It may be 2023, but some of the outdated and downright weird laws still in place around the world will make you think otherwise. There are plenty of unusual ways to break the rules, from not talking about the royal family to banning chewing gum and mineral water. It's almost enough to make you want to always have a lawyer by your side.
Legions of selfie fans will have to keep themselves in check when they see tigers in New York. Those who try to take pictures with the tiger face a fine of $500. This measure was introduced by Manhattan legislator Linda Rosenthal to prevent cruelty. On the other hand, if you're traveling to Singapore, don't bring chewing gum with you. The country seems to have a particular obsession with chewing gum, banning its import entirely. Moreover, any gum that passes through a country on its way to a neighboring country must be transported under lock and key. Attempting to smuggle Beldent into Singapore is punishable by a fine of $100,000 or up to two years in prison. In other words, leave the gum at home.
Be very careful with your words if you visit San Cristobal Island
Using profanity in public is illegal and costs 50 Cent a hefty $1,100 fine. And when it comes to vocabulary, Denmark has a government-approved list of about 7,000 baby names. Parents wishing to give their child a name that is not on the list must obtain permission and the name must be reviewed by the University of Copenhagen's Name Research Unit. About 20 percent of name requests are rejected each year.
In Thailand, it is illegal to speak negatively about the king or any member of the royal family, including deceased monarchs. The so-called insult to majesty law prohibits defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen or other royals. This can lead to imprisonment for 3 to 15 years, making this law one of the harshest in the world. Read about the weirdest laws in Great Britain here - https://www.skymetweather.com/content/lifestyle-and-culture/top-11-the-weirdest-uk-laws/.
If you're going to Nigeria, don't even think about bringing water with you
In an effort to protect local producers, the African state bans the import of mineral water and fines those who break the law. Georgia, on the other hand, has a number of strange and antiquated laws, including one that prohibits people from carrying ice cream in their back pocket. Although this practice sounds extremely dirty, it was once a popular way to steal horses. The ice cream prompted the animal to follow whoever was carrying it, and thus the thieves took the horses without attracting attention.
Virginia Tourism's motto since 1969 has been "Virginia for Lovers." But it turned out that this is not entirely accurate. The state still has a law against single people having sex, so unless you're legally married, sex is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
In Switzerland, it is forbidden to hang laundry on Sundays, as well as to mow the grass. And don't even think about recycling on Sunday. And never take your shirt off in Thailand, where it's illegal to drive shirtless and you can be fined if you're caught driving topless.
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