Ridiculous Laws

My sister just showed me these. No idea if they're true or not, but apparantly this is a list of the most ridiculous laws that still exist in England (whether we follow them or not...)


-It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament

-It could be regarded an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British king or queen's image upside-down

-Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is banned

-In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants

-The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen

-There is a ban on firing a cannon close to a dwelling house

-It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing

-There's a ban on the use of any slide upon ice or snow

-It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour

-Driving cattle through the streets of London is prohibited

-Royal Navy ships that enter the Port of London must provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.

-In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

-In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.

-In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and from staying after sunset.

-In England, all men over the age of 14 must carry out two hours of longbow practice a day.

-It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

Again - no idea if these are true, but it made me laugh! Any weird laws from your country/state?

There is a website that lists all these completely weird laws ftom my home, The United States.. here's the link: http://www.bored.com/crazylaws/index.htm be warned htough, it tends to repeat

They are lol, but the funny thing is that they still exist today as they haven't been repealed or whatever the word is.

Illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament...as if anyone could excuse themselves to go die

We've got loads of crazy laws too...I think in some state it is illegal for kids to throw snowballs, even at trees...

Ooh and I'm reading that list of laws in NY and it says I can fine people for flirting with me...so lovely, I want to go collect my money. XD

Quote :

Donkeys are not allowed to sleep in bathtubs in Brooklyn, NY

But wherever shall I keep my donkey?

Quote :

Jaywalking is legal, as long as it's not diagonal. That is, you can cross the street out of the crosswalk, but you can't cross a street diagonally.

That's handy to know. ^^ I did wonder why the police didn't say anything when I jaywalked right in front of the station.

Quote :

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

Seriously...New Yorkers are SMART.

Quote :

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Elevator etiquette...

Quote :

Women may go topless in public, providing it is not being used as a business.

XD I will say I have never personally seen anyone take advantage of this one, even in summer.

Hahaha I jaywalked confidently today, knowing that it was my legal right XD

Here are a few laws I found for Canada XD


- In Canada, It is illegal for a teen to walk down main street for Fort Qu'Appelle with their shoes untied.

- In Canada, It is illegal to leave your horse in front of the Country Squire without hitching it securely to the hitching post.
(because we have lots of people driving horses :D)

- If you happen upon an injured migratory bird in a Canadian national park, you are required to kill it immediately. If not, you can be fined $300

- Street musicans must not give children balloon animals in Victoria, British Columbia. (aww I wanted one!)

- Unless you want to face a fine of up to $25,000., you must never release a raccoon out of its' territory in the province of Ontario. (raccoon seems to be expensive...)

- You cannot release ten or more hellium-filled balloons in any City of Toronto park within a 24 hour period.

- Halifax, Nova Scotia has a bylaw that states that grass on the boulevard (between the curb and sidewalk) must not be longer than 6 inches (15 centimetres) tall. If a dispute arises, the grass will be measured by city officials.

- Canada's criminal code states that anyone, "offending a public place with a bad smell" is liable to two years in jail.

- You cannot knowingly sell any defective merchandise to Her Majesty the Queen or her agents. If you do, you may find yourself imprisoned for up to 14 years. (because technically, Canada is still a British Colony. Technically being the keyword *snorts*)

- In February 1999, a judge in Collingwood, Ontario sent a summons to a retired schoolteacher. The offence - letting the Canadian Flag snap too loudly in the wind.

- One old law in British Columbia makes it illegarl to kill a sasquatch (big foot). Another in Toronto makes it illegal for pigs to run in the streets. This became law in 1834 and has never been changed.

- Margarine was banned from Canada in 1886. However, in Quebec it is illegal for margarine to be the same color as butter. For years, it was illegal in that province to have margarine in your refrigerator. It costs $100,000 per month for Quebec to produce non-butter colored margarine. (geez, that's why margarine is so expensive...)

- Halifax County has a bylaw that makes it illegal to knock, ring a doorbell or shout after 10 pm.





Though now, I do have a random comment to make about something I saw. On a web page, I found this as part of a silly law : "All business signs in the province of Quebec must be in French."

That's Law 101. And it is NOT silly. Quebec is a French province, encircled by English provinces. We are fighting very hard to keep our language alive, because it is part of our origins. And I'm not saying this to diss the English language or anything - I love English and I speak it a lot, mainly online. But French is still my mother tongue and, in a province which is surrounded by English, I think it is a pride that we've managed to keep it up for so long, and I hope we can keep it that way for a long time still.

I always thought Canada was a French colony...huh.

OH, and I simply must know, what color is your margarine? XD

Canada used to be a French colony lol but then there was the war against England and I think the general of France's exact words were 'When the palace is on fire, you do not save the stables'.... Canada being the stables XD so yeah they kinda just let us and we became a British Colony. Sorta. Quebec isn't very high on it though lol. And the Constitution is now in Ontario, whereas it was in England before 1880


Our margarine is white XD

White margarine? Really? How bizarre :D

Pssh XD

I don't like margarine anyway lol

I took a look at the Wisconsin section of the site Katie posted, and wow...

Quote :

Cheese making requires a cheese maker's license; Limburger cheese making requires a master cheese maker's license.

Okay, who even buys Limburger?!

Quote :

Citizens may not murder their enemies.

...oh darn.

Quote :

In Wisconsin you are allowed to marry your house.

Really? Well then...*marries house*

Quote :

You cannot "worry a squirrel."

Erm...alrighty then.

*bothers squirrel instead*

Quote :

If one is thought of as offensive looking, it is illegal for him to be in public during the day.

*gasp* That's meeeeeeeeeeeeeeean

Quote :

State Law made it illegal to serve apple pie in public restaurants without cheese.

This I have never understood...

Quote :

Whenever two trains meet at an intersection of said tracks, neither shall proceed until the other has.

Then how would...?

Quote :

A Wisconsin legislator in the 1970s proposed a law providing that no woman over 21 be required to divulge her age. If age information were required by law, women could use an alphabetic code.

Okay then, I'm JTKFVEEL years old. *rolls eyes*

Funny how no one seemed to think it important to inform us of the laws, lol. I hadn't heard of any of these before reading them on the site, and I live here XD

Here's some more that made me choke on my cuppa.

Quote :

In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

good to know for future reference.

Quote :

In Liverpool, only a clerk in a tropical fish store is allowed to be publicly topless

glad i don't work in a tropical fish store in Liverpool

Quote :

Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing.

talk about confusing!!!

Quote :

Royal Navy ships that enter the Port of London must provide a barrel of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.

You can't make these up, they're so stupid.

Quote :

In Lancashire, no person is permitted after being asked to stop by a constable on the seashore to incite a dog to bark.

huh?

Quote :

In the UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle.

Seriously, these are so stupid! lmao

Quote :

In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and from staying after sunset.

Who fancies visiting Chester and making a citizen's arrest?

Quote :

In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.

Quick, we all need to get the all clear for the plague before visiting London!

Quote :

that reminds me of the story of the oxford code still on the books, that if requested an examiner must serve cakes and ale to his students during exams. When called on this, one examiner said it was also still on the books that all the students must wear their swords at all times.

Thanks to Grim over at MCHY for that one!

Quote :

it is still illegal to tie a giraffe to a lamp post or a an alligator to a fire hydrant

now why would you be walking down the street with a giraffe and an alligator?
And finally my favorite one from the state of Texas.....

Quote :

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.

So, if you wish to rob a bank, pop in the day before, let the teller know you'll be back tomorrow to rob the place because you want some money.

Its great isnt it! Im SO going to Texas, but i'll write to every bank first that way i wont break their law =D

For New Jersey.. My home..

Quote :

• Bernards Township: It is illegal to frown as the town is a "Frown-Free Town Zone".

umm... yeah i wonder how they enforce that

Quote :

• Caldwell: You may not dance or wear shorts on the main avenue.

that must be really hot in summer

Quote :

• Cranford: Citizens are not permitted to park their own boat on their lawn.

most people i no don't have any intention of parking a boat on their lawn.. but hey.. maybe its because they know if this law

Quote :

• Cresskill: All cats must wear three bells to warn birds of their whereabouts.

Hey I live like 2 minutes away from there..

Quote :

• Elizabeth: It is forbidden for a woman, on a Sunday, to walk down Broad Street without wearing a petticoat

.

to be honest.. idk what a petticoat is

Quote :

• If you have been convicted of driving while intoxicated, you may never again apply for personalized license plates

Oh Man! thats a bummer.

Quote :

• In Berkley Heights you may not walk your cattle on the street on Sunday.

but its ok every other day, which is good becasue my cattle need to strecth their legs a bit

Quote :

• In Newark it is illegal to buy ice cream after 6:00 p.m.

*gasp* thats a horrible one!

Quote :

• In New Jersey it is illegal to delay or detain a homing pigeon.

how can u tell if its homing

Quote :

• In New Jersey, it is illegal to slurp soup.

isn't that common manners?

Quote :

• It is against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.

i don't know when fishing season is, or many men who knit

Quote :

• It is against the law to "frown" at a police officer.

which is a shame becasue when your being arrested your not likely to smile at them

Quote :

• It is illegal to offer whiskey or cigarettes to animals at the local zoo.

ok then...

Quote :

• It's also illegal in this state to throw a bad pickle on the street.

LOL! I totally love this one.. being a MuggleCast fan and all..lol

Quote :

• Lovers in Liberty Corner should avoid satisfying their lustful urges in a parked car. If the horn accidentally sounds while they are frolicking behind the wheel, the couple can face a jail term

o wow

Quote :

• Sea Isle City: There will be no boiling of bones on the property.

and who would want to?

Quote :

• There is no horse racing allowed on the New Jersey Turnpike.

o man.. and I was planning to race my horses

Quote :

• You cannot pump your own gas. All gas stations are full service and full service only.

this isn't silly! I love tghis law, its so much better than pumping your own.. even though i can't even drive yet..

O_O So many things I never knew about one of my home states!!! *gasp*

Quote :

Quote :

• It's also illegal in this state to throw a bad pickle on the street.

LOL! I totally love this one.. being a MuggleCast fan and all..lol

AGREED!!

Pickle pack!

In Ohio:

Quote :

It is illegal to get a fish drunk.

XD I seriously don't know why the police around here bother with parking tickets when they can fine people for flirting or hanging laundry out or guys going around with jackets and trousers that don't match.

Speaking of pickles:

Quote :

In Conneticut, for a pickle to be officially be considered a pickle, it must bounce.

And my personal favorite:

Quote :

In Baltimore, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies.

omg lmao

Quote :

• There is no horse racing allowed on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Aww man i so wanted to go horse racing on the Turnpike, i was going to use that horse to kidnap Gee and mickey Way goddammit you evil laws! *shakes fists at computer*

rofl time for some Michigan laws XD

In Michigan, married couples must live together or be imprisoned.

In Michigan, it is against the law for a lady to lift her skirt more than 6 inches while walking through a mud puddle.

In Michigan, it is illegal to chain an alligator to a fire hydrant. (Where else am I gonna chain old gator then ?)

In Michigan, a woman isn't allowed to cut her own hair without her husband's permission.

It's illegal in Michigan for a person under the age of 21 to give a gift of alcohol
beverage to anyone, even to a person of legal age.

It is legal for a robber to file a law suit, if he or she got hurt in your house.

You may not swear in front of women and children.

Any person over the age of 12 may have a license for a handgun as long as he/she has not been convicted of a felony (Darn those 12 year olds and their felonies!)

In Detroit, couples are banned from making love in an automobile unless the act takes place while the vehicle is parked on the couple's own property. (This one is for the good of everyone XD)

In Sturgis, Roosters may crow, only if it is done at least 300 feet from the airport.

In Clawson, there is a law that makes it LEGAL for a farmer to sleep with his animals. (O.O soo messed up)

In Harper Woods, it is illegal to paint sparrows to sell them as parakeets. (Darn it! I so wanted a sparrow that was suppose to be a parakeet!)

In Kalamazoo, it is against the law to serenade your girlfriend. (Duh! That's why the girls serenade their boyfriends XD)

In Rochester, all bathing suits must have been inspected by the head of police. (... perv XD)

In Soo, smoking while in bed is illegal. (XD)

In Wayland, anyone can keep their cow on Main Street downtown at a cost of 3 cents per day. (... I've been to Wayland, I don't remember any cows though.. guess they didn't wanna pay the three cents)

In Detroit, it is illegal to ogle a woman from a moving car. (roflmao)

In Port Huron, the speed limit for ambulances is 20 mph. (Hope no one is dying XD)

Oh dear... please tell me some of those are no longer real laws XD

Some are very ridiculous... but that one

amberg93 wrote:

Any person over the age of 12 may have a license for a handgun as long as he/she has not been convicted of a felony

has to be one of the most shocking laws I've ever seen. Come on peeps, let's give the kids a gun. Wth?

I looked for some from Pennslyvania...

Quote :

A special cleaning ordinance bans homemakers from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.

XD

Quote :

All fire hydrants must be checked one hour before all fires.

I will go do that... seeing as there are none within four miles of my home...

Quote :

Dynamite is not to be used to catch fish.

ahh, now what am I gonna do with all this?

Quote :

Fireworks stores may not sell fireworks to Pennsylvania residents.

well... we all knew that, ancd we all break this law anyway.

Quote :

Pittsburgh: It is still illegal to bring a donkey or a mule onto a trolley car. No one is allowed to sleep on a refrigerator.

*runs to get fridge before police see* I hope the pittsburgh police dont catch me XD

Quote :

Witchcraft was first legalized in the colony of Pennsylvania.

o k . . .

All fire hydrants must be checked one hour before all fires.

Am I suppose to check a fire hydrant and then an hour later set a house on fire...lol

This one cracks me up...lol

___________________________________________________________
Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt


Hagrid's Hut