Everyone knows that any developed state must have clear laws in force. Such a system is a clear sign of a civilized society. People came up with laws to avoid impunity and chaos. However, over time, much has changed in our lives. So the laws adopted many years ago do not always correspond to existing realities. That is why when meeting with the constitutions of different countries, at first glance, absolutely ridiculous norms are met. And sometimes many of them seem frankly funny.
What are the funniest laws of the world and why were they created? It is worth noting that, as a rule, in the history of a country, state or city where one or another ridiculous situation is accepted, most likely, there were incidents that caused them to appear.
USA
We will begin our acquaintance with the funniest laws of the countries of the world with the United States of America. After all, the constitution of this state is rightfully considered the absolute champion in the number of absurd provisions contained in it. This can be partly explained by the fact that, unlike most other countries, in the USA each state develops and adopts its own legislation, extending the effect of these regulations only to residents living on its territory.
Pennsylvania
Getting acquainted with the funniest laws of the United States, one cannot but mention the ban on living in more than sixteen women in the same house. This situation exists in the state of Pennsylvania. Especially ridiculous this law sounds against the background of the fact that in the USA today gay relations are openly supported. Nevertheless, if 17 or more women live in one house, then it begins to be considered a brothel. But interestingly, in this case, men can live no more than 120.
What are the logical explanations for this one of the funniest US laws? It is rather difficult to find the reason for its appearance. Most likely, the authorities of this state trust men more than women.
Another position of the Pennsylvania authorities, which was included in the list of the funniest laws, clearly indicates that the residents here are not openly seeking to housekeeping, adhering to the principle of "it will do that." Otherwise, what explanation can be found for the norm that stipulates a fine for housewives to smudge dirt and dust under the carpet?
But sometimes the funniest laws bring invaluable benefits. For example, fish in Pennsylvania, located in water bodies, may not worry at all that anyone would want to catch them, except for fishing hooks. But according to the law of this state, the fish itself can “decide” not to eat bait. In this case, no one will catch it by the fins or by the tail - this is prohibited.
Sometimes funny and ridiculous laws are very inconvenient. So, due to the fact that a large number of herds of various cattle graze on the fields of Pennsylvania, drivers are forced to ride rural roads with constant stops at night. The state government ordered them to stop cars every mile and fire a warning signal from the rocket launcher. And only after all the sheep and other animals have cleared the road, it will be possible to continue on their way.
Alabama
Among the regulations of this state there are also funny laws. For example, residents of Alabama are strictly prohibited:
- carry ice cream in your pocket;
- leave the house in a mask;
- attend a church with a fake mustache glued on your face;
- spit in the presence of a woman.
For example, if policemen see an ice cream in a back pocket of a passerby, they have the right to arrest a person and write a fine.
It is worth noting that, in general, the US Constitution impedes the existence of domestic violence. However, the Alabama authorities have made their own amendments to this provision, which can safely be included in the list of funny laws. So, in this state, the husband has no right to beat his wife with a stick, the diameter of which exceeds the diameter of the thumb of his hand. Probably, if this tool is smaller, then it will become an acceptable tool for resolving family conflict. But the woman in this case receives complete freedom of action. Indeed, the law does not say anything about the diameter of the stick, which it has the right to wield.
Apparently, Alabama residents are very fond of horses. Indeed, judging by the laws of the state, people are ready to give a lot in order to create psychological comfort for animals. For example, the population of Alabama is forbidden to open umbrellas on the streets. After all, some horse may accidentally pass by. And an open umbrella will cause her fear. Most likely, love for these animals flashes especially brightly among the population of the state during a rainfall.
The funny laws of Alabama are not limited to this. Among them are those that relate to driving a car. Despite the fact that the rights, without a doubt, are given only to those people whose mental health no one doubts, the state authorities decided to hedge. They forbade anyone who decided to try to drive blindfolded to drive a car.
California
It is only in fairy tales that a kiss turns a frog into a princess and brings good luck. You should not arrange your fate in this way while in California. Troubles in this case can not be avoided. After all, the laws of this state prohibit kissing frogs and toads, as well as licking them.
An absurd, it would seem, situation that has quite real explanations. The fact is that in the southwestern territories of the United States Colorado toads are found. These impressive amphibians (up to 19 cm long) have parotid glands on the sides of their heads, which produce a substance such as bufotenin. This powerful hallucinogen has long been used by the shamans of South America. It so happened that drug addicts became aware of this "living" source. Many teenagers were not slow to fall to it. In 1960, several cases of the use of bufotenin by licking toads were recorded. In this regard, a similar method was recognized as one of the methods of drug use, which forbade the law.
Another funny ruling approved by the California authorities: in the city of Norko, it is constitutionally forbidden to keep a rhino at home.
Arizona
Some ridiculous and stupid laws become such due to the fact that they are simply unsaid. An example of this is the decision of the Arizona authorities, which states that a person is sentenced to 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus. Of course, this is ridiculous, but the explanation of this law is quite logical. Arizona authorities had in mind saguaro cacti. These plants in the wild grow only in the Sonoran desert, located in this state. This type of cactus reaches 15 meters in height and lives up to 150 years. Poaching by the law means the destruction of such cacti in the territory where the Saguaro National Park is located, and only if it is massive, and if 25 plants are already cut down by a person. Nobody has yet succeeded in breaking this law. They say that in the National Park to save cacti they put microchips in them.
Texas
It is worth noting that some of the ridiculous laws of different countries at one time were completely justified and reasonable. They became ridiculous due to the fact that the life situation has changed. At the same time, they simply forgot to cancel the laws. For example, more recently, in Texas, two trains that met on the way needed to stop and wait for the third train. A similar law was adopted in those days when the railways were single-track. In this case, departure was carried out only at stations. And the authorities did not cancel this decision even after the railways were modified.
Until now, in Texas, a man has no right to carry wire cutters. This law was adopted during the so-called Wild West. Then there were many cases of theft of cattle. The crooks cut wire hedges with wire cutters to steal animals. Thefts were so frequent that the authorities decided to ban the wearing of wire cutters.
Arkansas
Funny laws and the constitution of this state were not spared. More recently, a large fine was imposed on the person who hunts camels. The absurdity of this legal act is that these animals are not found in America at all. In order to understand the reason for the adoption of this law, it will take a little deeper into the story.
In the middle of the XIX century. an unusual experiment was conducted in the USA. Camels were brought here for the army in order to use them as pack animals. The experiment was a failure. Some camels were sold, while others, left in the wild, went wild. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were still seen in the deserts of Arkansas.
Florida
Every day, millions of people are forced to comply with the ridiculous rules and funny laws of different countries of the world. This applies to the state of Florida. Here, as well as in other administrative regions of America, the authorities sometimes pass legislative acts, for which it is difficult to find a logical explanation.
These ridiculous Florida laws include requiring women not to fall asleep under a hair dryer. Violators will certainly be fined. The same punishment awaits the owner of the salon.
There is also a special law prohibiting unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday. Violators are fined or even imprisoned.
And here is another ridiculous situation. A person who has tied an elephant to a parking meter must pay money for parking.
The Florida state authorities consider:
- taking a shower completely naked;
- Skateboarding without a driver’s license;
- singing in a public place if a person is wearing a bathing suit;
- hanging your laundry on a rope located on the street;
- jogging;
- the use of pressed cottage cheese after six in the evening on Sunday.
Other states
Absurd and ridiculous laws can be found not only in the constitutions of the above administrative districts of the United States. They are in the legal acts of Washington. Here, anyone who is about to commit a crime must definitely notify him by calling the police. I wonder if there were such criminals who complied with this law?
But people living in Baltimore, for some reason suddenly decided to get a lion as a pet, the law forbids taking him to the theater. In this city, there is also a ban on throwing hay from the second floor. The one who suddenly decided to do this business, most likely, needs to go up a floor.
Idaho has its own funny laws. You can’t officially go fishing here if you are riding a camel. What was the reason for making such a decision is unknown. Probably a fight for animal rights. Maybe that's why in Illinois there is a ban on rats being hit with a baseball bat. Moreover, all other devices for this are not at all prohibited. The theme of the struggle for animal rights is also voiced in the legislation of New Orleans. Its residents can be fined for tying a crocodile not somewhere else, but to a fire hydrant. Perhaps in this state are those who wish to commit such an act. Oklahoma authorities are also caring for animals. You cannot tease dogs in this state.
There are other prohibitions that also cause a smile and bewilderment. For example, in the United States, a decision was made at the legislative level prohibiting dogs from barking for more than 10 minutes in a row. If this happens, then the pet owner, who first received such a complaint, will have to pay $ 250. Repeated violation will cost $ 500. A similar law was passed on the basis of a Los Angeles court ruling when the lawsuit of Gary Leonard, tired of barking a neighbor's dog, was considered. How to keep your pet so that it does not make noise is not clear. There is no explanation in the legal act on this score. However, since the adoption of this seemingly ridiculous law, many citizens very often become involuntary violators of it.
It is much easier to comply with a Michigan state regulation. The law they adopted prohibits throwing octopuses in public places. The reason for such an unusual decision was the tradition of hockey fans that they started in 1952. Then the Detroit Red Wings team fought for the Stanley Cup. She needed to win in eight games. To support athletes, fans threw a clam onto the ice, each leg of which was a kind of symbol of victory. On the next game, it all started again. Fans literally bombarded the athletes with octopuses. To restore order in hockey matches, the state authorities had to pass a law.
National treasure
Considering the funniest laws of the world, it is impossible not to mention our country. In February 1918, the Saratov Provincial Council of People's Commissars made a decision, in comparison with which the regulation of the life of toads, dogs, octopuses and other animals does not look so strange. The question concerned women aged 17 to 32 years (in addition to those who had more than five children). Such representatives of the weaker sex, as instructed by the authorities, became none other than the property (property) of the people. Men got the right to use one woman. At the same time, the rules were established (no more than three hours and no more than three times a week). Such a man was obliged to prove his belonging to the working class by presenting the certificate of a factory committee or trade union, and also to pay contributions in the amount of 2% of his earnings to the Popular Generation Fund. The ex-husband at the same time had the right of extraordinary access. The decree approving the abolition of private ownership of women was created by the Union of Anarchists, who participated in the work of the council along with the Bolsheviks. The authors made such a decision because the best “specimens” of the fairer sex belong to the bourgeoisie, which violates the “correct” continuation of the human race.
The adopted document caused serious unrest. And not only women were indignant. Against such a law also rose those who were considered its authors - Saratov anarchists. They even killed the owner of the teahouse Mikhail Uvarov, who, as it turned out, was the real author of the fake decree. By this time, the law was already printed in the printing house, and in some places it was already being prepared to be implemented.
A slightly different version of the document went to Vladimir. His text said that any girl who was not married, who was 18 years old, had to register (under pain of punishment) with the Bureau of Free Love.
Of course, these ridiculous laws of Russia were not the idea of the authorities. The Bolsheviks fired the editors of newspapers that printed such documents, and even closed publications. However, the story of the nationalization of women for a long time was a trump card used against the Soviet regime.
Walk on the "leader"
Among the funny laws of different countries is the one adopted in Thailand. It is strictly forbidden to step on a national currency coin or crumple a bill. For this you can get as much as 15 whole years of imprisonment. At first glance, it seems that this is one of the most ridiculous and funny laws of the countries of the world. However, he has his own explanation. The fact is that on each of the baht of Thai baht there is an image of the king of Thailand. Careless attitude to money is considered an insult to the monarch and a serious crime. Up to 15 years of imprisonment, a person can receive according to Art. 112 of the Criminal Code of this state. However, it should be borne in mind that no one will put in prison a tourist who accidentally stepped on a coin lying on the sidewalk. Criminal liability for this act occurs only when there is evidence of malicious intent.
However, such a ridiculous law should not surprise our man. In Soviet times, people were also not recommended to wrap herring in the newspaper, where was a portrait of Stalin. It was impossible to portray the leader on his own initiative. Of course, all this could be attributed to ridiculous Russian laws if the competent authorities had not considered the counter-revolutionary meaning in these actions and had not deprived a person of 5 years of freedom under Art. 58-10 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR.
Curious Russian legislation
Among the regulations adopted in our country, there are those that run counter to the interests of citizens or simply do not work. What are the funniest laws in Russia?
- Ban on driving a Japanese right-hand drive car. The idea was put forward by the traffic police, but after the mass rallies held by motorists, the authorities did not dare to take this step. They allowed the use of right-hand drive cars that already drove along the roads of Russia.
- The ban on the use by journalists and officials of the words "euro", "dollar" and "at. e. ". A fine on violators should be imposed in the range from 5 to 50 minimum wages. After the indignation of officials, including Finance Minister A. Kudrin, the State Duma rejected the law.
- The ban on attracting schoolchildren to work. In our time, especially advanced children have appeared, whose parents are suing schools for asking their child to water flowers in the classroom or wash the board.
- Phytosanitary control of used cars imported into Russia. This law was allegedly introduced to search for dangerous bugs and caterpillars, since from 2007 to 2008 an unpaired silkworm and a Japanese beetle were found in the machines. In October 2009, the law was repealed by the Federal Antimonopoly Service, as the "tracked" control was the reason for charging a decent fee from car owners.
- The right to indicate any nationality when answering questions during the census (in 2002). Martians were not identified among the Russians, but hobbits, elves and Scythians were still found.
- Prohibition of the use of the flag of their country. The law was adopted in 2000 by the State Duma. But when the deputies realized that even fans can’t swing the tricolor in the stands, they quickly adopted an amendment that unofficially lifts the ban.
Singapore
In this small and one of the most prosperous countries in the world, authorities have long been famous for their zeal for cleanliness and order. In Singapore, for example, a person can be seriously fined if he simply blows his nose on the street or does not let the toilet go with him. The one who gets caught three times for throwing garbage in the street will have a hard time. For a whole month, every Sunday he will have to do the washing of the sidewalks, and do this with a sign on his neck that says "I litter". However, this is not a complete list of unusual and funny laws that apply in this country. Here, for example, it is forbidden to chew gum, and there is a strict restriction on its transportation in personal baggage. Subject to certain conditions, the delivery of this product to Singapore is considered smuggling. In this case, a person may be fined, the amount of which exceeds $ 5,000.