There is a law in South Carolina called the no mock proposal law, which states that anybody above the age of 16-years-old is not allowed to perform a proposal if they do not mean it. In Greece, police are allowed to arrest anyone suspected of having HIV. The course for this frozen version of Golf is snow fields along with icebergs in between. February 20, 2018 The law is apparently tied to an 80-year-old tradition called the Frog Jumping Jubilee in a mining town and was enacted many years ago to prevent people from eating unsanitary frogs. 37. In Reno, its illegal to sit down on public sidewalks because the point of sidewalks is to walk. No, you cant lie down on them, either. Where this law exists: South Carolina (among other states). Pixabay 36. Spitting is also illegal and can result in arrest. There are truly some wacky laws out there There are truly some wacky laws out there. Sometimes, these laws border on the seriously ridiculous, and other times they point to important cultural values that might be different than your own. According to the Michigan State Legislature, breaking this law is punishable by a maximum sentence of four years in prison and possibly a $5,000 fine. The bar manager was also fined. Presumably, the governor thinks its silly and should be stopped. The list is quite long-:) OP JonnyM 11 | 2,620 13. 11. University Centre in Svalbard, part of the University of the Arctic, photo credit. When it was first invented, Wisconsin banned the yellow butter substitute, thinking that it was a threat to their thriving dairy industry. The name Greenland might give one the idea that the landscapes of this country are covered in lush greenery. The Balkan culture of gathering things vs. Japanese minimalism, Greetings from Skopje photos from the really old days. Admittedly, most of these weird laws are either unlikely to be enforced or unlikely to come up in the first place. 15 weird US laws you may be surprised to know exist. In France, it is stated as illegal to marry a dead person. In Cleveland, it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. Is it the end of an era for the University RE: the myths about Skopjes Old Bazaar district. No one under 16 was allowed to smooch or show public displays of affectionthe horror (for the teens, that is). In essence, it bans the launching of any dangerous object, from stones to missiles to just about anything in between, within the bounds of Cumberland parks and playgrounds. In Britain you are not allowed to let your pet mate with any pet form the royal house. So, in 2008, Japan banned its citizens from being fat. He could choose to reincarnate far away from Tibet. The assembling of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Sounds like an amusement park ride for the donkey, but apparently the town didnt see it that way. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a . Standing up and sleeping is fine. 54. It is not clear why this ever became a law or a rumoured law in the first place. How about laws in retrograde. This just makes a lot of sense and has probably saved many lives. 64. The law came into effect in 2008, and many teenagers were outraged and protested. The logic behind it must be similar to the logic behind cyclists having to obey normal traffic laws, only a little less sound. It's illegal to hold salmon under suspicious circumstances The center of Longyearbyen. The Belgian laws restricting games of chance mean that prohibitions apply to commercial contests, sweepstakes, lotteries, and even private poker games. 27. The ruling has been challenged by nature lovers, but the Swiss high court agreed that the government had the right to uphold public decency.. Stealing is always illegal, but stealing crawfish can result in prison time less than 6 months if you steal less than $500 of crawfish or up to 10 years if you steal over $1,500 worth. Final verdict:No, this isn't an attack on good, clean Halloween fun. 10. Good to know. To carry, manufacture, sell, or handle any non-biodegradable, plastic-based confetti is unlawful, according to Municode Library. 9. The law only applies if they maimed the victim on purpose, according to the Rhode Island State Legislature. 40. It makes sense to require people to stay in control of their animals, but its not like there were lawless horses breaking the speed limit before they made this funky law. Among native New Hampshire mammals are the white-tailed deer, muskrat, beaver, porcupine, and snowshoe hare. 7. In Britain, oddly enough it is illegal to be drunk in the pub. 22. 17. Acworth retaliated saying all of their citizens needed a rake. While these laws are bizarre, they are still enforceable. It is popular due to the fact that it has the fastest moving glacier in the entire Northern hemisphere. In Billings, however, you cant buy or sell a rat unless its for the purpose of feeding a reptile or bird of prey. No pun intended. 1. The law is no longer enforced, of course, but back in the day, people who were deemed too unsightly for the public eye were slapped with a $25 fine over $400 in today's currency. Final verdict: Or you cant lie down to sleep, at least. Water pistols are usually seen as harmless funjust childrens toys for sunny days. 35. That is enforcement that protects the lives of people unless someone wants to be the meal of a hungry polar bear. 5. A device called ashoe-fitting fluoroscope, also known as a pedoscope or foot-o-scope, could expose the patient to radiation. 11. Final verdict: Technically, it was Wisconsins downright war against margarine that began in 1895. To solve the funeral issue the local government of Svalbard reportedly requests any dead bodies to be taken to the mainland of Norway for burial, either by plane or by boat. Location of Cities: ithas a lot to do with water, Seattle: the most extensive terrain alteration in city building history, Radio tudent, one of Europes strongest alternative stations, struggling with funding cuts, Rebellious Rog: Ljubljanas shameful shutting down of its former bike factory turned culture center, Traveling pill #1: Dont do yoga on Holocaust monuments. A previous version of this article was co-authored by Christina Sterbenz. Nevertheless, the strange assortment for burial is not the only weird law active in Longyearbyen. Despite the goofy name, no one is allowed to use them in most states anymore aside from police officers. In 2002, the vice governor of Phnom Penh said, We will not allow people to use [water pistols] because our nation is now peaceful, and if we let people play with them, it will look bad., The Cambodian authorities are not complete killjoys, however. Greenland is one of the best locations in the world to view the dancing Northern lights. Denmark upholds the annual block grant of 3.2 billion Danish kroner, but as Greenland begins to collect revenues of its natural resources the grant will gradually be diminished. No Shoes in Public. Final verdict: In 2012, Illinois decided it was OK for culinary students to sample alcoholic beverages as part of their education, as long as they spit it out instead of actually drinking it. There's a myth floating around on the Internet that there's a German law which forbids the hanging of laundry on Sundays. In Britain, it is illegal to carry a plank along the pavement. Even though it is a land covered mostly by sheets of ice, there are numerous interesting aspects to explore around this naturally attractive location. Netflix. In Russia, Vladimir Putin just recently made it illegal to tell kids that gay people exist. However, these weird or outlandish laws are actually on the books, whether they're enforced or not. In Victoria, Australia, it is illegal to change a light bulb unless youre a licensed electrician. However, her spokesman suggested that the police concentrate on more serious crimes. It's Illegal to Drag a Dead Horse Along the Street. If you're overheard dropping a four-letter word on the street, it's a misdemeanor worth a $100 fine. Since 1986, US authorities have had the legal right to access any 180-day old email, without a warrant. When it entered the Kentucky Constitution in 1849, the law was meant to deter men who might aspire to public office from participating in the once rampant Southern tradition. Shady psychics probably wont bother jumping through all the hoops. Final verdict:This sounds completely unconstitutional, but Mississippi passed a law in 2013 stating that you can only have one illegitimate child. In Kansas, individual counties may by resolution or petition prohibit the sale of alcohol in public places where 30% or less of their gross revenue comes from the sale of food, according to Kansas State Legislatureand TIME. If you think only big gestures count, you are wrong my "To Travel is to Live" ~ Hans Christian Andersen If there is one place people are most likely to get drunk, it is a bar. Where this law exists: Rockville, Maryland. No horse shall be driven or ridden on any street in the city at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour, and every horse shall be kept under control at all times by the person in charge thereof. The original law prohibited "idiots" as well as "insane persons convicted of a felonious or infamous crime" from voting, but a 2010 amendment reversed the ban. All countries have their set of weird customs and laws and Iceland is no exception. 1. For some reason, she elected not to appear in court in person. Final verdict: We couldnt figure out when this law was first enacted, but it reportedly hasnt been updated in over 30 years. A second clause specifies that passengers cant position themselves in such a way that it impedes the drivers peripheral vision. A nearby city, Kennesaw, passed a law in 1982 declaring all citizens had to own a gun. What a shocker. One of the most popular and widely believed bizarre "laws" in the country, is that it is illegal to smoke any form of tobacco on Grafton Street. A single sandcastle. How inhumane! Sadly, its not. We've all heard urban legends and rumors about absurd laws in America, but you can't believe everything you read on the internet. 66. 3) (rescinded obviously after the 1930's) In certain Southern states, sodomy punishable, but lynching blacks permissible, indeed photographed and applauded. Unbelievable Belgian laws. Just make sure you dont throw your talcum powder around when you are getting dry later. This crazy law in Georgia was passed in jest, but it's still on the books. Who knows, but it was enough of an annoyance to pass a law about it. 67. The poor bears were also subjected to inhumane practices, like removing their claws and teeth, to prevent them from killing their human opponents. No, a woman's hair does not legally belong to her husband in Michigan. Apparently, farmers and landowners are being punished for this. Initially enacted to stop servants from stealing their master's money to pay off their debts in the pub, it soon became a free pass to extensive boozing. Any form of the "occult arts" is illegal to practice in Yamhill, including "fortune-telling, astrology, phrenology, palmistry, clairvoyance, mesmerism, spiritualism or any other practice or practices generally recognized to be unsound and unscientific whereby an attempt or pretense is made.". Students at the University of Colorado kept getting too lit at frat parties (pun intended). That said, some people swear by psychics and will pay top dollar for a reading from an experienced fortune-teller. Supposedly, its a threat to public safety. 5. Height, weight, glasses, funny haircuts, okay. Of course, there are a few rules. By law, any whale or great Sturgeon caught in the UK is the property of the Queen. There, even whispering in church is considered a disturbance of worship and can result in an annoying fine. The reason for this law comes down to respect for cultural traditions. Specifically, they dont want kids to be teased because of their names. Yes, it's illegal for a drunk person to enter a bar in Alaska. In the Philippines you can be charged with the crime of unjust vexation for doing just that, vexing someone. In these states, sodomy is only illegal for homosexuals: Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. On a great big beach. It is a thrilling natural phenomenon that can be experienced only when there is no midnight sun. Offenders can be sentenced to 25-year long prison time. Where this law exists: Gainesville, Georgia. In Argentina, there is a law that states that Argentine nightclubs must play the same amount of tango music as all other forms of music combined. However, no amount of thinking can explain some of the more bizarre laws from around the world. "Fornication" or sex is completed banned, except for married couples. Quit getting married. In Montana, proxy weddings are allowed for those serving in the military, which means a friend can pretend to be the groom or the bride and the union will still be considered valid. Someone, at some point, did something so nutty that people felt compelled to make it illegal. In Canada, it's now legal to engage in oral sex with your pet. Sadly, despite the law's prevalence among weird-law lists, the law itself is just a myth. We're talking about law-breaking criminals, right? 60. Unfortunately, when a local dam broke, the house flooded, and the bathtub floated away, donkey and all. . 12. 1) No liquor served on Sundays before 12 noon! The same laws also prohibit turkey scrambles, according to the Minnesota State Legislature. Children have impressionable minds. Strange But (Unfortunately) Untrue: Apple Pie Must Be Served With a Slice of Cheese. Wait, I cant wear a bulletproof vest? 31. The law applies also to trout, eels, lampreys, smelt, freshwater fish, and any other fish specified for the purpose.. 4. 43. In 2012, police in Anchorage, Alaska, started enforcing the law by sending plainclothes officers into bars to identify excessively drunk people and arrest suspects, according to ABC News. However, what makes this law even stranger is that it is illegal to do this only on Sundays. You might even recognize this legendary street from the movies. In July 2013 a law was passed in China that states it is illegal for adult children to not visit their parents often in China. What kind of nut eats fried chicken with a knife and fork? For example, some places have outlawed miniskirts, low-cut jeans, and tops that show too much cleavage. All of this seems to be very specificexcept, of course, that the legislation does not say what a suspicious manner looks like. It suffered heavy damages after an avalanche in 2015,photo credit, Acaption showing downtown Longyearbyen, and the Adventfjorden sea and valley, as seen from the nearby Plateau Mountain, photo credit. In Samoa it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday. When the sun reappears after the long and dark winter months, the local people of Longyearbyen observe the Solfestuka festivity. April 20, 2022 We round up some of the weirdest laws around the world, from not allowing your chicken to cross the road or preventing your donkey from sleeping in the bath to never refusing a stranger the use of your bathroom and more. Final verdict: Don't go to Yamhill to get your fortune told. Longyearbyen was first inhabited by miners. It has become a tradition to use water pistols during New Years celebrations. We start our weird laws in Nevada list with a kiss. People used to set up bear-wrestling rings. It is a step toward full independence from Danish rule. Police are also allowed to force HIV testing, to publicize the names of HIV-positive people and to have them evicted from their homes. The statute aims to prohibit machines that encourage gambling, according to the Arkansas State Legislature. During summer, from mid-May to mid-July the sun does not completely set even though the bright daylight gets converted to warm hues in the evening. Bangladeshi children of 15 and older can be sent to jail for cheating on their final exams. For reasons unknown, these laws are still in place. So far, the metabo scheme has cut obesity by 3.5 percent, which certainly seems impressive in a country with already low obesity rates. Why? 18. This place also has some more features counted as per the northernmost, such as the local church, museum, radio station, airport, university, etc. (1) It is illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft in Canada. Whatever you say, Washington. In England it is illegal to die in the House of Parliament, but something tells me that if someone did do this, they wouldnt face many repercussions? He went with the name Greenland to make it sound all fuzzy to people back in Europe because in order to start a successful settlement, he needed a lot of settlers willing to migrate there. Leave Your Creativity For the Weekdays. One common Netflix habit is illegal in Tennessee but might be hard to actually enforce on the minor level. In Alaska, a person. By Kate Bratskeir Jan 22, 2016, 01:51 PM EST | Updated Sep 5, 2017 If you allow your donkey to sleep in a bathtub, you're an ass. 48. This law was enacted to prevent people from being forced to foot the bill for food they didnt order. Imago, Weird Laws. Weird Laws What are Strange Laws? Anyone "pretending to forecast or foretell the future of another by cards, palm reading or any other scheme, practice or device" can be found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined up to $500, or even serve time in jail, according to Maryland State Legislature. The purpose of most legislation is to promote acceptable behavior and to prevent or punish unacceptable behavior. The statute does explain why though: to avoid congestion during emergencies, like fires. In Florida, its illegal to fart in a public place after 6pm on a Thursday. It was enacted in the 1970s to essentially label horses as vehicles. A barn? In Virginia, hunting is forbidden on Sundays, unless you're hunting raccoons. If you don't know how this series works it's where I give 15 unique facts and a couple of weird laws about certain country of my choosing in this case Greenland. Below are 51 absurdly ridiculous laws to keep in mind next time you travel to Europe. Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. Sadly, thanks to the Licensing Act 1872, it's also illegal and could land you a 200 fine and almost a year in jail. 51. 42. 62. Seems safe. Final verdict: According tothis Louisiana law, if you steal someone's crawfish, it's a big deal. In Colorado it is illegal to collect rainwater. Unfortunately, this old law has some pretty outdated and unfair roots. 20. Enjoy this collection of funny, stupid and often bizarre laws from South America. In Britain it is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the monarchs head upside down on an envelope. Beating a Carpet on the Street. The Hvalsey Church, a Norse ruin now is the first church for Christians built on the continent of North America. Apparently, two pickle farmers were caught selling pickles that werent fit for human consumption back in the 1940s. Today it is a heritage site, photo credit. "White deer," as people often call these mammalian anomalies, are extremely rare. In Skamania County, they were worried enough to pass a law stating that the "slaying of Bigfoot to be a felony and punishable by five years in prison.". That's why you need to know about some of the weirdest laws that you might break completely by accident. In Kentucky, a woman cannot remarry the same man more than three times. If you do, youre at risk of paying $350 fine. Just dont let them take a snooze in the process, or you might be slapped with a fine. The national colours of Iceland are red, white and blue. The time depends on the region. Views: 4043 While comic books have traditionally been considered for children, it is a known fact that they are aimed towards adolescents as well. If a person litters three times, they must clean the streets wearing a bib that reads Im a litterer. Even pharmacists who sell the medical gum and forget to ID get two years in jail. No Public Feather Dusting. Hopefully, you do, too. It is a two day event and the greens in common version of golf are known as whites. Where this law exists: Indianapolis, Indiana. Except strangely, you dont see people as equally outraged about this as they are about gay sex. And it seems every state has at least a few of them. And yes, it is as vague and arbitrary as it sounds. Florida outlawed tossing little people in 1989 after the bar activity caught on in southern parts of the state. Considering Kahlua alcoholic chocolates are around 4%, we can assume they won't be hitting the shelves any time soon. Exceptions are made for people in wheelchairs, participating in parades or having a medical emergency. The ban on porch couches is still active in 2021. FLAG OF GREENLAND The reason? While this law appears to be a direct assault on the First Amendment, it's thought to have been conceived in order to protect the public. In Mobile, Alabama, it is against the law to throw confetti or spray silly string. Also, an ancient Norwegian law still exists that obliges all Norwegians to go out on expeditions to rape and plunder at least once every five years. In the past few years Iceland and Norway have also adopted this law. Luckily, after youre finally over your ex, its perfectly legal to marry someone else. Arkansas. To be updated with all the latest news, facts and knowledge. The list goes on. If you allow it while you're in Arizona, you're a criminal. They decided that Winnie the Pooh, a beloved childrens character, was an inappropriate hermaphrodite because of its lack of identifying genitalia. This is a photo of Mine 2b where work was ongoing from 1938 until 1969. Michigan has a large Christian population, and in their faith, its believed that Sunday should be reserved for rest, family time and church.