41 Weird Laws From Around the World
It may be 2021, but some of the antiquated and downright bizarre laws that remain in place around the world (or that have recently been enacted) would make you think otherwise. From bans on what one can say about royalty to prohibitions of bubble gum and mineral water, there's a wide variety of unusual and outdated ways to run afoul of the law. It's almost enough to make you want to keep a lawyer on retainer.
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The legions of selfie fans will have to keep themselves under control when viewing tigers in New York. Those who attempt to snap a picture with a tiger face a $500 fine. The measure was introduced by Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal to prevent maulings. Just how close were people getting to tigers to take their selfies? Maybe locations with great scenery would be better places for selfies instead.
One would think that hiking the Swiss Alps would be a bit chilly, perhaps necessitating some clothing. The fact that some hikers (er, naturists) in Switzerland didn't see it that way led to a series of court cases that resulted in a ban on hiking in the buff throughout the entire country, which is home to some of the best trails in the world. If hiking sans clothing is on your to-do list, look for another destination.
Related: 20 Must-Haves for Your Next Weekend Hike
An island city-state famous for cleanliness, Singapore has many laws aimed at keeping the nation tidy. The country seems to have a particular obsession with chewing gum, banning its importation entirely until recently — saying any gum passing through the country en route to a neighboring nation must be transported under lock and key and imposing a fine of $100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years if you got caught with it. But things have eased up in recent years, and now you can carry up to two packs with you.
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You may think your romantic encounters are private business, but for married folks in Maryland, that's not exactly the case. The state considers adultery a criminal offense. Although prosecution for this "crime against marriage" is highly unusual, it's a misdemeanor that carries a whopping $10 fine. No word on how many Maryland residents are deterred by the fee.
Related: 10 Signs Your Spouse Wants a Divorce
A Caribbean nation that famously arrested 50 Cent for swearing during a concert, choose your words carefully when visiting St. Kitts. Use of explicit language in public is illegal and cost 50 Cent, who uttered a single profanity, a pretty penny — $1,100 to be exact.
In the United States, parents are free to give their offspring any name they want — whether it's Apple, Blue Ivy, or even North. In Denmark, however, there's a list of about 7,000 government-approved baby names. Parents wishing to give their child a name that does not appear on the list must seek permission, including having the name reviewed by Copenhagen University's Names Investigation Department. About 20% of name applications are rejected each year.
Feeding pigeons may seem harmless enough, but that's not the way the government of Venice sees it. It's illegal to give pigeons birdseed in this historic city, and vendors selling food for the birds were banned from historic Piazza San Marco years ago. What's all the fuss about? The ban is part of an effort to reduce the significant population of pigeons in the city and the health hazards they bring with them.
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When visiting Barbados and Jamaica, don't make the mistake of wearing any camouflage-style clothing. This includes kids' cargo pants. In both destinations, the clothing, which resembles a military uniform, is illegal. Anyone who ignores the law faces a fine.
It's perfectly OK to strip down to a bikini or swim shorts when at the beach in the Maldives — it's known for its beach culture. But be aware it's a Muslim country and serious about it: Wear your bikini out of a resort, the only place beachwear is legal, and you might find yourself surrounded by angry police.
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In Thailand, saying negative things about the king or any member of the royal family, including deceased monarchs, is forbidden. The so-called "lèse majesté" law makes it illegal to defame, insult, or threaten the king, queen, and other royalty. Doing so can result in a prison sentence that ranges from three to 15 years, making it one of the world's harshest laws of its kind.
If you're headed to Nigeria, be sure to ditch any water you may be carrying when entering the country. In an effort to protect local manufacturers, the African nation bans the import of mineral water and fines those who break the law. The country also prohibits importing a variety of other beverages, such as soft drinks, wine, and beer.
This is not the start of another chicken joke, though we've probably all heard the one about the chicken crossing the road. In Quitman, Georgia, however, chicken crossings are apparently no laughing matter. It's illegal for the birds to walk across an open road. The law is designed to ensure that farm animals aren't running about freely. However, the law mentions only fowl. Cows, pigs, and other animals are apparently free to continue crossing back and forth at will.
Arkansas Code 1 April 105 was designed to discourage mispronunciation of the state's name. For those who are unclear, the law says there's only one true pronunciation: Arkan-saw. Creating a state code to deal with this matter may seem frivolous to those not from Arkansas, but its adoption may be traced back to 19th century frustration over the state name being pronounced as "Our-Kansas."
Related: 25 Most Mispronounced Places Across America
Women who want to make a bold dental move, such as getting false teeth in Vermont, must first get their husband's written approval. As for single women, apparently they're free to get whatever kind of teeth they want. No word on whether dentists in the state uphold this antiquated law, which dates back to a time when women were not considered equals.
Don't even think about wearing that fake mustache to church in Alabama, especially if your intention is to make people laugh while there. It's a crime to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in a house of worship. Police apparently do not enforce the obscure statute.
It seems Georgia has a number of bizarre and antiquated laws in place, including one prohibiting people from carrying ice cream in a back pocket. While this practice must be extremely messy, it was once a popular way to steal horses. The ice cream would entice the animal to follow whoever was carrying it, and thieves would lure horses wherever they wanted.
Related: 20 of the Oldest Ice Cream Shops in America
The story was that looking at moose from the window of a plane wasn't allowed in Alaska — but what state lawmakers actually felt it necessary to ban was spotting moose from an airplane that you then planned to immediately hunt. That is, the law is in place so hunters don't have an unfair advantage over their prey; hunters must either wait or travel far enough away to give up the advantage. (It is, however, apparently also illegal to push a moose out of an airplane, which still needs some explaining.)
Related: Incredible Photos of Wild Animals Across America
It's a felony in Washington state to harass Bigfoot in any way. The fact that Bigfoot has never been proven to exist ... well, that's just a trivial detail. Anyone who engages in the willful, wanton slaying of the creature faces a $1,000 fine or jail time. The purpose "was actually to protect the safety and well-being of persons living or traveling in these areas when a sasquatch is 'sighted,'" Canadian courthouse librarians note.
Since 1969, Virginia's tourism and travel slogan has been "Virginia is for lovers." But as it turns out, that's not always been entirely accurate. Until recently, the state continued to have a law prohibiting unmarried people from having sex. That's right, if you weren't lawfully wed, having sex was a Class 4 misdemeanor. A third attempt at repealing the law, however, finally succeeded in 2020.
Germany's Autobahn is famous for not having a speed limit. But far less well known is the fact that when driving this legendary stretch of road, it's illegal to run out of gas. What's more, if you have to get out and walk to find gas, you will be in even more trouble, because walking on the Autobahn is also illegal. Hopefully, they have AAA in Germany.
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Sunday seems to be a very special day in Switzerland, considering all the laws they have governing what isn't allowed on that day. Some of the regulations are downright bizarre. For instance, hanging laundry out to dry is prohibited on Sundays, as is mowing your lawn. (The idea is not to disturb the neighborhood.) And don't even think about recycling on Sunday. A woman who dared to do so was offered a fine or two nights in jail.
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Driving rules and regulations certainly vary around the world, but Thailand's shirt ordinance is perhaps the most puzzling. It's illegal to drive without your top on in the country. Get caught doing so, and you will be fined. No word on how being topless impairs driving capabilities — but going shirtless is actually against the law anywhere except on the beach.
In Canada, making a purchase using mounds of coins is frowned upon. The country's Currency Act strictly limits how many coins can be used in a single transaction. For instance, if you're shopping with pennies, you may not make a purchase greater than 25 cents.
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In Russia, allowing your car to get too dirty is not a wise idea. Doing so could lead to a fine, and just how much that fine will be is a little unclear. The exact amount seems to be left to the discretion of the officer citing you for the infraction, a situation that rarely ends in your favor.
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Ancient Greek monuments have managed to survive thousands of years. But the modern stilettos many women are so fond of wearing (Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and the like) have proved a serious threat to the future of these ancient treasures, piercing the delicate "skin" of the antiquities. As a result, heels are illegal at certain locations around the country. Do yourself a favor and just opt for comfortable walking shoes no matter which monument you visit. You'll thank us later.
While it may seem a far wiser choice than getting behind the wheel of a car, riding a horse while intoxicated is forbidden in Colorado. Those caught riding a horse while under the influence face a traffic violation.
Getting soaked by a car speeding through a puddle as you walk along the street is not exactly a pleasant experience. In Japan, drivers who commit such an offense, known as "muddy driving," are subject to a traffic citation or a fine.
Water guns may seem like innocent enough fun in many parts of the world, but in Cambodia, it's a different story. The government fears their use might lead to social unrest during holiday celebrations and opted to prevent the sale and import of all such toys.
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So we all know it's not cool to pee in a swimming pool, right? In Portugal, however, peeing in the ocean is also frowned upon. How this particular law is enforced remains a puzzling question, but if you can, perhaps just use the bathroom rather than the ocean next time, OK?
Flip-flops are standard attire in places like Florida, Southern California, and elsewhere, so thankfully this particular law applies to a far-flung country. Spain does not allow the popular open-toed beach shoes to be worn when operating a vehicle, because wearing them may lead to an accident. The country also prohibits having groceries in the back seat of a convertible.
In some places, putting a coin in your ear means you have drugs for sale, a fact not lost on government authorities in Hawaii. It's against the law when visiting the Hawaiian Islands to store your change in your ear. Dimes, pennies, quarters, and nickels are all forbidden. Try carrying them around the old-fashioned way — in your pocket.
This law begs the question, who would be brave enough to wake a sleeping bear? Alaska making it illegal to disturb a snoozing bear to snap a photo — yet allowing the shooting of a hibernating bear in its den — makes it key to understand the distinction of hunting vs. just pestering an animal. Whatever anyone thinks of legal hunting, we can agree that it's crazy to disturb a bear for what may be the last selfie you ever take.
Related: 21 Places to Safely See Wild Animals Up Close
Perhaps it was someone's idea of a prank, or perhaps it was just done as a surprise, but whatever the case may be, it is illegal to send pizza to person's home without their knowledge. Those who engage in this forbidden behavior face a $500 fine. And no pizza prank is worth that kind of cash.
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It's hard to even imagine anyone in their right mind doing this, but in Oregon it's illegal to drive with a child on the hood or fender of your car. Thank goodness. Though children still can ride unrestrained in the flatbed of a pickup as long as it's between hunting sites, and the child has a hunting license.
Don't you hate when you're walking along the street and an unexpected sprinkler encounter leaves you soaked? Apparently the people of Montana also do not enjoy this. It's illegal in the state to annoy passersby on a sidewalk with a revolving sprinkler. The Kalispell, Montana, law dates back to 1947 and prohibits water from being thrown onto a street or sidewalk from a sprinkler, hose, or fountain.
If you find yourself asking what this even means, you're not alone. It may make you wonder if Oregon residents have a tendency to drive while lifting weights — but it just refers to attempts to show off the "physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes."
It may be hard to imagine someone eating animals we keep as pets in the United States, but apparently in Southern Australia it was enough of a problem that a law prohibiting the practice was warranted. Those caught killing or selling such animals for the purpose of consumption face a fine of $1,250.
Canada is famous for taking steps to protect its heritage, and that includes the work of Canadian artists. As part of that effort, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission requires that 35% to 50% of the songs played on the radio must be by a Canadian. Thankfully, the country has produced many fine musical talents beyond merely Justin Bieber.
Related: 26 Things Americans Don't Know About Canada
If having a profanity-free beach vacation is on your to-do list, Virginia may be one of the best options. In Virginia Beach, it's a misdemeanor to swear at the beach. There seems to be some local debate about the constitutionality of the law (the Virginia Court of Appeals declared the ordinance violates free-speech). However, the community is not giving up its efforts. Its oceanfront no-swearing signs remain in place.
Related: The 20 Best Beaches on the East Coast
In India, public displays of affection exist on a spectrum ranging from against the law to immoral and taboo. Some consider kissing obscene, and public obscenity can land you in jail for up to three months. There are also "moral police" throughout the country, informal groups that enforce fundamentalist Hindu views regarding PDA. Bottom line — play it safe and keep the PDA to a minimum.
The stench of the durian fruit is evidently so awful that several nations have prohibited its consumption in public places, among them Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia. You're not allowed to eat the fruit, (which, according to a Smithsonian article, smells like a cross between turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock), in hotels, airports, or on buses or subways. In other words, if you must eat this funky fruit, do it in private.
