Silly Laws

[STEED]

What a corker this lot are. :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

Story >>>>> 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.

[baggygreen]

Originally Posted by P_Funk

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Course, it is silly in the sense that the fools havent bothered to abolish such an outdated law...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

Chock

[bookworm_020]

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

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.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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
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
Carlisle, newyear, axe variation.

It is legal to kill a scotsman in carlisle on new years day with an axe

Totally unreliable source #4
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.

[mrbeast]

Originally Posted by baggygreen

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:

[Letum]

Originally Posted by 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.

[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.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by STEED

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.