You may be surprised but even though most countries have very similar laws, there are quite a few that have their own weird and wonderful laws that would make sense anywhere else. Now, we’re not talking about the general things like speed limits, public indecency, or stealing from a store, we’re talking about things like no kissing on trains, being fined for disturbing weddings, legally having to wear underwear when leaving the house and curfew times for flushing toilets. These 35 laws from around the world are so weird they may have you thinking twice about moving to another country.
Permit to Stay Updated
In many parts of Africa, you need to have a license to watch news channels. Allegedly it is a way to control news broadcasting for those who do not own permits. Similarly to this, South Africans need to pay for a yearly license in order to watch TV shows and news provided by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. You also need to provide a TV License when buying a new TV from stores.
It sounds so crazy to have a license in order to have access to news and local broadcasting channels. Luckily you can just purchase them, there is no test that is needed to be done.
Nevada Moustache
In Eureka, Nevada, there is a rule which would sit well with many women who do not like men who have beards or mustaches. If men from Eureka grow a mustache, by law they are forbidden from kissing women. So ladies, if you don’t like having those rough facial hairs rub on your face when you kiss your man, we would suggest moving to Nevada where he legally won’t be allowed to.
We are unsure what the punishment would be if you are caught kissing with a mustache, but we bet it would be less harsh than your partner's reaction when she gets a stubble rash.
Sing Only in the Key
Can you believe that you are not allowed to sing off-key in North Carolina? We can not either. This weird law comes all the way back from the 19th century when a guy in Lumberton, North Carolina was fined for signing really badly and really loud. So basically anyone who has had a night out blaring lyrics at a karaoke bar in North Carolina has most likely broken this rule.
This law is more about the public’s peace being disturbed by someone signing out of tune than some old 19th-century rule. We doubt anyone would complain about this law though.
Bingo Time Limit
This one is for all the North Carolina seniors out there who spend their free time playing bingo. A proper and professional bingo game may not go on for more than 5 hours. On top of that, if a bingo game is held by a legitimate organization, they may not have more than 2 sessions per week and these two sessions need to be 2 days apart from each other.
The only time it is allowed to go on longer than 5 hours, is at a fair. Who knew bingo was such a serious game to partake in with all these rules?
No Madagascar Hat
Imagine being pregnant in a very hot country and you are not allowed to wear a hat to provide you with some shade? Well, this is exactly a law that they have in Madagascar. It is quite difficult to find out exactly why they have this law but perhaps its secrecy just adds to its weirdness of it. Maybe there is also some old and absurd 18th-century story behind it.
A law like this just does not seem to serve any purpose though. What difference would it make wearing a hat as a woman if you’re not pregnant and wearing one if you are?
Selfie and Tattoos in Sri Lanka
We should all know that Buddhism is one of the more serious religions out there. That is why in Sri Lanka there are a few laws in place which fall around respect for the religion. Firstly, you are not allowed to take selfies in front of their Buddha or alike idols. Secondly, having Buddha tattoos is illegal and may even be the reason you are denied access to the country.
If you do plan on visiting Sri Lanka with your Buddha tattoos, consider covering them up, not only for entry into the country but also for the time you are there.
No Codeine for Japan
In Japan, you could be detained or deported for having medications on you that have codeine in them. This is a standard law that goes for anyone there. If you need to have medications that include the ingredient, you will need to get permission from a Narcotics control center in Japan, regardless of how much you need to have on you. And it is best not to try to travel with anyone on you either.
Once you enter Japan and get permission to have the drug, you will be able to buy your codeine included meds there. That includes things like inhalers, flu meds, and allergy remedies.
Rewarding the Culprits
This Australian law is going to sound really weird, not necessarily because of the law, but because of the reason around it. If someone happens to rob you of your things, but then brings them back to you and you want to reward them for bringing them back, you will be fined. This hefty fine can be more than $500. But who would want to reward someone who had just robbed them?
It seems like a law that would not get broken often because not many people out there would want to honor someone with a reward if they did something terrible to them.
No Vape Thailand
If you are a frequent vaper, we would suggest not visiting Thailand. Since 2014, there has been a ban on e-cigarettes and their refill liquids. The government banned these because they see them as a gateway for people to start smoking cigarettes. If you get caught vaping, you can be fined, have your devices confiscated, or face jail time, for up to 10 years, regardless if you are a local or a foreigner.
Many people who travel to Thailand are not aware of this law, and often get punished for it. That’s why travel agents should be more aware of this and let travelers know.
No Rabbit Photos In Wyoming
Once, there was a law in Wyoming that prohibited people from taking photographs of any wild animals during January, February, March, and April. If you wanted to take photos during these months, you had to have a permit which cost $5. This law was found in Section 68 of the 1921 Session Laws of the State of Wyoming. It's not clear when the law ended, but it seemed to be around for a while.
Not adhering to this law would have landed you a $50-$100 fine or jail time from 30 days to 6 months. Sounds crazy just for taking pictures of wild animals.
Thai Underwear
There is no going commando in public in Thailand because if you do, there will be consequences. Thailand really has a law that prohibits you to leave your house without underwear on. It is so serious that their law enforcement requests the public to report any suspicious movement of private parts that they may notice, this way they can investigate and see if anyone is breaking the law. Although, we doubt anyone would report it.
Remember how your mother always advised you to never leave the house without a fresh pair of underpants on? Might be best to listen to her if you head over to Thailand.
Whipping
In Sudan, rape is seen as intercourse that has taken place outside of a marriage contract, just like adultery, whether you are married or not. However, if someone is raped, they are the ones who get the punishment, not the person who raped them. If the victim is not married, they will get 100 whiplashes as punishment, and if they are married, they will be stoned, sometimes even to death.
It seems like a terrible and weird law to have which would not work well in any other country. Punishing the innocent is also very strange and quite weirdly unexplainable.
French Swimsuit Rule
If you are heading over to France, we suggest you grab yourself a few tight speedos to take along with you, because baggy swim shorts are not allowed. Now although this law sounds awfully strange, the French have a pretty good reason for it. Tighter swim trunks, like speedos, are more hygienic. They hold less dirt and germs on them which means fewer chances of polluting the water you’re going into.
They are also surprisingly better for the environment because they hold less water which means there is less coming off you each time you get out of a pool, thus saving water.
No Knives in Indian Army
In India, the army has an exception rule for when they are in combat. The Naga Regiment troops are the only troops who are allowed to battle with knives, specifically called khukuris. These are a type of machetes that originated from the Indian subcontinent in Southern Asia. The Naga Regiment troops consist of Gorkha, Kumaun, and Garwal, but many think the exception troops are predominantly from Nagaland, a northern eastern Indian state.
Usually, knife-like weapons are not allowed to be used because it would mean you would have to be in close range to attack your enemy. So the khukuris may not be that useful.
Extra-Terrestrial Information
Japan has a rule that has to do with extraterrestrial life. If anyone from there discovers real evidence of alien life beyond the stars, they have to communicate what they have found to the United Nations Secretary-General. This refers to anything more concrete than just a bright light in the sky. The person also has to report it to the International Science Council (ISC) who will also review the findings.
Even though Japan does not experience as many sightings as the US, the rule is still very important for them to adhere to because it could be a national security threat.
Do Not Disturb in Australia
After the movie Wedding Crashers came out, a few people stole the idea and gatecrashed some ceremonies. But since 1953, Australia has had a law against doing such a thing. The South Australian Summary Offences Act 7A says that a person who is found to intentionally disturbs a wedding or funeral can be fined $10 000 or get sentenced to 2 years in prison. This is whether it is religious or not.
We doubt objecting to a “speak now or forever hold your peace” would count against this too. But we are sure if an angry bride didn’t want an objection, they could try to fight it.
Just a Cell
We have already seen how harsh Sudan’s laws can be, and it does not seem to get any better. In prisons in Sudan, when people are sentenced, many times they are only provided with a prison cell or shared room. Although it is unclear if this is a law, there are a few sources who have said that prisoners usually do not get health care, proper bathrooms, or even food.
Sudan can be really harsh when it comes to punishment, but depriving people of their basic needs surely can not be an actual law that they can get away with.
Pet Pig
Since the 19th century, France has had a law on what you can not name your pig. It is illegal to name your pig Napolean and yes, this law still stands today. Even though Napoleon has been dead for over 200 years, it is still unlawful to make fun of him or insult a head of state by naming your pig after him. Any other name goes though, just not this one.
However, this law may have been one Napolean set up himself, but it never seemed to be legit. It was more about not insulting your head of state than calling your pig their name.
Money Is Precious
One would think that money would be treated with the utmost care and respect because let’s be honest, no one can afford to lose any of it. However, in case you considered destroying or damaging your cash, just make sure it is not in Turkey. If you damage or destroy the Turkish Lira you can be handy a hefty fine or spend some time in prison for breaking the law.
The Turkish Government sees damaging money as an insult to their National Flag. Along with this, Thailand also finds it disrespectful if you trample on their currency too, since the image of their King is on it.
Cow Farts
California had a law passed in 2017 which is meant to limit methane emissions on dairy farms. In more basic terms though, they want to regulate cow farts. Although this law will only take action in 2024, dairy farmers need to start planning on getting methane digesting devices installed. The reason California has this law is that most of its methane emissions come from the increasingly 1.7 million cows the state has.
It sounds kind of strange, but the law is beneficial for the environment, and we guess California is just doing their bit to help, even if it has to do with cow farts.
Child Limit
Most of us know that China has a law limiting people to only having 2 children. India also has this law, however in Kerela, India you can have a third child, but… you have to pay a fine of Rs10 000 and your third child does not receive free education and free health care like the first 2 would get. Seems a little unfair to want to have more than the normal amount of children.
There are people who are fighting this law though because, for some religions and people with morals, it does not seem right to take away a child's education and healthcare.
No Kissing
We have all seen those pictures of couples kissing at the train station before going off to war, but since 1910 in France, this has been illegal. Kissing in French train stations or on the platforms while the train is there is not allowed. This is because people who have their goodbye kisses on the platforms cause delays which unnecessarily cost train companies money and causes overcrowding in the stations.
We could only hope that this was not taken into account when men went off to war by train and their partners had to give them possibly their last kiss.
Taxable Prostitution
In The Netherlands, prostitution is legal only if the sexual actions are performed by consenting adults of legal age. This law is not new to many people as The Netherlands has never been quiet about its regulations on prostitution. However, the weird part comes in when the government decided to start taxing prostitutes under Dutch law. They are charged 18% sales tax on each transaction they have with a person.
Most of the women who do work in Amsterdam already pay their income tax with no questions asked. It is seen the same as any other job, just with a more unusual outlook.
Driving Through Washington City
Washington is known for many great things, but this law is not one of them. This law states that it’s compulsory for anyone who is driving into the city who has criminal intentions to call a chief of police and let them know they have come into the city. The law is supposed to bring down the crime rate, however, what criminal would call them to tell them they’re coming in to commit a crime?
The law is there but it accomplishes nothing because no one ever abides by it. We guess it's one of those laws that will come up in court if they’re caught for a crime.
Belly Dancing
Belly dancing is predominantly seen as a female dance, but over the years there have been some men who have taken the dance on and we see more and more of it today. In Egypt, it used to be illegal for men to belly dance as it would be seen as taboo and some men have even been arrested. Belly dancing is socially unacceptable in Egypt because some of the dances have a negative stature.
Even though the Egyptian government and certain religions followed Egypt subdued men from belly dancing, slowly but surely they are starting to take part in the dance regardless of societal judgments.
Legal Dress Code
For 3 long decades, women in Sudan were not allowed to wear pants, they could only wear dresses and always have their hair covered. If they broke this law they were either fined, imprisoned or beaten up. But, to our surprise, the Sudan government did something nice and in 2019 this ban was lifted. Not only can they now wear pants, but they can also drink alcohol and dance too.
The day this law was scrapped, women flooded the streets of Sudan with dance while also wearing all kinds of pants. Women fought long and hard for these changes, and it was worth it.
No Mooning
As beautiful as Greece is, they too need to impose laws that keep its country clean and proper. A big no-no in Greece is indecent public behavior and more specifically mooning…the kind where your pants come off and everyone sees where the sun does not shine. If you are caught mooning in Greece, you will be arrested by police and from there either given a fine or go to prison.
Not only is mooning not allowed, but some fancy dress costumes could get you into trouble too if they are found to be offensive or do not follow their decency laws.
Potato Limit
Usually, people can be arrested for having more than a legal amount of marijuana or medications on them, but in Australia, you could be in trouble for something completely unexpected. If you have more than 50kg of potatoes in your possession, police can confiscate them. They will be placed into evidence and you will be charged a $2000 fine. If you are caught again, your fine will go up to $5000.
The law has been around since 1946 and it is not clear why it was put into place. We would only think it would have something to do with making moonshine.
Offensive Gestures and Swearing
Most people use swear words whether it be just in conversation or as an insult to someone. In Kenya, the Criminal Appeal 48 of 2019, states that anyone who uses insulting words or gestures to break peace will be charged with a fine or imprisonment for up to 6 months. In the UAE though, using a swear word is also not allowed and is seen as a “disgrace of honor and modesty”.
The fine you’ll get from using a swear word in the UAE is a lot bigger than the one you’ll get in Kenya, but it would be best just to abide by their laws.
Cops Can Bite
There is this strange law in Paulding, Ohio which gives a police officer permission to bite a dog if they think it would help with restoring a composed and tranquil demeanor for the dog. Although we can not find why this law exists or if it even still does exist, it seems like the worse way to try and calm down a dog who is restless or viscous in any kind of situation.
Some laws date back many years ago and we can only hope this one came from an era that has a lot of unexplainable laws and decisions. Because it wouldn’t make sense today.
No Skirts For Men
If you are a Scotsmen going to Italy or a man who wears feminine clothing, we would advise you not to take your kilt along with you because in Italy you are not allowed to wear a skirt if you are a man. Even though many men have tested the ban and got away with it and there is a store called “Skirts for men” in Italy, you could still be arrested for this.
Apparently, it is because it does not look right in the eyes of Italian law. However, it does not seem like the police in Italy are really aware of this one.
Flush Before 10: 00 Pm
In Switzerland, there is a rule to not flush your toilet between 10 pm and 7 am. Although this is not a government ban or regulated law, because landlords have the freedom to set their own housing rules, they are welcome to enforce this one. The rule is more about having the common decency not to bother your neighbors or to wake people up in the middle of the night.
You may not get into trouble for this by the police, but you may just lose the place you are living in if you do not follow the rule properly.
Free Homing Pigeons
When we think of pigeons, we do not really class them as one the most majestic birds out there because they are so common. But in Australia, these birds have protection. You are not allowed to attack, steal, hurt, kill or take a homing pigeon without permission. If you do any of these you can be charged with 2 years imprisonment or a $50 000 fine, which just does not seem worth it.
If you are in Australia we suggest you just leave the pigeons alone altogether because of how they are protected. One slight thing wrong and you’ll have a criminal charge for it.
Shirtless Driving
We know Thailand can get quite hot and most of the time people are there they will be found wearing the bare minimum clothing, like things you wear on a beach. However, one thing you may not do in Thailand, no matter how hot it gets, is drive without a shirt on. This goes for men and women driving cars or bikes. If you are caught, you will be given a ticket.
Although your ticket might be a low amount, it is just best to just follow the rules they have and make sure you are fully clothed while driving around there.
Don't Cut the Cactus
Cactuses take forever to grow to their full height, and once they eventually get there they can live up to 200 years old. This is why the state of Arizona has laws in place to protect these succulents. If you are caught poaching, killing, or damaging a cactus plant you can spend up to 25 years in prison. Cactus rustling is regarded as a class four felony in Arizona, which is quite serious.
Once a cactus has been removed or damaged, that plant does not have the right conditions to survive. For something that can live up to 200 years, people should just let it be.