The world is full of different cultures and traditions, and each country has its own set of rules and customs, each more curious than the other. But rules and laws are the only means to make sure that society runs smoothly. However, any country can mould the laws according to its own will and it gets interesting when some countries frame unique laws.
Experiencing and learning about the cultures of different places can be fun and interesting, but sometimes, some things can get very strange. Here are some strange laws from around the world
The sale, possession and use of chewing gum have been banned in Singapore since 1992. Yes, that’s right: chewing gum is illegal, punishable by up to two years in jail and an unbelievable $100,000 fine. The justification was health risks and damage to the environment. This law demonstrates Singapore’s concern with the production of waste which, in the case of gum, takes many years to decompose and ends up accumulating.
When you take a selfie with Buddha, you are turning your back on him. This is considered a sign of disrespect and is punishable by imprisonment in Sri Lanka. It is also considered disrespectful to point your finger at Buddha, and sometimes there are bans on taking photos with the statues. You may be forced to delete the photos. If you refuse the police may be called in.
The state of Tennessee, United States, has a peculiar law that prohibits sharing your Netflix password with anyone. The weirdest thing about this is that Netflix itself allows up to four users to access the service simultaneously, on different devices.
In fact, this law does not only include Netflix but all entertainment content services such as cable TV. The fine for sharing passwords is high: a fine of US$2,500 (almost 2 lakh rupees) and a year in prison.
Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 stipulates that it’s an offence to handle salmon under suspicious circumstances!
This section creates an offence in England and Wales for any person who receives or disposes of any salmon in circumstances where they believe or could reasonably believe that the salmon has been illegally fished. The maximum penalty is two years imprisonment. Sounds fishy, but it’s true!
Celebs in Denmark would be in trouble since the country has official child naming guidelines. If you want to name your baby something other than the 7,000 approved names, you need to get approval from the government.
Denmark’s very strict Law on Personal Names is in place to protect children from having odd names that suit their parents’ fancy.
North Korean citizens can not make international calls as it’s considered a crime there. According to reports, in 2007 a North Korean factory boss was executed by a firing squad in front of 150,000 people after being accused of making international calls on 13 phones he installed in a factory basement.
Anyone who has visited Italy knows that the number of pigeons is really a problem at major tourist attractions such as Milan’s Duomo and Siena Cathedral. With that in mind, in 2008 the Italian government banned pigeon feeding in Venice’s famous St. Mark’s Square, where pigeons literally stole the show.
If anyone found feeding them would be fined up to 700 euros. Local authorities have banned this custom because birds pose a risk to health but also to protect monuments.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Who knows! But you better think twice if you own chickens in Quitman, Georgia. It’s illegal to let them cross the road. It’s illegal for the birds to walk across an open road.
The law is designed to ensure that farm animals aren’t running about freely. However, the law mentions only fowl. Cows, pigs, and other animals are apparently free to continue crossing back and forth at will.
Leave your stilettos at home if you’re planning on sightseeing around Greece’s historic cities. High heels are illegal at certain ancient monuments because they can damage them, and because they often threaten preservation efforts.
Under Scots Law, if a stranger asks to use your toilet you are legally obliged to let them. It comes from an extension of the old Scottish common law requiring hospitality to be shown to all guests – and while it has never been formally authorised by parliament, it is enforceable!
Flying a kite without police permission is against the Aircraft Act of 1934. Woooooow! Seriously? Was that really possible that the entire time we were flying a kite, we were committing a crime? Yes. This Law describes an aircraft as any machine that can rely on the reaction of the air for support. Planes, aircraft, kites, hot air balloons, and spacecraft all fall into this category. As a consequence, flying a kite without a permit is illegal, and violating the law could technically result in a fine of Rs 10 lakh and a sentence of up to two years imprisonment.
Do you know of any such strange and weird laws? Tell us in the comments below.
For more such interesting and informative reads, check out The Learning Tree
Raza has been writing since 2008, be it fiction, poetry, or articles on science, politics, and history. He believes that words can change the world, and he uses them to inspire and empower people through his writing. When he is not working, he is watching nature documentaries or playing with his cats.
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU’S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.
Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.
