Strange Laws

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Menlas


The point wasn't about the "value" of culture, it was that many good french groups wouldn't even exist now if this law hadn't been voted.
So, protectionism has advantages sometimes

Every advantage to one is a disadvantage to another under protectionism. If these groups are so good, then they should not have needed protectionism in order to flourish.

[Adalbertus]

Every advantage to one is a disadvantage to another under protectionism. If these groups are so good, then they should not have needed protectionism in order to flourish.

The problem is, market doesn't really conform to the wishes of customers but to the laws of market. The usual thing is if 60% like A, 30% like B and 10% like C (mutually exclusive), then market will provide approximately 80% of A, 20% of B and none of C.

[Grrr]

The old scottish illegality to get drunk if you own a cow is a good one too.

[Dinner]

I remember reading that official a law is still on the books some where in the south saying that automobiles may not be opperated after dark unless a man on horse back rides in front carrying a lantern.

[Dinner]

In Denmark:

Before starting your car you are required to check lights, brakes, steering and honk your horn. You also need to make a visual check to make sure there are no children underneath the car.

Encrypting data files, owning, distributing etc. of encryption programs and creating such programs for any electronic medias is now against the law in Denmark due to fear for terrorists, left and right wing extremist, fundamentalists and distributors of illegal pornography.

When driving, you must have someone in front of your car with a flag to warn horse drawn carriages that a motorcar is coming. (Jydske lov)

One may not be charged for food at an inn unless that person, by his or her own opinion, is "full". (Jydske lov)

[Dinner]

Thailand:

It is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.

You must wear a shirt while driving a car.

No one may step of any of the nation's currency.

You must pay a fine of $600 in Thailand if you're caught throwing away chewed bubble gum on the sidewalk. If you do not pay the fine, you are jailed.

[Dinner]

Scotland:

It is illegal to be a drunk in possession of a cow.

Trespassing on someone else's land is legal.

If someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your commode, you must let them enter.

You are presumed guilty until proven innocent for some crimes. (The Brits should remember that before they accuss the US of abridging liberties )

[Dinner]

In South Korea: Traffic police are required to report all bribes that they receive from motorists.

[Dinner]

Canada has some good ones:

Alberta:

Businesses must provide rails for tying up horses.

Wooden logs may not be painted.

You may never use dice to play craps.

If you are released from prison, it is required that you are given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so you can ride out of town.

New Brunswick: When raining, a person may not water his/her lawn.

Ontario:

If you have a water trough in your front yard it must be filled by 5:00 a.m.

Bylaw states that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub.

Guelph: The city is classified as a no-pee zone.

Toronto: You can't drag a dead horse down Yonge Street on a Sunday.

Ottawa: It is illegal to eat ice-cream on Bank Street on a Sunday.

Uxbridge: Residents are not allowed to have an Internet connection faster than 56k.

Wawa: It is illegal to show public affection on Sunday.

Quebec:

All business signs in the province of Quebec must be in French. If the business operator wishes to have other languages on the sign, the French must be at least twice as large as the other languages is. (Bill 86)

No language other than French is permitted to be shown out doors.

Beaconsfield : It is considered an offense to have more than two colors of paint on your house.

Montréal: The Queen Elizabeth Hotel must feed your horse freely when you rent a room.

"For Sale" signs are not permitted in the windows of moving vehicles.

You may not park a car in such a way that it is blocking your own driveway.

Cars parked in public places must be locked, and their windows must be down to less than the width of a hand.

[Christmann]

Originally posted by Oerdin
In Denmark:

Before starting your car you are required to check lights, brakes, steering and honk your horn. You also need to make a visual check to make sure there are no children underneath the car.

Checking lights sounds right since cars must have their lights turned on at all times. The other things listed seems to be incorrect; at least the cop at my driver's test gave me my licence even though I did none of those things.

When driving, you must have someone in front of your car with a flag to warn horse drawn carriages that a motorcar is coming. (Jydske lov)

This one seems incorrect too, seeing as how motorcars weren't around in 1243 when Jydske Lov was drafted.

[Cruddy]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Isn't it still legal for any resident of the City of London to drive their sheep across Tower Bridge, or something similarly stupid? Or is that just some urban legend?

Quite legal, however it must be a flock (more than one). A single sheep will get you arrested for obstructing a public highway.

Taxi drivers in London are required to carry a bale of hay at all times (to feed the now non-existent horse).

Certain cities in the UK ban public drinking in their downtown areas - and then give licenses for pavement areas to pubs and bars.

In England and Wales it is illegal to be "drunk and incapable" in public. That includes most pubs and bars. Enforcing it is a bit problematic though.

I'm surprised no when has mentioned archery practise yet - got to keep up the long bow skills on a Sunday (I know of a least one individual who does this in Portsmouth).

Oh yes, it is illegal to sell fish on a Sunday - why most inland chippies stay closed that day. Quite a few seaside chippies open on a Sunday - now there's living on the wild side.

[Adalbertus]

Uxbridge: Residents are not allowed to have an Internet connection faster than 56k.

Until 10 years ago or so, it was a real problem in Germany that it was illegal to have a device which dials on its own on the telephone line. IIRC, it was the Bundespost, who operated also the telephone, which most resisted a change of the law. Anyway, to connect legally to the internet, you had to dial yourself and put the receiver onto an acoustic coupler ... See my sig

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Christmann
Checking lights sounds right since cars must have their lights turned on at all times. The other things listed seems to be incorrect; at least the cop at my driver's test gave me my licence even though I did none of those things.

This one seems incorrect too, seeing as how motorcars weren't around in 1243 when Jydske Lov was drafted.

These are laws which are on the books but which are no longer enforced. Check the website.

[Cruddy]

*** DELETE, double post ***

[Christmann]

Originally posted by Oerdin


These are laws which are on the books but which are no longer enforced. Check the website.

I'm not saying the website isn't claiming that those laws are on the books...