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37 Ridiculously Weird Laws

Ishani Chatterjee Shukla
Ever been fined for breathing more than 50 milligrams of oxygen in a day? With these really wicked and weird laws prevailing all around the globe, you never know what's next!
De minimis non curat lex

This legal maxim translates into The Law Does Not Concern Itself With Trifles. Go through the following list of bizarre laws and you'll be tempted to utter a big "REALLY??"

Some Real Weird Laws in the U.S.

Let's take a look at some  queer laws in the U.S.A. before we warm up to those in other countries.
► In Iowa, it is illegal for horses (of all things!!) to eat fire hydrant.

► In Florida, it is illegal to have sexual intercourse with porcupines.

► In Vermont, a woman must get written permission from her husband to wear false teeth!
► You run the risk of breaking a state law if you get a fish drunk in Ohio.

► In Kentucky, carrying an ice cream cone in your pocket is illegal (people really do that kind of thing?).
► In Oklahoma, you can land in prison for making faces at a dog (is PETA listening? Could it get any more ethical than this?).

► In Los Angeles, it is illegal to bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time.
► An Illinois state law requires a man's female companion to call him Master while on a date. This does not apply to married couples though!

► In Carmel, New York, it is illegal for a man to be seen in public wearing pants and jacket that do not match.

► In Youngstown, Ohio, you are playing with the law if you run out of gas!
► In Oklahoma, it is against the law to have a sleeping donkey in your bathtub after 7 PM. (!?!?).

► Under a state law in Alabama, anyone who wears a fake mustache in church and causes "unseemly laughter" is liable to face imprisonment!

► In Fairbanks, Alaska, it is illegal for moose to mate on city streets.
► In California, it is illegal to set up a mouse trap without holding a hunting license.

► California state law prohibits peeling oranges in hotel rooms!

► In El Monte, it is prohibited for horses to fall asleep in bathtubs if not accompanied by their riders (who also must be sleeping).
► In Los Angeles, a man is legally permitted to beat his wife with a leather belt or strap, provided such belt or strap be not more than 2 inches wide; consent of wife is necessary for beating her with the aforementioned appendages that are wider than 2 inches.
► In Arcadia, it is unlawful for young women to drink coffee after 6 PM. (should have a time limit for man's beer drinking as well!)

► In Miami, it is prohibited to imitate animals.

► In Utah, birds are entitled to a right of way on any public highway.
► A Virginian statute, included in the Code of 1933, prohibits corrupt practices or bribery by any person except political candidates!

► In Baltimore, Maryland, it is against the law to take lions to movies.

Strange Laws All Over The World

The following list covers some of the world's strangest laws and these often make us doubt the sanity of the lawmakers as well as ponder upon the circumstances which required such laws to be made!
► In the Unite Kingdom, it is illegal to die in the Houses of the Parliament. (Hmm...calls for better 'death planning')

► In Australia, it is against the law to roam the streets wearing black clothes and felt shoes with black shoe polish smeared on the face as these are regarded as the tools of cat burglars.
► In Israel, you could be prosecuted for picking your nose on Sunday (Israelis suffering from nasal allergies must wish they had detachable noses!).

► In Samoa, it is against the law to forget one's wife's birthday.

► In Cannes, France, wearing Jerry Lewis mask is illegal.

► In Indonesia, prosecution for masturbation is decapitation!
► Under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women were prohibited from wearing white socks, fearing men might find that attractive!

► In Milan, Italy, you must always wear a smile on your face or end up paying a fine, except when you're headed for the hospital or a funeral.

► Students caught cheating during exams are imprisoned in Bangladesh.
► Lebanese men are allowed to indulge in sexual acts with female animals; if caught with male animals, the punishment is death.

► In 16th and 17th century Turkey, drinking coffee was illegal and punishable by death!
► In some Middle Eastern countries, it is a mortal sin to consume the flesh of a lamb with whom you engage in sexual intercourse. (Yeah! The lamb's sure gonna appreciate the kindness, even after you violate it!)
► In Cali, Colombia, bride's mother must be present in the nuptial chamber the first time a woman has sex with her husband to witness the act.
► In Denmark, vehicles are legally required to be driven with their headlights on - even during the day.

► It is illegal to access the Internet in Burma and doing so is punishable with imprisonment.
There are many more of these crazy laws which never cease to amaze and confound! The reasons behind most of these weird laws is unexplainable. however, these laws never fail to give a good laugh and some interesting fodder to kill time!