This is one weird law we're very thankful for. This murder is canceled," said no murderer ever. You may think that this law is completely made up, but the regional police in York have confirmed that it is illegal to drag a dead horse along Yonge Street in Toronto. The logic behind it must be similar to the logic behind cyclists having to obey normal traffic laws, only a little less sound. Whatever you say, Washington. And remember: having a criminal record is definitely not cool if you're a man over 40. Sounds like an amusement park ride for the donkey, but apparently the town didnt see it that way. Final verdict: Sounds great, doesnt it? Skamania County, Washington, was the first county to draft the law in 1964 which states that "any . One of the most active glaciers of the world is present in Ilulissat, a city on the western coast of Greenland. Many of them were Civil War veterans or immigrants who had lost limbs or suffered severe burns, and they were left penniless on the street. Lots of wacky laws have been written over the years, and they were all written for a reason. University Centre in Svalbard, part of the University of the Arctic, photo credit. This particular Florida law states that "no person or persons over 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way in this state.". Final verdict: Were not sure how this law originally came to pass, but we can tell you why. "Dumb Laws" Across the United States It Is Prohibited To Harass Big Foot (Washington) In the US state of Washington, it is a crime punishable by either a fine or a jail term to harass big foot, Sasquatch, or any other undiscovered species. You cant even have a beer in the same room as a bingo game, even if youre not playing. At Far & Wide, we try to be law-abiding citizens. It certainly is a forgotten law and has never really been enforced in Florida. In Kentucky, a woman cannot remarry the same man more than three times. Married New Yorkers cannot get divorced on grounds of irreconcilable differences unless both marriage partners agree on those grounds. In Britain you are not allowed to let your pet mate with any pet form the royal house. Even if a person gets buried, it is another question how proper the body will decompose. Final verdict: At first read, this weird law seems like it should come with a hilarious reason. If you own more than two in your house, you can be subject to criminal possession. Supposedly, the reason for the rule is hygiene. Although the tight swimsuits may not always be flattering, they are unlikely to have been worn outside on the streets. Let's take a look at some of these weird laws from around the world to know about how unusual they are: 1. 31. Or parties on campus? Final verdict: We guess Grandma was right about this one. Similarly, bars can be fined for allowing bingo. Final verdict: This weird law sounds like something made up by a fed-up best friend. Background. Attempts to jump into the pool in shorts may lead to you being rescued by a lifeguard or hauled out by a large hook. There are so many things wrong with this, but Mississippi lawmakers viewed it as an issue of morality. The fine can be up to $50,000. Wed wager that most of the students have plenty of non-educational sipping experience already. We decided to undertake some legal legwork and identify the strangest statute still on the books in each state. 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. 11. And not just a salmon. (1) It is illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft in Canada. 1. Final verdict:It sounds silly, but those funny, 1990s-style stink bombs you probably bought in a joke shop at some point can actually be harmful. Where this law exists: Gainesville, Georgia. 2023 This City Knows | All rights reserved. After the donkey was rescued, the town passed one of the weirdest laws in the country, which forbids donkeys from sleeping in bathtubs. 60. But if you do find yourself swapping goods or services for your precious bundle, it's only a misdemeanor, which is usually punished less harshly than felonies, according to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In Singapore, selling non-medical chewing gum or chewing normal gum is a fine of $1000. Final verdict: Where else would he sleep? Few peculiarities are associated with this urban area, such as the fact that almost for a third of the year round, there isnt any sun around, because of the geographical position of the islands. Its nothing like passing a driving test, but at least it takes some work before a psychic can start selling predictions. The law is still upheld today. A second offense costs $2000 and being forced to clean a public area of the city for a day. Where this law exists: Indianapolis, Indiana. Sometimes, these laws border on the seriously ridiculous, and other times they point to important cultural values that might be different than your own. In Massachusetts it is deemed illegal for a woman to be on top during sex. If you think only big gestures count, you are wrong my "To Travel is to Live" ~ Hans Christian Andersen A national version of theDry Pea and Lentil Councilalso exists. Offenders can be sentenced to 25-year long prison time. That is an active law as of 1950. One of the by-laws for the city says, "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." However, no amount of thinking can explain some of the more bizarre laws from around the world. Tons of people flocked to the city in search of gold, but few struck it rich. If it keeps creepy clowns of the road, we're OK with it. This country was named in this manner to attract settlers so that these raiders could benefit by warring with approaching settlers ships. Just make sure you dont throw your talcum powder around when you are getting dry later. Fremont Street, also known playfully as 'Glitter Gulch', is one of the most famous streets in Las Vegas. The law was fittingly nicknamed the Sip and Spit law. It stated that no landlord could demand back money owed for booze. It's still technically punishable as a misdemeanor, according to Virginia State Legislature. Greenland is called Greenland because that's what famous viking Erik the Red decided to call it when he started the first European settlement there in 982 AD. 51. 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. Strange But (Unfortunately) Untrue: Apple Pie Must Be Served With a Slice of Cheese. In seven U.S. states, according to their constitutions, atheists are barred from holding public office. 54. 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. Now, that's something Europeans can probably get behind. You'd better take it as a fun read instead of a history lesson! Final verdict: And it's illegal to honk in front of any sandwich shop, not just a Subway chain restaurant. Except strangely, you dont see people as equally outraged about this as they are about gay sex. While it's nearly impossible to enforce this law, and no blood test or medical history is required to get a marriage license, this health code could have prevented marital bliss for more than 9,700 Nebraskans who reported cases of chlamydia or gonorrhea to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in 2015. Ordinarily, naked hiking might not be at the top of the political agenda, but a sudden influx of naked hikers from Germany brought the issue to the fore. So, what happens if you have the wrong sort of swimwear? Anyone outside those positions is guilty of a third-degree felony, according to the Utah State Legislature. It must also be a recognized name. The law has since been amended to establish Bigfoot as an endangered species. As we all know, one of the things you really need in a childrens character is prominent genitals. Most Recent Stupid Laws It is illegal to ask about a job It is illegal to die in town It's illegal to idle your car in your own driveway 1,000 Hours of training is required to braid hair. 5. Because, you know, when you turn 65 youre known to have impeccable judgment. Stupid Laws reports that this stone throwing prohibition is listed in Section 15-53 of the Cumberland penal code. The time depends on the region. Apparently, they cause an obstruction.[6]. No "Bat Signals" (or any other beacon) allowed in the sky. 59. Final verdict:If you swear every time you stub your toe or drop your keys, don't move to Rockville, Maryland. And not just a salmon. It's illegal to carry away or collect seaweed at night in New Hampshire. If there is one place people are most likely to get drunk, it is a bar. Greenland was named as Greenland by Vikings who discovered this country in the 10th century. This just makes a lot of sense and has probably saved many lives. A previous version of this article was co-authored by Christina Sterbenz. There are lots of things you are not allowed to do in Italy. . When the sun reappears after the long and dark winter months, the local people of Longyearbyen observe the Solfestuka festivity. We're talking about law-breaking criminals, right? Can You Believe These Weird Laws? There, swearing in public is against the law. The law has withstood legal challenges since 1845 and included exceptions for parties, according to the New York Times and Find Law. Only in America would a donut chain require a new law like this to be written. This is one weird law that Europeans would definitely laugh at. However, she must kill him with her bare hands. The governor of Phnom Penh has banned the sale, import, and possession of all water pistols in the city. Notice of Crimes. 7. Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice-capped. In reality, it's illegal under Illinois law to possess any variety of aquatic life that was captured or killed in violation of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code or whose value exceeds $600, according to the Illinois General Assembly. The Balkan culture of gathering things vs. Japanese minimalism, Greetings from Skopje photos from the really old days. 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. 45. Final verdict: No, someone didn't get a coin stuck in their ear. If you allow it while you're in Arizona, you're a criminal. Sadly, its not. On the other hand, shorts might have been worn anywhere. 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. 14. So far, the metabo scheme has cut obesity by 3.5 percent, which certainly seems impressive in a country with already low obesity rates. However, not in Colorado without a permit. In Victoria, Australia, it's been illegal to fly a kite since 1966. He said, If the police are fair dinkum about protecting people in pubs and clubs, why dont they target the real issues instead?. They are also required to attend to their parents spiritual needs. No Shoes in Public. Listed below are 10 interesting facts about Greenland. The chemicals in them can be toxic, causing nausea and irritation to the eyes and skin. Not until 2008 did the UN Security Council pass UN Security Council Resolution No. We also thought to remind you ofWhittier, Alaska a town where almost all its citizens live under one roof, Tags: Longyearbyen, Norway, remote cities, this city knows, weird laws. 12. Here are 13 weird laws in Ohio that we are willing to bet you didn't know about. Let's begin with one of the most frequently cited state laws, which reportedly requires that "all apple pie in Wisconsin must be served with a slice of cheese on it.". But perhaps one of the strangest laws in Italy is in Eraclea, near Venice, where it is forbidden to build sandcastles on the beach. Thankfully, because it's one of the weirdest laws around the world, we're guessing it never really has to be enforced. Below is a collection of eight strange laws from the state of Maryland. 5. People called out the law as hypocritical and unfair since there was no such ruling against similar pets like hamsters and guinea pigs. . In 2012, a Portage police sergeant was fired for on-the-job misconductafterallegedly cheating on his wife and furthering a relationship with a local waitress using a city-issued cellphone. Luckily, after youre finally over your ex, its perfectly legal to marry someone else. Still, it can be hard to understand the laws and customs of other countries, and travelers are often advised to take care not to inadvertently break the law. The term Greenland means the land of people and the name is contradictory due to fact that 85% of the land of this country is covered in ice. The statute does explain why though: to avoid congestion during emergencies, like fires. According to the law in Nevada, any man with a moustache who kisses a woman will get in trouble. Its a very real law, and bingo halls can be fined for serving alcohol. In Rhode Island, a union can be considered invalid under the grounds that the party is deemed to be, collectively, an idiot or a lunatic. The course for this frozen version of Golf is snow fields along with icebergs in between. It's Illegal to Drag a Dead Horse Along the Street. It is also apparently illegal in Massachusetts for a man and a woman who rent a room for the night to sleep in the nude. The reason for this law comes down to respect for cultural traditions. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm in 1953. Mercury in retrograde? When Hawaii joined the United States in 1900, it still had its own coinage. What kind of nut eats fried chicken with a knife and fork? However there is no clear evidence to support the. Other strange driving laws in America include: You can't wash your neighbour's car without permission in Los Angeles. In the city of Baltimore, it is against the law for any person to operate, conduct or maintain a body studio. 48. The logic behind this weird law was that sleeping around heavy machinery was a bad idea. Oral sex is often considered sodomy by many states, according to the Hebrew Bible. 18. In South Berwick, Maine, the parking lot was perpetually jam-packed. 1. All countries have their set of weird customs and laws and Iceland is no exception. So, the government has instituted a policy of allowing only approved names to be entered on German birth certificates. Longyearbyen was first inhabited by miners. In Honolulu, Hawaii it is illegal to sing loudly after sunset. 38. In Tennessee it is legal to carry a loaded firearm into a bar. Michigan has a large Christian population, and in their faith, its believed that Sunday should be reserved for rest, family time and church. Nevertheless, the Chinese government is determined to participate in the process of choosing the next Dalai Lama and thus in just how he intends to help humanity. Law or not, that's a pretty good rule of thumb to follow. 4. FALSE! In Utah, a husband is responsible for his wifes actions as long as he is with her at the time of her actions.. Another obligatory rule of the Italians takes part on the list of the dumbest laws around. Final verdict:It's true. 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.