When you go to different countries, you meet new people, taste new cuisines and experience various cultures. What comes as a huge surprise or even a shock sometimes are their laws which are non-existent in your own country. At times, these laws can be quite strange and even ridiculous to you. You may not be aware that certain actions which may be okay to you could get you into trouble. Here are 27 different laws around the world which may seem unreal but do exist!
Being Fat is an Offense in Japan.
It is illegal to be fat in Japan, and there is a maximum waistline for people over 40 years old. Thirty-one inches for men and 35 inches for women are the ceilings, and if a Japanese has a waistline above the maximum, then it's considered an offense (which is rather weird, since Japan has a lot of sumo wrestlers and they're supposed to be big, right?).
You aren't allowed to flush a toilet past 10 pm in Switzerland.
If you happen to live in an apartment building in Switzerland, you are prohibited from flushing your toilet if it's past 10 p.m. because it may disturb the neighbors, and they could file a complaint against you. So, if you ever find yourself needing to do a "number 2" in the middle of the night, it's either you hold it in or flush it in the morning.
It is illegal to frown in Milan, Italy.
If you ever visit the global capital of fashion, Milan, then you should know that it is prohibited to frown and you should always be seen smiling. The only exception to this is when you are at a hospital, a funeral or other sad events (imagine if you're still required to be smiling at a funeral - that would be quite awkward).
In Samoa, it is illegal to forget your wife's birthday.
Let's face it; guys tend to forget special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays. It's in the male DNA, and men just can't help it. So, guys in Samoa have it pretty rough since it's illegal for husbands to forget their wife's birthday. So better calendar a reminder about that special day you guys.
It is illegal to feed pigeons in Venice, Italy.
If you ever decide to take your partner or your whole family to the stunningly beautiful city of Venice, Italy, then you should know that it is illegal to feed pigeons. Ever since 2008, these birds have figured out that they should go to a different city to eat. So if ever you get caught feeding them, be prepared to give a $56 fine.
In Australia, only qualified electricians are allowed to change a light bulb.
Well, we're not exactly sure if this particular "law" is true or not, but there are claims that if you live in Victoria, Australia, you are not allowed to change any light bulbs even inside your own home. In case that you did, you would be fined 10 AUD per light bulb. We'll do some further research on this and give an update.
It is illegal to run out of gas on the Autobahn.
If you're a car-kind-of-guy, then we're sure that you've dreamed of taking your dream car to Germany and burning rubber on the Autobahn. Autobahn is a highway system in Germany without speed limits, and speed of more than 200 km/h is normal (that's even somewhat slow). So running out of gas here is dangerous and illegal and will get you a pretty high penalty.
Dying is illegal in a small town in Norway.
Longyearbyen is a small Norwegian town located in the Arctic Ocean. Because of this, the place is perpetually covered in frost, that's why dead bodies aren't able to decompose. Okay, you might be thinking "What're they gonna do, fine me for dying?" Well, if you're about to die, you get shipped to another town, and you spend the remainder of your days and get buried there. - Hey guys, ever heard of cremation?
15-year olds and older can go to jail for cheating in Bangladesh.
Well, in all countries, cheating is considered bad, but not as extreme that you can get jailed for it. In Bangladesh, if you're 15 or older and caught cheating, you will be sent to jail, which would be a pretty good lesson. But it is a little too drastic if you ask us. So be very careful, kids.
Bear Wrestling is illegal in Alabama.
"Who does this?" you must be asking yourself. But in Alabama, bear wrestling is a really popular hobby. Ever since the 19th century, Americans all over the country flock to Alabama to participate in this sport. When the Alabama State Government found out, they put a ban on bear wrestling to avoid harming the species.
In Dubai, you could end up in jail for kissing in public.
Dubai isn't one of the best places to spend a romantic getaway with your loved one because any form of PDA will get you and your partner sent to jail. So, before booking a flight to another country, it would be better to do a lot of research, so you can avoid spending some jail time.
Only 25 pennies per purchase in Canada.
Canada stopped producing and circulating pennies in 2013. You can still use them, but you are only allowed to use 25 pennies per purchase. Most stores choose to round up their transactions to the closest five-cent increment. So if your bill is $1.02, you only need to pay $1, but if it's $1.03, you need to pay $1.05.
In Thailand, it is illegal to step on the money.
If you're in Thailand and you happen to see money on the street, be careful to not step on it, even if you're the one who dropped it in the first place. Thai currency has a portrait of the king of Thailand and other royalty, so it is considered disrespectful and even illegal to step on it.
It is illegal to sell or chew gum in Singapore.
Singapore is one of the most successful countries in the world, even though it is just the size of a city. But it is also one of the strictest when it comes to rules. In the past, gum was a big problem in Singapore, where people were sticking gums on door sensors of trains, thereby ruining the transport. The solution? The government banned the selling or chewing of gums altogether in 1992.
It is illegal to be drunk in a pub in the U.K.
People getting drunk in pubs cannot be avoided. But in the United Kingdom, bar owners could be penalized if drunk patrons are found inside their pub. But as we all know, this law gets broken every single day and is quite a challenge to implement because you can't stop people from drinking too much.
In Saudi Arabia, women could be sent to jail for driving.
Saudi Arabia follows very strict Sharia laws that forbid women a lot of things, and that includes getting behind the wheel. The punishment for this ranges from getting whipped to even getting sent to jail for years. Even though there has been a lot of protests fighting for women's rights, it seems like the monarchy won't change its mind anytime soon.
In North Korea, you can only choose government-approved haircuts.
If you've watched the movie The Interview, you may have an idea how cruel it is to live in North Korea. The film may have been a satire-comedy, but the hardships the North Koreans face is no joke. If you get caught with a non-government approved haircut, you will be jailed, including the next two generations (your kids and grandkids).
In Denmark, headlights should always be 'on' while driving.
You might be thinking that this law only applies to night driving, but in Denmark, you are required to keep your headlights on even during daytime. If you get caught violating the rule, you may face a fine that could be as high as $100. Studies have shown that this has helped reduce road accidents, so other countries might want to adopt it, too.
In Juneau, Alaska, pets aren't allowed inside stores selling food or hair salons.
Juneau is an Alaskan port town with thousands of tourists every year. Because of this, it is against the law to bring any pet or animal inside public premises that sells food or where food is consumed, and any barber shop or hair salon. Poor little guys.
Fake drugs are illegal in Arizona.
Drugs are illegal almost everywhere, but in the state of Arizona, even fake drugs are against the law. It is unlawful to produce and distribute counterfeit drugs, including prescriptions and over the counter medications. Placebo drugs are exempt if you are a licensed medical practitioner who would be utilizing them for professional/research use.
Women aren't allowed to wear pants in France.
Ever since the 1800's, women aren't permitted to wear pants in France. The law was amended in 1892 to allow women to wear pants while riding horses, and in 1909 to let them wear pants while riding bicycles. - The law must be really tough on the ladies.
Tibetan Monks need permission to reincarnate.
In 2007, the Chinese government banned Tibetan Buddhists monks to reincarnate without the permission from the government. According to a statement by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the procedure for reincarnation is “an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation.” Good luck with that.
Littering in Singapore is a major offense.
As we've mentioned before, Singapore is very strict because it takes its laws very seriously. In most countries, the citizens don't get punished for littering, but in Singapore, you need to pay a $1,000 (Singaporean) fine and do community labor. That's a good way to keep its people well disciplined.
In Kazakhstan, taking pictures in the airport and official buildings is illegal.
If you ever decide to visit Kazakhstan, be sure to take pictures when you're not inside the airport or any other military and official building because it is against the law. So, save the selfies for your city tour because you wouldn't want to get fined, right?
Wearing high heels in Greece is illegal.
When visiting Greece, it's essential for the ladies to know this information. High heels cannot be worn at ancient and national monuments because they could cause damage. So, wearing flats and flip-flops would be a better choice.- They're way more comfortable after all.
Naming a pig 'Napoleon' is not allowed in France.
In France, there's a law that specifically prohibits naming pigs "Napoleon." These days, the act is still unlawful and extends to names of heads of state (aside from Napoleon). Though the law no longer considers the "naming" as a criminal offense, the pet owner can still be charged with slander and defamation, which apparently are taken very seriously in France.
Using water guns in Cambodia on New Year's Eve is unlawful.
Back in 2001, then Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara banned the sale and import of all water guns. The rule also prohibits the use of such water guns during Khmer New Year celebrations because it might cause social unrest. - Maybe they need to loosen up someday.