Silly Laws

[STEED]

What a corker this lot are. :lol: :rotfl:

Ten stupidest laws are named

These are the stupidest laws, according to percentage share of public vote.
Most ridiculous British laws:
1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (27%)
2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down (7%)
3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

Most ridiculous foreign laws:
1. In Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk (9%)
2. In Indonesia, the penalty for masturbation is decapitation (8%)
3. In Bahrain, a male doctor can only examine the genitals of a woman in the reflection of a mirror (7%)


Full List >>>>> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/06/nlaws206.xml (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/06/nlaws206.xml)

Story >>>>> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/06/nlaws106.xml (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/06/nlaws106.xml)

[bigboywooly]

:rotfl:

IIRC there is a similar one to number 10 involving the Welsh and a bow and arrow too

[P_Funk]

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour
That one isn't so stupid. In fact if you know history it makes perfect sense, so long as you know... people actually have a sense of history... which they don't.

[Reaves]

3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)


I know where i'm starting my new business.

[baggygreen]

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour That one isn't so stupid. In fact if you know history it makes perfect sense, so long as you know... people actually have a sense of history... which they don't.QFT

Course, it is silly in the sense that the fools havent bothered to abolish such an outdated law...

Then again, it says body armour which could broadly cover kevlar vests or helmets etc... On The Bill every copper has a kevlar vest, how about cops stationed at parliament? Are they breaking the law?

:hmm:

[Chock]

Yup, that one with the Welsh and a bow and arrow is something to do with the defence of Chester and the laws about having to practice with a bow and arrow so that there would be people proficient at archery if an army was raised. I think you were only allowed to kill a Welshman with a bow on any day except Sunday or something daft like that.

My personal favourite was a local bylaw at Greenham Common, which you will remember, is where the USAF sited its Tomahawk cruise missiles in the UK, to much protestation from the tree-hugger brigade. Before the site was constructed, there used to be a sign on the common which read: 'The launching of missiles is strictly prohibited' in reference to not being allowed to play ball games and stuff like that.

:D Chock

[bookworm_020]

Don't worry, Australia has got some as well.:lol:

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/international/australia/

Have a look at the rest of the world, it almost makes you want to give up on life.:doh:

[Letum]

Yup, that one with the Welsh and a bow and arrow is something to do with the defence of Chester and the laws about having to practice with a bow and arrow so that there would be people proficient at archery if an army was raised. I think you were only allowed to kill a Welshman with a bow on any day except Sunday or something daft like that.



Chester?!
Welsh?

My home city of York had a law that made it legal to kill a Scotsman if you where standing on the city walls using a bow and it wasn't Sunday.

Totally unreliable source #1 (http://www.yorkshire-escapes.com/yorkshire/places/days-out-york/1/)
it is technically still legal to shoot a Scotsman in York, but only if you spot him within the town walls after dark on a Sunday, your weapon of choice is a bow-and-arrow, and you shoot from horseback!

Totally unreliable source #2 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/06/nlaws206.xml)
Bow carrying variation.
In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (2%)

Totally unreliable source #3 (http://www.dumbguide.com/dumb-laws/england-part-one/)
Carlisle, newyear, axe variation.
It is legal to kill a scotsman in carlisle on new years day with an axe

Totally unreliable source #4 (http://www.programmersheaven.com/mb/offtopic/209423/209423/ReadMessage.aspx)
Crossbow variation.
There is a by law in York, England ( Where I live ) Which states that I can legally kill a Scotsman with a cross bow on any Sunday.


I have heard countless other variations.

Unless someone can find a primary source I am convinced that this is just a urban myth.

As it happens I live but a few miles from York.

[Chock]

It may indeed be one of those mythical tales, I've got a vague recollection of hearing it while on a guided tour of the city walls at Chester (which would kind of make sense from at least a geographical standpoint, it being on the Welsh/English border), but of course me 'seeming to recall something' doesn't prove anything.

I do know part of the version I heard has some basis in fact, evidently it was often up to the local clergyman in villages and towns to organise archery practice for anyone over a certain age once a week, so that may be where the 'Sunday' bit comes from.

I'm sure someone will enlighten us with a slightly believable wiki link at some point.

:D Chock

[Letum]

I do know part of the version I heard has some basis in fact, evidently it was often up to the local clergyman in villages and towns to organise archery practice for anyone over a certain age once a week, so that may be where the 'Sunday' bit comes from.


Yup, that is true.

A kind of proto-national service to ensure England could raise quick, cheep armys to fend off the catholic nations.

[Jimbuna]

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. :hmm:

What a load of sh*t :rotfl:

[Chock]

I love the UK one about not being allowed to sound your horn in a built up area after a certain time. Alright, I'll just have a major crash then instead, shall I?

:D Chock

[Hitman]

Here's another one that isn't on the list:

In Spain, the owner of a swarm of bees has the right to pursue them entering the property of anyone, but he has to pay for any damage caused. If he ceases to pursue the swarm for two consecutive days, anybody can try to get it.

Current paragraph 610 of our Civil Code :D

[Jimbuna]

Different states of the United States have some unique yet foolish and eccentric laws of their own. In Alabama, putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death and keeping an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time is a crime. A law in Fairbanks, Alaska does not allow moose to have sex on city streets. In Alaska, you may hunt a bear safely but it is illegal to wake a bear and take a picture for photo opportunities.

[XabbaRus]

The last one about the bear makes perfect sense in this sue happy world.

Oh as for killing scots men. how about, it is legal to kill a scotsman anywhere in England at any time of the day with any weapon that comes to hand...actually I'll change that to something more specific. If his name happens to be Alex Salmond.....

Joke...... not funny but a joke.

[Skybird]

1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (27%)

Okay, but is it possible to die twice anyway?

[Jimbuna]

In Philippines, cars whose license plates end with a 1 or 2 are not allowed on the roads on Monday, 3 or 4 on Tuesday, 5 or 6 on Wednesday, 7 or 8 on Thursday, and 9 or 0 on Friday from 7:00 AM onwards to keep roads free of traffic jams.

[mrbeast]

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour That one isn't so stupid. In fact if you know history it makes perfect sense, so long as you know... people actually have a sense of history... which they don't.QFT

Course, it is silly in the sense that the fools havent bothered to abolish such an outdated law...

Then again, it says body armour which could broadly cover kevlar vests or helmets etc... On The Bill every copper has a kevlar vest, how about cops stationed at parliament? Are they breaking the law?

:hmm:

The reason said silly laws have not been abolished is because it would cost more money and time to remove them than its worth. So they leave them on the books and either have them superceded by newer laws which take precedence (try explaining that its leagal to kill a scotsman with a crossbow in york on a sunday to the police, common murder laws take precedence) or they simply decline to enforce them. But many of them concern situations that just don't arise in 2007. I mean, who cares if its illeagel to drove your geese through Westminster on a non market day.....whos going to bother doing that on market day anyway?

[mrbeast]

BTW the killing a Scotsman thing is actually a Welshman, and in its within the precincts of Hereford Catherdral with a crosbow on a sunday. IIRC :hmm:

[Jimbuna]

In Arizona, US, donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs and you may be imprisoned for 25 years for cutting down a cactus. In Arkansas, schoolteachers who bob their hair are not eligible for a raise and it is illegal to buy or sell blue light bulbs. In Baldwin Park, California, nobody is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool while in Los Angeles, a man can legally beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, but the belt can't be wider than 2 inches, unless he has his wife's consent to beat her with a wider strap. Consent should be given prior to the event, as is carefully stipulated.

[joea]

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 PM. :hmm:

What a load of sh*t :rotfl:


...or play music or computer games, well make "noise" basically. A couple of years ago was blasting Il-2 on my system and found a nice note in my mailbox from a neighbour to stop "watching TV" so late. :down: Thank goodness for earphones.

[Letum]

either have them superceded by newer laws which take precedence (try explaining that its leagal to kill a scotsman with a crossbow in york on a sunday to the police, common murder laws take precedence)


Not quite true.

In a case where two laws conflict the purpetrator is allways found innocent in the UK.

[mrbeast]

either have them superceded by newer laws which take precedence (try explaining that its leagal to kill a scotsman with a crossbow in york on a sunday to the police, common murder laws take precedence)


Not quite true.

In a case where two laws conflict the purpetrator is allways found innocent in the UK.

In that case Scotsmen better watchout in York on sundays.....sorry mean't Welshmen in Hereford, within the boundraies of the cathederal.....now wheres my crossbow! LOL!

Joking aside though, some archaic laws do raise their heads from time to time, I think about 50yrs ago someone was actually charged with witchcraft laws! But I'm a little hazy about the details of that.

Another point to make is that many archaic and odd laws are bylaws which IIRC have a lower status than common law, I think.

[Jimbuna]

Common Laws are those that are made via the decision/judgement/finding of a judge.
Statutory Laws are those that are passed by Statutes (Acts of Parliament)

[Jimbuna]

In South Korea, traffic policemen are required to report all bribes that they receive from motorists.

In Sweden, prostitution is legal but it is illegal to use the services of a prostitute.

In Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house without wearing underwear.

Hunting with a rifle is permitted in Norfolk County, Virgina - provided that the hunter is fifteen feet off the ground.

In St. Louis, it's illegal to sit on the curb of any city street and drink beer from a bucket.

Women in Joliet, Illinois, can be arrested for trying on more than six dresses in one store.

[Camaero]

Hunting with a rifle is permitted in Norfolk County, Virgina - provided that the hunter is fifteen feet off the ground.

Ready my Huey! It's wabbit season.

http://www.defendamerica.mil/images/photos/nov2005/index/ii111505b.jpg