To prepare for this article outlining some of the quirky laws in other countries, many came across as odd, some were crazy and others were just plain hilarious. The customs in some countries are understandable. Some of them include dressing modestly and in neutral colors such as black and white, for any females visiting China, Japan, India, Russia and those in the Middle East. Cleavage is definitely a no-no, and it’s expected that visitors respect their cultural dressing traditions. Where it’s expected to dress in modest fashion, it’s the opposite in European countries and Latin America. Fashionable dress and bright colors are the norm and often respected in these cultures.
Some of these laws were baffling; several were entirely too absurd to believe. But they are real, and very plainly illustrate the maxim that truth is stranger than fiction.
If England is the destination, please know that it’s legal for a male to urinate in public as long as it spills onto the rear wheel of his car, and only if his right hand is placed on the motor vehicle. Also in England, specifically in the city of Liverpool, the only circumstance in which it’s legal for women to be topless is if they are saleswomen in tropical fish stores. So guys, start saving money to buy tropical fish if Liverpool is on the itinerary.
In Australia it’s illegal to wear black clothes, felt shoes and black face makeup or shoe polish in public for fear of resembling a cat burglar. It’s also illegal for one to walk on the right side of any footpath.
In Denmark it’s illegal to wear masks. It’s also required of drivers to check underneath their cars before they drive to make sure there are no children or gypsies sleeping there.
In Greece, electronic games have been banned from all Internet cafes. This law was enacted in 2002 to fight illegal gambling.
In Italy, it’s illegal for a man to wear a skirt. So guys, remember to abstain from packing any skirts if traveling to Italy. And, oddly enough, it’s completely legal to pinch a woman’s bottom. Now, there are stories about presumptuous Italians and their forward, flirty exploits, but this goes to a whole new level. Viva Italia!
In Germany, as in Denmark, it’s illegal to wear masks, except this only applies to work strikes. It’s also illegal for a person’s car to run out of gas on the Autobahn. Furthermore, it’s also illegal to stop on the Autobahn for any reason.
In Singapore, the punishment for attempting suicide is imprisonment for up to one year.
This isn’t a law, but in Thailand, the left hand is considered unclean, so refrain from eating with it. And it’s also considered rude to point at people. As for the law, it’s illegal to be shirtless while driving a car and to leave home without wearing underwear.
It would be naïve to think laws such as these exist solely in foreign countries. The States also has its fair share of crazy statutes.
For example, did anyone know it’s illegal in California to eat an orange in a bathtub? The reason for this has to do with the citric acid in oranges mixing with bath oils to form some kind of explosive element.
As most of these seem irrational at first glance, many do have legitimate reasons for existing. So for anyone planning to study in another country, it might be a good idea to become acquainted with its more obscure laws. If not for humor’s sake, for the sake of understanding the quirkier nuances of a culture.
