Weird laws around the world
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If you're thinking of feeding the pigeons in Venice or not wearing underwear in Thailand, you may want to think again, as these are some of the world's strange laws that still exist. See more of the silliest laws around the world below.
Strange laws around the globe
- Don't drink while in possession of a cow in Scotland<p> In Scotland, it's still illegal to be drunk while in possession of a cow. It's not clear why this law was introduced but it could have been due to many farmers getting drunk at the time! But what about being drunk while in possession of sheep?</p>
- Hot pink shorts are a fashion crime in Victoria, Australia<p> This may sound bizarre but in Victoria, Australia it's illegal to wear hot pink shorts after midday on a Sunday! It's hard to fathom the point of this law but it could have been introduced so that churchgoers returning home after the Sunday service weren't offended.</p>
- Don't chew gum in Singapore<p> Don't get yourself in a sticky situation in Singapore where chewing gum is prohibited. The law was introduced because it became difficult and expensive to remove stuck chewing gum from public spaces. The sticky stuff even stopped the Mass Rapid Transit trains from moving when it was stuck on the doors.</p>
- Don't stop smiling in Milan<p> In Italy's fashion capital Milan, there's still a law that exists requiring its citizens to smile at all times or risk paying a hefty fine. Of course the law comes with an exception... you're allowed to look sad when visiting a hospital or at a funeral!</p>
- Don't go commando in Thailand<p> It's illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear in Thailand. We're not sure how this law is enforced or what the penalty is but it's a good idea to pack extra undies if you're travelling to Thailand! It's also against the law to drive without your top on and the police do hand out tickets to shirtless motorcycle and car drivers, so beware!</p>
- Don't flush the toilet after 10pm in Switzerland<p> If you're staying with friends or family in Switzerland and they live in an apartment, you may want to think again before having a drink before going to bed as it's still illegal to flush the toilet after 10pm in most apartment houses. We like how polite the Swiss are that they don't want to wake the neighbours with their toilets roaring in the late hours, but what about the unpleasant build-up in the toilet bowl?</p>
- No mince pies on Christmas Day in England<p> The mince pie may be a sweet treat you enjoy throughout the festive season but did you know it's illegal to eat one on Christmas Day in England? This bizarre law was brought in by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, who put a ban on mince pies and anything to do with gluttony on 25 December.</p>
- Don't feed the pigeons in Venice<p> In 2008, Mayor Massimo Cacciari banned the feeding of Venice's famous flocks of pigeons to cut the number of birds who were blamed for spreading filth and ruining the Italian city's stunning facades and monuments. This is one of the world's strange laws that exist and fines for feeding the birds start at 50 euros!</p>
- Keep your car clean in Moscow<p> If you're thinking of renting a car in the Russian capital of Moscow, you'll need to keep it clean as it's against the law to drive a dirty car in the city and doing so could leave you with a hefty fine. But how dirty is dirty? A survey when the law was first introduced showed that motorists in Russia agree that a car is dirty when the number plate isn't visible!</p>
- No trousers for women in Paris<p> In late 1799, a law banning women in Paris from wearing trousers was introduced and ladies wanting to 'dress like a man’ had to seek permission from the capital's main police station to do so. It was relaxed in 1892 so that trousers could be worn 'as long as the woman is holding the reins of a horse' and in 1909 women 'on a bicycle or holding it by the handlebars' could wear trousers. It was only in 2010 that French MPs discussed lifting the ban altogether!</p>
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Curtis Carter
