People from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds often have different ideas about what is wrong and what is right—what is illegal and what is legal. These different moral concepts lead to legislation that may seem strange and even bizarre to someone from another culture or background.
Some laws will cause an American citizen do a double-take. However, it is also possible that when you look at them, you might think they are not such a bad idea!
1. In Milan, It Is Legally Required That You Smile At All Times Except At Funerals Or In Hospitals
A bizarre city regulation from the Austro-Hungarian era in Milan, Italy, has never been repealed. This regulation makes it a legal requirement to smile at all times.
You can be fined for not smiling in public spaces. Exemptions include people at an ill family member’s bedside, funeralgoers, and hospital workers.
So, when visiting Milan, remember that you always have to walk around with a smile. Fortunately, there are not many things in Milan that would take the smile off your face!
2. It’s Illegal To Pass Wind In A Public Place After 6 PM On Thursdays In Florida
A bizarre law in Florida that, as far as we could determine, has never actually been enforced, is the law that it is illegal to pass wind in public in Florida on Thursdays after 6 pm.
The law was written in the 1800s, but it is not clear why it was passed. The specific law states that it is illegal to “annoy the community” or “corrupt the public morals.” However, it is unclear why it’s during a specific day and time of the day.
3. It’s Against the Law For Canadian Radio Stations To Play Music From Too Many Non-Canadian Artists.
When you are in your country enjoying the freedom to listen to a wide variety of music on your local or national radio stations, be glad you are not living in Canada.
Canada has laws in place giving Canadian radio stations guidelines regarding the music content of their broadcasts. Commercial radio stations, for instance, are by law required to play the music of Canadian artists for at least 35% of the time.
This requirement forms part of the detailed legal radio programming rules in Canada. As it is illegal to play less Canadian music than prescribed, radio stations can be fined if they don’t adhere to the legal rules.
This bizarre law recognizes and protects Canadian culture, but if you are not a fan of Canadian artists’ music, you will most probably not listen to Canadian radio stations frequently.
4. In Turin, It’s Illegal Not To Walk Your Dog At Least Three Times A Day
If you are living in Turin, Italy you have to think carefully about whether you should get yourself a dog as a pet. In this city, it is expected that you take your dog for a walk at least three times a day. This arrangement is written into their legislation.
According to the act, you can legally be fined up to $550 (500 Euro) if you don’t adhere to this legislation. To enforce the law, the police mostly rely on neighbors who spot the wrong treatment of dogs.
Although this is to a certain extent a bizarre act, it is at least one that pet owners can relate to.
5. It Was Illegal To Change A Light Bulb Unless You Were A Licensed Electrician In Victoria, Australia
Next time you change a light bulb in your home, be glad that you were not living in Victoria, Australia, in the previous century. There was a law in Victoria making it illegal to change a light bulb if you didn’t have a valid license. You had to get a qualified electrician to do it.
According to the Electricity Safety Act of that time, you could be fined ten Australian dollars if you were caught doing it yourself. Fortunately, this bizarre arrangement is not applicable anymore.
6. There Is A Law in Gainesville, Georgia, Describing Chickens As A “Culinary Delicacy Sacred To Its Municipality.”
When you enjoy your fried chicken in a restaurant or at home, you don’t realize that in Gainesville, Georgia, there is a bizarre law declaring chickens “sacred” and making it illegal for them to roam the streets of the city.
The law describes chickens as a “culinary delicacy sacred to its municipality.”
In Part II, Chapter 8 of this specific law, it is stated that it is unlawful for any person to allow chickens to run at large on the streets or alleys of the city. In other words, chicken owners must by law, have their chickens under control at all times.
7. When You Are Wearing A Swimsuit In Florida It Is Illegal To Sing
When you visit the State of Florida in the USA, don’t get so excited about the beautiful beaches that you start singing in public when you are still wearing your swimsuit. It is illegal to do that in Florida. So, be warned that if you are at a beach party in your swimming suit, you might break a law the moment you start singing.
It seems as if the people responsible for drafting legislation in Florida don’t like individuals to sing in public. Even if you are not in a swimsuit and singing along with your radio while walking by yourself, you can be arrested.
8. It Is Against the Law For A Woman To Fall Asleep In A Hair Salon In Florida While Under A Hair Dryer
The State of Florida is probably the State with the most bizarre laws in the USA. According to a Florida act, for instance, a woman puts herself at risk if she visits a hair salon when she is tired and feels sleepy. According to law, a woman who falls asleep while under a hairdryer may be fined.
The salon owner can also be fined because the hairdressers have allowed the woman to fall asleep. It is not clear who will alert the law enforcers if a client falls asleep during a hair treatment!
9. Unmarried Women Parachuting In Florida On Sundays Can Be Fined
If you are an unmarried woman in Florida and always on the lookout for interesting and exciting activities to enjoy, remember there is written legislation in Florida prohibiting unmarried women from participating in any parachuting activities on a Sunday.
As far as what legal researchers could find, it seems as if no woman has ever been arrested! It is, however, still written in a law, and punishment is prescribed – a fine and/or jail time.
10. In Carmel Women Must Have A Permit To Wear Shoes With High Heels
In Carmel, California, it is illegal for women to wear super tall and thin heels. The law is not applied anymore but it is still written law, and permits for wearing high heels are available without any charge at Carmel’s City Hall. The city attorney authored this law, and it was approved in the 1920s.
According to the minutes of meetings about this matter, it is clear that the reason for the legislation was that super high heels were seen as a liability issue. This law defends the city from lawsuits when someone wearing high-heeled shoes trips over irregular pavements.
11. French Law Prevents Women To Lift Heavy Materials
What makes this French legislation strange is that it is still written in law but is not applicable anymore. The original reason for the law was to protect women from doing “dangerous” work. However, in the act, “dangerous work” is defined in terms of the weight women are allowed to lift.
According to the legislation, women are not allowed to carry loads heavier than 55 lbs (25 kilograms). They are also forbidden to transport cargo weighing more than 99 lbs (45 kilograms) with a wheelbarrow. With modern forklifts, women lift very heavy loads, and the wording of the legislation is quite out of date
12. In Missouri Rampage Bulls Can By Law Be Castrated By Residence Without Liability
If you are a farmer in Missouri, USA, you must ensure that your bulls and rams are always on your property and not rampaging somewhere else. Missouri legislation allows any person to castrate a rampaging bull or ram without liability for the damage.
In principle, if a bull or ram over the age of one year is causing damage for more than three consecutive days on your property and it cannot be determined who the owner is – or the owner doesn’t remove the animal – three town residents just have to attest in writing that the animal is rampaging, The animal can then be castrated.
What is not clear in the legislation is what happens to the castrated animal afterward!
13. Sioux Falls Hotels Predicated By Law To Provide Twin Beds And Have Love-Making Rules In Place
When you plan your honeymoon or a romantic weekend, it is perhaps not such a bad idea to skip the hotels in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, if you want to book there for only one night.
In Sioux Falls, hotels are predicated by law to provide every room with twin beds. The two beds have to be at least two feet apart when a couple rents a room for one night only. The couple must be told – or there must be a notice in the room – that it is illegal to make love on the floor between the beds!
What law enforcement officers have to do to “catch” offenders is not set out in the legislation!
14. No Bulletproof Vests While Committing Murder In New Jersey
When planning to commit a murder or another serious crime, don’t plan it for New Jersey if you foresee wearing a bulletproof vest! If you are caught for your crime and it is discovered that you’ve wear a bulletproof vest during the crime, you will face further charges.
According to New Jersey legislation, it’s a second or third-degree charge to wear a body vest while busy with another crime or trying to escape. This legislation is actually more ironic than bizarre.
Nowadays, laws are necessary to prohibit criminals from using apparatus developed for law enforcement!
15. In Montana Live Performers Must Remain On Stage the Whole Time They Perform
Artists performing in Billings, Montana, in the United States, need a lot of stamina due to a bizarre law. Performers are required by law not to leave the stage during the performance. All male and female performers must remain on stage throughout the duration of the performance.
This bizarre arrangement forms part of legislation that establishments selling alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption have to adhere to. It seems that the original idea was to ensure that performers don’t use alcohol during performances.
The question is whether the performance ends abruptly when any of the performers “has to go!”
16. Elderly In Minnesota Allowed By Law To Play Bingo Only Two Days A Week
If you considered moving to a home for the elderly somewhere before 2015 and you loved to play bingo, you most probably did not apply for accommodation at a home in Minnesota.
Until 2015, nursing homes and senior centers in Minnesota could only allow bingo on their premises for two days per week. Even visitors to a person in one of the homes were prohibited from playing bingo with the persons they were visiting.
The law was made in the 1980s when charitable gaming came to Minnesota. Fortunately, the law was repealed in 2015.
17. A Law Bans Lacy Undergarments In Russia
Since 2014, a Russian law has banned lacy undergarments for women in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. According to the available information, the ban is because synthetics are not good for health. The law prescribes that women may only wear and buy undergarments made with a minimum of 6 percent cotton.
The law is still in place, and none of the offending lace can be bought in the three countries. The question remains how law enforcers verify what a woman is wearing as undergarments.
18. Swiss Law Ensures That “Social Animals” Have Buddies
The Swiss are known for the love and care they give their pets. To demonstrate their attitude towards animals, Switzerland has legislation in place regarding what they call “social animals.” Examples of “social animals” quoted by the legislation are guinea pigs, goldfish, and budgerigars.
This law prescribes that every resident or visitor with a “social animal” as a pet must also have a buddy for the pet. All social animals should have the company of their own kind. If such a pet is without a buddy, the owner can be fined.
We close our list with this Swiss legislation not because it is bizarre but because it is so unique.
Breaking The Law and You Don’t Even Know It?
When one looks at all the legislation over the years, many weird and even bizarre laws can be found. It is always interesting to find laws and other official regulations that are “strange” to you and try to find the reason why they were originally accepted as laws.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.