Laws are there to make life orderly, protect all the citizens, and give justice to everybody. Somewhere in the world, however, the legal system has managed to spew out some really bizarre regulations-so weird that they could almost pass as urban legends. Be it cultural quirks, historical circumstance, or just weird decisions that never got repealed, these laws undeniably stand out. Some of them are still on the books today and simply leave you scratching your head about how they could ever have come into existence. Here are some of the most bizarre laws from all over the world that actually remain in practice.
1. It’s Illegal to Die in the UK Parliament
Yes, you read this right. Under some highly misconceived and hotly contested law of yore, death in either House of Commons or the House of Lords within the United Kingdom is forbidden, technically speaking. Thankfully nobody has so far been taken under the law due to this enactment. Yet now, it sounds strange even in the realm of British jurisprudence. Actually, the motivation of this statute has a root somewhere hundreds of years ago. Until recent times, anyone who died in the Houses of Parliament was held to be entitled to a state funeral, which is an enormously expensive business. The law was presumably established to avoid that expense and ensure that anyone who dies in Parliament is treated in law as if they died outside of it.
2.In Switzerland, You Can’t Flush the Toilet After 10 p.m.
Well, Switzerland is indeed famous for its untainted landscapes, delectable chocolate, and impressively secure banking systems, but also for uncommon legislation that borders on noise. More precisely, playing a toilet in any Swiss city-for instance, Zurich and Bern-after 10 pm in any apartment building is against the law. Well, to put it in simple terms, the ban is part of strict noise limits laid down by the government for giving at least some rest to people. Flushing the toilet is considered a noisy activity, and thus, if sharing an accommodation, neighbors’ peace and quiet should be taken into consideration. Unless you want to risk getting a fine, you might want to hold off doing business until morning.
3. You Can’t Sing Off-Key in Florida
Weird laws are nothing new in Florida, but probably one of the weirdest has to be the ban on singing off-key. Under Florida Statute 877.03, it was against the law to ” sing, whistle, or play an instrument in a way that of disturbance of others and was strangely deemed a misdemeanor to sing off-key.” As a matter of fact, the law was trying to avoid an unnecessary disturbance of noise in public places, all being under the state’s public nuisance law. Next time you are singing in Florida and not on key, you might be liable to a fine.
4. In France, It’s Illegal to Name a Pig Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte, the iconic French emperor who still looms large in French culture and history, bars one from naming a pet pig “Napoleon” should one decide to get one in France. Though a law of the early 19th century, its application was designed to protect the dignity of the then French Emperor. The law seldom-if-ever sees enforcement yet stays on the books as some type of catch-all, symbolizing respect towards Napoleon’s memory and image. Thus, if you are in France and you have a pig, you’d do well to choose a more neutral name-something like “Bacon” or “Truffle” would likely get you off scott-free.
5. No Chewing Gum in Singapore
Singapore is known for its cleanliness and order, but the country enforces some quite strict laws to help keep this image alive. One of the more famous of these laws is that of banning chewing gum. In 1992, Singapore instituted an unpopular “Chewing Gum Control Act,” prohibiting sales and imports of chewing gum. The act was passed because of a developing situation with littering: people were sticking their used gum on public property, including subway trains and public benches. Excluding medicinal gum – like nicotine gum – it is illegal to chew gum either in public or while walking down the street. Thus, tourists going to visit Singapore should pack everything but the gum.
6. In Denmark, It’s Illegal to Start a Car Without Checking Under the Hood
Oddly enough, this law does seem like an odd relic from a bygone era, but in Denmark, it is still technically illegal to start your car without checking under the hood first. This bizarre policy was brought in at the turn of the 20th century, as part of a way for the country to try and make sure that any potential road safety, from faultily constructed/ill-maintained vehicles, was minimized. Modern cars have long since removed the need for such an elaborate pre-drive check, yet the law has remained on the books. It’s not, if ever, imposed today, but still technically, a driver could be fined for not peering under the hood before turning the key in his car. It’s an odd reminder of the way Denmark used to look at road safety.
7. It’s illegal to dance after midnight in Japan
Although many of us have a vague idea about how full of interesting cultures Japan is, one of those not-as-known Japanese laws is about the no-dancing-after-midnight act in the country. This law all the way comes from the 1940s ban by the government on “immoral” dancing in public; that is, any type of dancing done at a nightclub. It prohibited dancing in public places after midnight unless the facility had a special license and was thus known as “Fueiho” or “Dance Restriction Law.” In 2015, Japan loosened this rule by allowing some venues to let people dance past midnight; however, the dance floors must be licensed. Despite this change, this is among the weirdest laws that have remained within the books in Japan.
8. It is illegal to step on money in Thailand
Stepping on money is against the law in Thailand. Well, this legal aspect reflects how deeply the monarchy and everything it represents is respected in that country, including on Thai currency-a face of a king. It is considered a great disrespect to the royal family to step on money, and such actions may attract punitive fines or an imprisonment sentence in the courts of law. That’s the law, at least, which reflects the country’s strict lèse-majesté laws against insults or disrespect to anyone in the royal family. Next time you’re in Thailand, then, be sure to handle currency with extra care—and really avoid stepping on it by accident.
9. It’s Illegal to Wear High Heels at Ancient Monuments in Greece
Whereas high heels are generally regarded as fashionable and glamorous, in Greece they are banned at some historical and ancient sites, including the Acropolis. In 2009, a ban was imposed to save Greece’s ancient monuments from the sharp heels of modern footwear. The delicate stone surfaces of these ancient structures can be irreparably damaged by high heels; hence, the Greek government made a law to prevent further deterioration. Visitors are advised to wear flat shoes when visiting the country’s most historic sites so that the monuments will be protected for future generations to see.
10. In Samoa, It’s Illegal to Forget Your Wife’s Birthday
One somewhat lighter law in respect to marital relations can be found in the South Pacific island nation of Samoa. Under the country’s system of laws, it is considered illegal for a man to forget his wife’s birthday. While this certainly sounds more like a light-hearted social contract than anything you’d actually get arrested for, it nonetheless remains on the books. This law underlines the respect for relationships in Samoan culture, and family and community are of high importance. It is not certain how many times this law has been applied in practice, but it definitely is a fun quirky tidbit of Samoan legal tradition.
11. It’s Illegal to Die in the Town of Falciano del Massico, Italy
The Italian town of Falciano del Massico has an awfully strange law prohibiting its residents from dying within its borders. This weird law was instituted in the 1960s after the town’s cemetery reached its full capacity. The local authorities decided to pass a law that stated no one could die in the town unless they had previously arranged for a burial plot in advance. But perhaps unbelievably, such was the state’s legislation in a most desperate attempt at problem-solving more about space rather than public health. Today, such a law turns into curiosity with no likelihood for anyone to ever be prosecuted because of it.
These outlandish, or bizarre kinds of laws, arise essentially in states based on various cultural, historic, and political landscapes. Born out of a certain need, quirky tradition, or simply because they never got repealed, they remain fascinating reminders of just how strange, often humorous human societies can get. Next time you travel the world, you just might be breaking some sort of law that you have absolutely no idea about. Just make sure you watch where you step, what you name your pig, and whether or not you flush after 10 p.m.!