archive

I would like you to share with me the strangest laws you have encountered from around the world. I share some of mine with you from jolly old England.

It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.

And one not from England:

In France, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon.

So what weird laws do you know? :p

A few more Jolly laws.

Royal Navy ships that enter the Port of London must provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.

In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.

In Lancashire, no person is permitted after being asked to stop by a constable on the seashore to incite a dog to bark.

In the UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle

haha - We do corner the market in odd laws don't we? :p

Yes. Yes we do.

In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and from staying after sunset.

In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

It's illegal to molest an alligator in Florida.

It's illegal to molest an alligator in Florida.

And also very stupid.

And also very stupid.

Yes. It can seriously effect your health. And social standing.

Weird Laws in North Carolina, USA

No one may be a professional fortune-teller, and if one wishes to pursue the practice as an amateur, it must be practiced in a school or church.

It’s against the law to sing off key.

While having sex, you must stay in the missionary position and have the shades pulled.

If a man and a woman who aren’t married go to a hotel/motel and register themselves as married then, according to state law, they are legally married.

Organizations may not hold their meetings while the members present are in costume.

Serving alcohol at a bingo game is not allowed.

In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.

The head of any dead whale found on the British coast is legally the property of the King; the tail, on the other hand, belongs to the Queen - in case she needs the bones for her corset.

If two Railway Engines meet at a crossing, it is illegal for either to continue until the other has passed

If two Railway Engines meet at a crossing, it is illegal for either to continue until the other has passed

I bet they still have trains from the 1950s at crossings....

I bet they still have trains from the 1950s at crossings....

That explains the sorry state of the UK Train system. I bet those drivers are really bored by now.

Any law against sodomy always struck me as kind of odd...

Here's some from Pennsylvania.

Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.

A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.

Fireworks stores may not sell fireworks to Pennsylvania residents. This is a fairly recent one. A person HAS to have an out of state ID. And these fireworks stores are everywhere, I have no idea how they stay in business.

Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass.

You may not catch a fish with your hands.

You may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth.

In Bensalem:
Persons convicted of felonies may not operate Bingo games.

I read a book where the author travelled the states breaking the sillier laws of each state. It was terrible.

My favorite is from South Carolina, it being legal to beat your wife on the courthouse steps on Sunday as long as the rod you use is no bigger than your thumb. (Hence the phrase, "rule of thumb")

It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store

If someone knocks on your door in Scotland and requires the use of your toilet, you are required to let them enter

It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing

It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour

It's illegal to go whale hunting in the State of Ohio

It is illegal to say "Oh, Boy" in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Kirkland, Illinois, law forbids bees to fly over the village or through any of its streets.

Kansas state law requires pedestrians crossing the highways at night to wear tail lights.

It is against the law to fish from horseback in the State of Utah

It's illegal in Wilbur, Washington, to ride an ugly horse.

In Denver it is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor.

It may soon be illegal to text while walking in Illinois, for safety.

(that's currently in the state legislature)

Not sure if these are Urban Myths or true, but I always understood that in England.

You must practice archery in the church grounds after service.

If caught short in a public place you can ask a policeman to shield your modesty with his cape whilst you take a leak.

And all London cabs must carry a bale of hay.

Ohh yeah and it is legal for anybody to buy and consume a glass of porter in a pub, regardless of age.

Weird Nevada laws:


It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway.

It's still "legal" to hang someone for shooting your dog on your property.

In Elko - Everyone walking the streets is required to wear a mask.

In Eureka - Men are forbidden from kissing women.

In Nyala - A man is forbidden from buying drinks for more than three people other than himself at any one period during the day.

In Reno - It is illegal to lie down on the sidewalk.

In Reno - Benches may not be placed in the middle of any street.

Most Middle Eastern countries recognize the following Islamic law: "After having sexual relations with a lamb, it is a mortal sin to eat its flesh."

In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals, but the animals must be female. Having sexual relations with a male animal is punishable by death

In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman's genitals, but is forbidden from looking directly at them during the examination. He may only see their reflection in a mirror.

Real (Strange) Sex Laws:

They're surprising. They're baffling. And, often, they're downright stupid. These laws about sex and sexuality defy explanation.


In Florida, having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.

In Tibet, many years ago, the law required all women prostitute themselves. This was seen as a way to gain sexual experience prior to marriage.

"Female breasts," according to the Arizona Supreme Court, don't constitute "private parts" under state law.

The Asiatic Huns punished convicted male rapists and adulterers with castration. Female adulterers were merely cut in two.

The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

The T'ang Dynasty Empress Wu Hu passed a special law concerning oral sex. She felt that a woman pleasuring a man represented the supremacy of the male over the female. Therefore, she insisted all visiting male dignitaries show their respect by pleasuring her orally when meeting. The empress would throw open her robe and her guest would kneel before her and kiss her genitals.

In London, it's illegal to have sex on a parked motorcycle.

There is, in fact, an Illinois law that prohibits a number of things—one of which is a public erection, another is nude dancing. The prohibition against the public erection has never been challenged in the Supreme Court, but the prohibition against nude dancing has.

In 100 A.D., the Teutons, an Germanic tribe, would punish anyone caught as a prostitute by suffocating them in excrement.

The vow of a Roman vestal virgin lasted 30 years. If she engaged in sex before then, she was punished by being buried alive.

In 17th century Spain, it was illegal for anyone other than a woman's husband to see her bare feet. A woman could freely expose her breasts, but feet were considered sexual and had to be covered in the presence of men other than her husband.

The Romans would crush a first-time rapist's gonads between two stones.

In China, women are prohibited from walking around a hotel room in the nude. A woman may be naked only while in the bathroom.

The early Christian church forbade couples from having sex on Wednesdays, Fridays and of course, Sundays.

In Pompeii, a special law was directed at prostitutes. They had to dye their hair either blue, red or yellow in order to be able to work.

In Indiana, mustaches are illegal if the bearer has a "tendency to habitually kiss other humans."

Six thousand years ago, Egyptians, the first to punish sex crimes with castration, would completely castrate a male convicted of rape. A women found guilty of adultery would find herself without a nose, the thinking being that without a nose, it would be harder to find someone to share in her adulterous ways.

Up until 1884, a woman could be sent to prison for denying a husband sex.

In Maryland, it is illegal to sell condoms from vending machines with one exception—prophylactics may be dispensed from a vending machine only "in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises."

While not as extreme as the ancient Israelite punishment for adultery (stoning), Greek men still had their fair share of discomfort when their pubic hair was removed and a large radish was shoved up their rectum.

In Alabama, it's against the law for a man to seduce "a chaste woman by means of temptation, deception, arts, flattery or a promise of marriage."

In Nepal, Bangladesh and Macao it is against the law to view movies containing simulated lovemaking or the pubic area of men and women. The law also does not allow kisses to be shown in any film that includes actors from these three countries.

It's illegal to have sex with a corpse anywhere in the United States.

There are men in Guam whose full-time job it is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time. Why? Under the law in Guam, it is forbidden for virgins to marry.

In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands. The husband's lover may be killed in any manner desired.

An 18th century French prostitute could be spared punishment if she were willing to join the opera.

In Mississippi, S & M is against the law. Specifically, "The depiction or description of flagellation or torture by or upon a person who is nude or in undergarments or in a bizarre or revealing costume for the purpose of sexual gratification."

During the Middle Ages, if you were guilty of bestiality you'd be burned at the stake, along with the other party to your crime.

As recently as 1990, these states had laws against the use of dildos: Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington D.C.

In Minnesota, it is illegal for any man to have sexual intercourse with a live fish.

In Detroit, couples are not allowed to make love in an automobile unless the act takes place while the vehicle is parked on the couple's own property.

In Oxford, Ohio, it's illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man's picture.

An excerpt from Kentucky state legislation: "No female shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within this state unless she be escorted by at least two officers or unless she be armed with a club."

The only acceptable sexual position in Washington, D.C. is the missionary position. Any other sexual position is considered illegal.

In Michigan a woman isn't allowed to cut her own hair without her husband's permission.

It is illegal for any member of the Nevada legislature to conduct official business wearing a penis costume while the legislature is in session.

In Ventura County, California cats and dogs are not allowed to have sex without a permit.

Under Lebanese law, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals, but the animals must be female. Having sexual relations with a male animal is expressly forbidden.

A law in Fairbanks, Alaska does not allow moose to have sex on city streets.

In Kingsville, Texas there is a law against two pigs having sex on the city's airport property.

Women can sell items and be topless in Liverpool, England—but only in tropical fish stores.

In the state of Texas it is a misdemeanor if two men engage in oral and or anal sex. The same law does'nt apply to men and women engaging in the same activity with each other.

In Romboch, Virginia, it is illegal to engage in sexual activity with the lights on.

In the state of Utah, sex with an animal—unless performed for profit—is not considered sodomy and therefore is legal.

Anywhere in the U.S., it's illegal to use any live endangered species (except for insects) in public or private sexual displays, shows or exhibits depicting cross-species sex.

In the quiet town of Connorsville, Wisconsin, it's illegal for a man to shoot off a gun when his female partner has an orgasm.

It is illegal for a man and woman to have sex "on the steps of any church after the sun goes down" in Birmingham, England.

In the state of Washington there is a law against having sex with a virgin under any circumstances (including the wedding night).

A Tremonton, Utah law states that no woman is allowed to have sex with a man while riding in an ambulance. In addition to normal charges, the woman's name will be published in the local newspaper.

It's against the law in Willowdale, Oregon, for a husband to curse during sex.

Sodomy laws have been repealed—or are ignored—in most states, but not Georgia, where a man was sentenced to five years in prison for engaging in oral sex. With his wife. With her consent. In their home.

An Oklahoma state representative once proposed a bill requiring that a man explain the dangers of pregnancy and obtain a woman's written consent before the two could legally engage in sexual intercourse.

In Oblong, Illinois, it's punishable by law to make love while hunting or fishing on your wedding day.

No man is allowed to make love to his wife with the smell of garlic, onions, or sardines on his breath in Alexandria, Minnesota. If his wife so requests, law mandates that he must brush his teeth.

Warn your hubby that after lovemaking in Ames, Iowa, he isn't allowed to take more than three gulps of beer while lying in bed with you—or holding you in his arms.

Bozeman, Montana, has a law that bans all sexual activity between members of the opposite sex in the front yard of a home after sundown—if they're nude.

In hotels in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, every room is required to have twin beds. The beds must always be a minimum of two feet apart when a couple rents a room for only one night. And it's illegal to make love on the floor between the beds.

The owner of every hotel in Hastings, Nebraska, is required to provide each guest with a clean and pressed nightshirt. No couple, even if they are married, may sleep together in the nude, nor may they have sex unless they are wearing one of these clean, white cotton nightshirts.

An ordinance in Newcastle, Wyoming, specifically bans couples from having sex while standing inside a store's walk-in meat freezer.

A state law in Illinois mandates that all bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts.

In Norfolk, Virginia, a woman can't go out without wearing a corset. (There was a civil-service job—for men only—called a corset inspector.)

In Merryville, Missouri, women are prohibited from wearing corsets because "the privilege of admiring the curvaceous, unencumbered body of a young woman should not be denied to the normal, red-blooded American male."

It's safe to make love while parked in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Police officers aren't allowed to walk up and knock on the window. Any suspicious officer who thinks that sex is taking place must drive up from behind, honk his horn three times and wait approximately two minutes before getting out of his car to investigate.

A law in Helena, Montana, mandates that a woman can't dance on a table in a saloon or bar unless she has on at least three pounds, two ounces of clothing.

Lovers in Liberty Comer, New Jersey, should avoid satisfying their lustful urges in a parked car. If the horn accidentally sounds while frolicking behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, the couple can face a jail term.

A Florida sex law: If you're a single, divorced, or widowed woman, you can't parachute on Sunday afternoons.

Women aren't allowed to wear patent-leather shoes in Cleveland, Ohio—the thinking is that a man might see the reflection of something he shouldn't.

Maryland prohibits the selling of condoms through vending machines in gas stations and stores—with one major exception. Prophylactics may be dispensed by a vending machine only "in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises."

In Texas, no one other than a "registered pharmacist" may sell condoms or other kinds of contraceptives "on the streets or other public places." No, not even physicians. Anyone who tries to make a few extra bucks doing this will be severely prosecuted for the dire act of "unlawfully practicing medicine."

Kentucky and Idaho limit condom sales to medical practitioners and licensed pharmacists, but their license to sell the items may not be hung on a wall where it can be seen by customers.

Maine licenses condom sellers and the license must always be on public display.

Nevada, with 35 legal bordellos, has no condom problem. The use of condoms in Nevada brothels is compulsory.

Both Indiana and Ohio have laws that prohibit male skating instructors from having sexual relations with their female students. This misdeed, called "the seduction of female students," is prosecuted as a felony. This statute applies only to male teachers. It seems female skating instructors may have sex with male students.

Real (Strange) Sex Laws:

They're surprising. They're baffling. And, often, they're downright stupid. These laws about sex and sexuality defy explanation.


<SNIP>

Wow, just wow...


Hey Nanatsu!

Muslims are banned from looking at the genitals of a corpse. This also applies to undertakers; the sex organs of the deceased must be covered with a brick or piece of wood at all times.

The penalty for masturbation in Indonesia is decapitation.

EDIT: Beaten to it. :(

In Hong Kong, a betrayed wife is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but may only do so with her bare hands. (The husband's lover, on the other hand, may be killed in any manner desired.)

Wow, just wow...


Hey Nanatsu!

I know. And so laughable.

Hey Dyako-kun!:)

I know. And so laughable.

Hey Dyako-kun!:)

Nanatsu-Chama rules! :D

I know. And so laughable.

Hey Dyako-kun!:)

what, I don't get a hello? :p

what, I don't get a hello? :p

Heh! Hello there, Neo-Art-sama.:wink:

Heh! Hello there, Neo-Art-sama.:wink:

Now that's better.

Real (Strange) Sex Laws:
There are men in Guam whose full-time job it is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time. Why? Under the law in Guam, it is forbidden for virgins to marry.



Wow, I bet that job is in high demand.

It's illegal to have sex with a corpse anywhere in the United States.

You know, there's probably a good (and disturbing) reason behind this one...

In the state of Utah, sex with an animal—unless performed for profit—is not considered sodomy and therefore is legal.

In Seattle, it wasn't illegal to have sex with animals until a guy got killed for being on the recieving end of sex with a horse... And that is a recent event.

Sodomy laws have been repealed—or are ignored—in most states, but not Georgia, where a man was sentenced to five years in prison for engaging in oral sex. With his wife. With her consent. In their home.

Georgia always was backwards.

A state law in Illinois mandates that all bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts.

That's probably because of dilution of the English language. "Mr." and "Mrs." are actually short for "master" and "mistress," as in "master of the house" and "mistress of the house." Unmarried people had entirely different titles they used. The conversion to "mister" is because of lingual laziness.

Women aren't allowed to wear patent-leather shoes in Cleveland, Ohio—the thinking is that a man might see the reflection of something he shouldn't.

This can actually happen. Free advice: If you're a woman and wearing a skirt, don't wear reflective shoes.

Wow, I bet that job is in high demand.

That's an internet rumor, and has no basis in reality.

Sorry guys.

I wonder how many guys moved to Guam upon hearing that one.

That's an internet rumor, and has no basis in reality.

Sorry guys.

My bubble! NOOOO!

*Bursts*

In Connecticut:

You can be stopped by the police for biking over 65 miles per hour.
In order for a pickle to officially be considered a pickle, it must bounce.
It is illegal to dispose of used razor blades.
You cannot buy any alcohol after 9pm or on Sundays

In Devon, it is unlawful to walk backwards after sunset.

In Hartford, you aren’t allowed to cross a street while walking on your hands, you may not educate dogs, and it is illegal for a man to kiss his wife on Sunday.

In Massachusettes:

At a wake, mourners may eat no more than three sandwiches.
Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
An old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public.
All men must carry a rifle to church on Sunday.
A woman can not be on top in sexual activities.
Tomatoes may not be used in the production of clam chowder.
Alcoholic drink specials are illegal.

It’s against the law to sing off key.


Seems like a sensible law to me... :tongue:

In Massachusettes:

At a wake, mourners may eat no more than three sandwiches.
Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
An old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public.
All men must carry a rifle to church on Sunday.
A woman can not be on top in sexual activities.
Tomatoes may not be used in the production of clam chowder.
Alcoholic drink specials are illegal.

Sweet, I'm a criminal! ;)

Silly Illinois laws. I love my state!

* A state law in Illinois mandates that all bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts.

* According to state law, it is illegal to speak English. The officially recognized language is "American". ( I speak 'murican!)

* Des Plaines: Wheelbarrows with For-Sale signs may not be chained to trees.

* Eureka: A man with a moustache may not kiss a woman.

* Homer: It is against the law to use a slingshot unless your are a law enforcement officer.

* In Illinois it is illegal for barbers to use their fingers to apply shaving cream to a customer's face.

* In Illinois, it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animal kept as pets.
(Dang! Foiled my plan on playing a game of cards with the smoking dogs!!!!)
* Joliet: Town fathers, reflecting the pet peeve of hearing their town's name mispronounced 'Jolly-ETTE' when all local folk know it's pronounced 'Joe-lee-ETTE', made pronouncing it Jolly-ette a misdemeanor, punishable by a $5 fine.


* "Dwarf-tossing," the strange practice of hurling dwarfs in padded suits, is outlawed in the bars of Springfield, Ill., because it's dangerous and exploitative. The practice is apparently allowed elsewhere in town, with a special permit.
( I wonder how this law got passed!)
* A law from the early 1900's prohibits men from going topless on the Boardwalk. (Repealed)

* An Illinois state law requires that a man's female companion shall call him "master" while out on a date. The law does not apply to married couples.

* Champaign: One may not pee in his neighbor's mouth. (What about on their face?)

* Chicago: Law forbids eating in a place that is on fire; It is illegal to give a dog whiskey; Kites may not be flown within the city limits; Spitting is forbidden (This is why chicago sucks so much!!!)

* Cicero: Humming on public streets is prohibited on Sundays.

* Crete: It is considered an offense to attempt to have sex with one's dog; Cars may not be driven through the town.

* Evanston: Bowling is forbidden; It is illegal to go trick-or-treating on Halloween; It is unlawful to change clothes in an automobile with the curtains drawn, except in case of fire.

* Fairfield: It is unlawful for "Negroes" to be within county boundaries from sundown to sunrise.(Haha. That's not the only place. This is the only law that I can attest to, as Fairfield is about a 30 min drive away)

* Freeport: It is illegal to expectorate from any second-story window.

* Galesburg: There is a $1,000 dollar fine for beating rats with baseball bats. (Aww, shucks!)

* If the Rushville, Ill., city council doesn't have a quorum, those sent can have the cops go out and arrest absent members and bring them to the meeting.

* In Chicago it is also illegal to take a French poodle to the opera, and for women over 200 pounds (90 kilos) to ride horses in shorts.

* In Chicago, Illinois, it is illegal to fish in pajamas. (how about in the nude? :wink:)

* In Chicago, people who are diseased, maimed, mutilated, or "otherwise an unsightly or disgusting object" are banned from going out in public.

* In Minoola, Ill., it's illegal to take your clothes off and "expose the naked

* In Oblong, Illinois, it's punishable by law to make love while hunting or fishing on your wedding day.

* It is against the law for a monster to enter the corporate limits of Urbana, Illinois. (Take that Godzilla!!)

* It is legal to protest naked in front of city hall as long as you are under seventeen years of age and have legal permits. (I sense Pedobear is behind this one)

* It's not clear what this has done to the bar business, but a law in Chicago, Ill., makes it illegal to serve liquor to the feeble-minded.

* Kenilworth: A rooster must step back three hundred feet from any residence if he wishes to crow; Hens that wish to cackle must step two hundred feet back from any residence.

* Kirkland: Bees are not allowed to fly over the village or through any of Kirkland's streets.

* Moline: Ice skating at the Riverside pond during the months of June and August is prohibited; There is a ban on unnecessary repetitive driving on 23rd Avenue.

* Morton Grove: You may not own a handgun (not really silly. Many places have this law)

* Normal: It is against the law to make faces at dogs.

* Orland Park: No pool tables are allowed in a public establishment, because it supports gambling.

* Ottawa: Spitting on the sidewalk is a criminal offense.

* Park Ridge: Trucks may only park inside closed garages.

* Peoria: Basketball hoops may not be installed on a driveway.

* Pullman: It is illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while sitting on the curb; It is forbidden to fish while sitting on a giraffe's neck ( I really want to know the story behind this law)

* The people in Manteno, Ill., do not want used facial tissue, period. Hence, you cannot "throw, drop or place" a used hankie "upon any public way or public place or upon the floor of any convenience or upon the floor of any theater, hall or assembly or public building or upon the surface or any lot or parcel of ground or on the roof on any building or in any light or air shaft, court or areaway."

• Under a 1872 law still on the books, an alderman in Chicago can carry a gun. Some do. (especially those on the south side)

* You may be arrested for vagrancy if you do not have at least one dollar bill on your person.

* You may be convicted of a Class 4 felony offense, punishable by up to three years in state prison, for the crime of "eavesdropping" on your own conversation. -720 ILCS 5/14-2.

* You must contact the police before entering the city in an automobile.

Weird New York Laws

You may not smoke within 100 feet of the entrance to a public building.

It is illegal for a woman to be on the street wearing “body hugging clothing.

Citizens may not greet each other by “putting one’s thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers”.

A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting.

It is against the law to throw a ball at someone’s head for fun.

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket.

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 P.

In Staten Island, New York, You may only water your lawn if the hose is held in your hand.

In Carmel, New York, a man cannot be seen in public while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.

In Greene, New York, During a concert, it is illegal to eat peanuts and walk backwards on the sidewalks.

In Ocean City, New York It is illegal to eat in the street in residential neighborhoods, and the only beverage you can drink on the beach is water in a clear plastic bottle.

Hawaii:
All residents may be fined as a result of not owning a boat.
Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears.
Billboards are outlawed.
Within the limits of any public park, it is unlawful to annoy any bird (Honolulu)

China
To go to college you must be intelligent.
Drivers of power-driven vehicles who stop at pedestrian crossings are liable to a fine of up to five yuan, or a warning.

Canada
Comic books which depict any illegal acts are banned.
If you are released from prison, it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so you can ride out of town.
It is illegal for a man to drink with a woman in an Edmonton beer parlor in (Alberta.)
All bicycle riders must signal with the arm before making a turn, and a bicycle rider must keep both hands on the handlebars at all times" ( Edmonton.)

United Kingdom
A bed may not be hung out of a window.
(and a catch 22 anyone?)
It is illegal to leave baggage unattended.
Picking up abandoned baggage is an act of terrorism.

Weird New York Laws

You may not smoke within 100 feet of the entrance to a public building.


In Staten Island, New York, You may only water your lawn if the hose is held in your hand.


In Ocean City, New York It is illegal to eat in the street in residential neighborhoods, and the only beverage you can drink on the beach is water in a clear plastic bottle.

These actually are a bit sensible.

In the USA it is legal to execute people.

In the USA it is legal to execute people.

wrong, not in the USA. only certain parts of it.

1. Before starting your car you are required to check lights, brakes, steering and honk your horn.
2. If your vehicle stalls and you leave it on the side of the road, you must mark the vehicle with a red, reflecting triangle.
3. If a horse drawn carriage is trying to pass a car and the horse becomes uneasy, the owner of the car is required to pull over and if necessary, cover the car.
4. Attempt to escape from prison is not illegal, however, if one he is caught he is required to serve out the remainder of his term.
5. No one may start a car while someone is underneath the vehicle.
Encrypting data files, owning, distributing etc.
6. Headlights must be on whenever a vehicle is being operated in order to distinguish it from parked cars.
7. When driving, you must have someone in front of your car with a flag to warn horse drawn carriages that a motorcar is coming.
8. Any carport added to a building increases the value of the building by 15.
9. There is a penalty of 20kr for not reporting when a person has died.
10. Persons may not wear a mask.
11. A fee is levied on each purchaser of any plastic bottle which is returned upon return of the bottle.
12. One may not be charged for food at an inn unless that person, by his or her own opinion, is “full”.
13. Restaurants may not charge for water unless it is accompanied by another item such as ice or a lemon slice.

although 1,2,5,6, and 11 seem perfectly sensible to me...

I´m trying to look for dumb Spanish laws and yet, they elude me!:(

I´m trying to look for dumb Spanish laws and yet, they elude me!:(

That's 'cos Spain is too smart. ;)

wrong, not in the USA. only certain parts of it.

Federal death penalty?

Federal death penalty?

... true, but that's only limited to Federal crimes. but true nonetheless.

I´m trying to look for dumb Spanish laws and yet, they elude me!:(

The government can take peoples homes and demolish them without financial recompense for infrastructure improvements?

I don't know how true this is but there was a bit of a hulabaloo in the UK press over it a while back.

In the USA it is legal to execute people.

You had to do that, didn't you?!

You had to do that, didn't you?!

What? It's weird.

Well, in Holland the coffeeshops are allowed to send people 5 grams of pot, but are themselves not allowed to buy the pot that they're selling to the people.

And while it's illegal to lie on your taxes, a coffeeshop may claim the costs for buying the pot they're not allowed to purchase (but are allowed to sell) using forged receipts for the purchase they're not allowed to make. (That last isn't a law per se, but a court ruling when the Dutch tax authorities sued a coffeeshop.)

In Illinois its illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket.

In Hartford, Connecticut, it's illegal to cross the street walking on your hands.

Some American laws.

In Bozeman, Montana, a law prohibits all sexual activity from the front yard of a home after sundown.

In Salt Lake County, Utah, it's illegal to walk down the street carrying a violin in a paper bag.

In San Francisco, it's illegal to pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner.

In Devon, Texas, it is against the law to make furniture while you are nude.

In Oklahoma, you can be arrested for making ugly faces at a dog. ( What if it's an ugly dog...?)

In California it is illegal for a vehicle without a driver to exceed 60 miles per hour.

In Florida men seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown can be fined.

In South Carolina it is legal to beat your wife on the court house steps on Sundays.

What? It's weird.

I am afraid it will turn into a debate and ruin a perfectly good thread!

That's an internet rumor, and has no basis in reality.

Sorry guys.

Actually it was started in American Health & Fitness magazine.

http://members.aol.com/magastodu/c_issues/ntl_news/01012002.htm

however your right no basis in reality.
Though they passed a law that anyone foreigner mentioning the deflowering of Virgins article must be beat senseless by 5 men with clubs. I found this out the hard way.

My comments in quotes, except for the Caramel's and downey's laws

Many animals are illegal to own as pets, including snails, sloths, and elephants.

Bathhouses are against the law.

In an animal shelter, lizards and snakes are treated under the same guidelines as cats and dogs.

No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour. (i'm going the other way personally)

Women may not drive in a house coat.

It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.

Arcadia
Peacocks have the right of way to cross any street, including driveways.

Alhambra
You cannot leave your car on the street overnight without the proper permit.

Baldwin Park
Nobody is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool.

Belvedere
City Council order reads: "No dog shall be in a public place without its master on a leash." (BDSM? otherwise i'm lost)

Blythe
You are not permitted to wear cowboy boots unless you already own at least two cows.

Burlingame
It is illegal to spit, except on baseball diamonds.

Carmel
Ice cream may not be eaten while standing on the sidewalk. (Repealed when Clint Eastwood was mayor)

Chico
Detonating a nuclear device within the city limits results in a $500 fine. (don't they have other things to worry about other than fining someone who is most likely dead if this happened?)

Downey
It is illegal to wash your car in the street. (Passed 1995).

Hollywood
It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time.

Lafayette
You are forbidden to spit on the ground within 5 feet of another person.

Lodi
It is illegal to own or sell "Silly String".

Lompoc
It is illegal to posses, own or raise roosters. This is considered disturbing the peace.

Long Beach
It is illegal to curse on a mini-golf course.

Cars are the only item allowed in a garage.

Los Angeles
Toads may not be licked.

You may not hunt moths under a street light.

It is a crime for dogs to mate within 500 yards of a church. Breaking this law is punishable by a fine of $500 and/or six months in prison. (what if they're strays?)

You cannot bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time.

Zoot suits are prohibited.

It is illegal to cry on the witness stand.

It is illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.

Ontario
Roosters may not crow in the city limits.

Pacific Grove
Molesting butterflies can result in a $500 fine. (how do you molest a butterfly)

Palm Springs
It is illegal to walk a camel down Palm Canyon Drive between the hours of four and six PM.

Pasadena
It is illegal for a secretary to be alone in a room with her boss.

Prunedale
Two bathtubs may not be installed in the same house.

Redlands
Motor vehicles may not drive on city streets unless a man with a lantern is walking ahead of it. (My god, I'm a lawbreaker!)

Riverside
One may not carry a lunch down the street between 11 and 1 o'clock.

San Diego
The owners of houses with Christmas lights on them past February second may be fined up to $250.

It is illegal to shoot jackrabbits from the back of a streetcar.

San Francisco

Persons classified as "ugly" may not walk down any street.

Prohibits elephants from strolling down Market Street unless they are on a leash.

It is illegal to pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner.

It is illegal to wipe one's car with used underwear. (and downright disgusting to boot)

San Jose
It is illegal to have more than two cats or dogs. -Ord. 7.08.595

Santa Monica
You may not play percussion instruments on the beach.

Temecula
Ducks have the right of way to cross Rancho California St. at all times.

I am afraid it will turn into a debate and ruin a perfectly good thread!

too late, you missed the heated debate... didn't he fartsniffage?

too late, you missed the heated debate... didn't he fartsniffage?

T'was most bloody. Many a life was lost in the tussle.

Silly Laws of Washington

* In Seattle, Washington, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon that is over six feet in length.
* It's illegal in Wilbur, Washington, to ride an ugly horse.
* There is/was a law on the books in Washington state that stated that a motorcar driven at night must be preceded by something like 100 yards by a man carrying a lantern.

Oklahoma

* In Tulsa, Oklahoma, it is against the law to open a soda bottle without the supervision of a licensed engineer.
* Harthahorne City Ordinance, Section 363, states that it shall be unlawful to put any hypnotized person in a display window.

Real (Strange) Sex Laws:*snip*

They missed the Macon, GA law that bans women from wearing red shoes on Cherry St.

Apparently, red shoes used to denote prostitutes.

In One part of Callifornia it is ilegal to ride a horse across a zebra crossing.
and
In Cuba it is illegal to leave the country except on a holiday for a a very short time and that is usually only given to famous people. Thats quiet well known although widely abused as many people simply take a boat over to Mainland America.

In One part of Callifornia it is ilegal to ride a horse across a zebra crossing.
and
In Cuba it is illegal to leave the country except on a holiday for a a very short time and that is usually only given to famous people. Thats quiet well known although widely abused as many people simply take a boat over to Mainland America.

that law exist so when Cubans arrive in Florida they can say they will be punished if Sent back.