From restrictions against driving while wearing flip-flops to the three French towns where it's illegal to die, here are 40 obscure and just plain weird laws to be aware of.
Photo © iStock/omersukrugoksu
There are laws we can all get behind (physics, to name one) but also laws that just seem to make no sense. Whether they are holdovers from different eras or knee-jerk reactions to some newly perceived threat, there are some laws around the world you could innocently break while traveling and end up dealing with the authorities.
- Countries where camouflage clothing is illegal
- Did you know these four things were illegal in Mexico?
- From Spain to Austria: 12 interesting laws across Europe
- 24 laws you didn't know about in the USA
Countries where camouflage clothing is illegal
- It is illegal to wear camouflage clothing in several countries in the Caribbean including Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda. in Africa, it can't be worn by anyone who is not in the military in Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. It's also outlawed in Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Oman.
Four laws you didn't know were in place in Mexico
- It's illegal to shout offensive words in any public place in Mexico.
- If you're on a bike, you must keep both feet on the pedals.
- It's illegal for foreigners to take part in political activities.
- Drinking alcohol on the street is verboten.
From Spain to Austria: 12 unusual laws across Europe
Austria
- You can be fined and/or booted off a train if you are making out or eating something considered too smelly.
- Farting on purpose in a public area could get you fined.
France
- It is technically illegal to kiss on the platform at a train station.
- You must wear Speedo-style bathing suits that leave nothing to the imagination to go swimming in many pools. They're seen as more hygienic than loose board shorts.
- In three towns it is against the law to die. These ordinances were passed as a protest when the creation of new cemeteries was denied.
Germany
- It's illegal to run out of gas on the autobahn, as well as to walk along it.
Greece
- High heels may not be worn at ancient sites like the Acropolis.
Italy
- In Florence, you can be fined for eating or drinking on certain streets in the historic center.
- In Venice, it is illegal to feed the pigeons.
- In Eraclea (near Venice), it is illegal to build sandcastles.
Spain
- You can be fined for driving while wearing flip-flops.
- In Barcelona, you can be fined for wearing swimwear anyplace other than the beach, as well as for spitting.
24 weird laws you didn't know about in the USA
Arizona
- Cutting down a cactus can get you 25 years in jail.
- It's against the law to intentionally trip a horse for entertainment or sport.
- You aren't allowed to feed garbage to a pig without a permit.
- In Avondale, fortune-telling or palm-reading could get you a misdemeanor.
Florida
- It's against the law for a woman to fall asleep under a hairdryer at a salon.
- In Pensacola, rolling a barrel down the street can get you a fine.
- You cannot park in the middle of an intersection.
Hawaii
- It's illegal to be wearing just swim trunks in public.
- You can only have one alcoholic drink in front of you at any given time.
Louisiana
- In New Orleans, you cannot throw anything from a window or balcony that is more than 8 feet above the ground.
- New Orleans also mandates you keep at least one hand on your motorbike handlebars at all times.
North Carolina
- Bingo sessions run by a non-profit organization cannot legally exceed five hours.
- If you're caught in possession of illegal substances, you have to pay a tax on them. That's $3.50 per gram for pot and $50 for each gram of cocaine.
South Carolina
- It's a misdemeanor for a man to seduce a woman by "means of deception and promises of marriage," punishable by up to a year in jail.
- It's illegal to sell musical instruments or clocks on Sundays.
Texas
- You can't milk someone else's cow.
- No walking barefoot without a permit in certain cities, including Fort Worth.
- It's illegal to own more than six sex toys.
- You can't drink more than three sips of beer while standing up.
- You must not use a feather duster to clean a public building.
Virginia
- It's illegal to use an x-ray device for the fitting of shoes.
- In a number of Virginia towns, it's illegal to trick-or-treat if you're over the age of 12 or after 8pm.
- It's illegal to visit a cemetery at night unless you have a family member buried there.
- In Virginia Beach, it is illegal to curse on Atlantic Avenue and the boardwalk.
Related articles
Travel Insurance
Simple and flexible travel insurance
You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. With 150+ adventure activities covered and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Get a quote
No Comments