(Photo courtesy of Vyacheslav Argenberg )
You know what they say, when in Rome, do like the Romans do.
In this day and age of travel, I think the phrase should be: When visiting countries that are foreign to you, do remember to review the laws of the land.
Well last week, my husband learned, when in Germany do like the Germans do. Or at the least he learned that it is best to familiarize yourself with any laws that you might possibly break. Sadly it was a lesson that cost him 30 Euros. (It could have been a lot worse though.)
My husband travels on average about two weeks out of the month. There are times when in one week he will be in 6 or 7 countries. That’s a lot of laws to familiarize yourself with.
Last week he was in Germany for a day and a half. The morning of the second day started off okay. He caught a cab quite quickly to get to his first meeting. And then his day started going downhill. The cab was pulled over by cops. My husband was then given a ticket for not having his seatbelt on.
My husband was a bit flabbergasted. Nowhere in the cab was there any sign stating the seatbelt law. The cab driver had also conveniently forgotten to mention it. It seems that initially the cab was pulled over because the cab driver was not wearing a seatbelt. As soon as the cops saw that there was a passenger in the car, they then fined my husband and explained that it was okay for the cab driver not to be wearing a seatbelt. Why? Because the law states that if a cab driver has passenger he does not have to wear a seatbelt because it would hinder him if he needed to make a quick escape.
Then the cops told my husband to pay them on the spot. My husband was incredulous. He told the cop that if he were to give cash to a cop in the USA he would be arrested on the spot for bribery. They then asked for his passport, the conversation went on a bit longer but luckily my husband managed to calm down and keep from getting arrested and just paid the 30 Euros.
I know from hubby’s previous trips that other countries have weird laws as well. For instance in Singapore there are fines for littering, jay walking, failing to flush toilets and chewing gum. Hubby actually loves the chewing gum law because he hates people chewing gum. But if you are a drug dealer you better not be caught, because Singapore had a death penalty for that. 
(Photo courtesy of Alexander Steffler )
I don’t know if it is true, but I was told that in Thailand it is illegal to leave the house if you are not wearing your underwear. It’s also against the law to step on the nation’s currency.
Each country it seems has its own unique laws. Some that are obvious and some not so obvious. It can certainly get a bit tricky.
So what laws of different countries do you guys know that you think my husband should be aware of? I prefer the fine money being spent on gifts for me.
Ooh Ooh! Me! Me! I know one!
In the UK it is illegal to not let a pregnant woman pee ANYWHERE she wants upon request. So if your husband was in the UK and a pregnant woman waddled up to him and said “give me your hat, I need to pee,” he would have to do it!
Although I would hope he might try directing her to the nearest bathroom first . . .
My friend used this law to get into Museums for free and members-only areas without being a member.
Now I’m off to do a troll of the internet to see what else I can find . . .
Okay, heres a few more.
I found them on this website. http://ezinearticles.com/?Strange-Laws-Around-the-World&id=2592162
But that’s just the first site I found. You know that you’re aiding me in my procrastination with this challenge, right? I’m pretty sure there’s actually a book out there called something like “When in Rome…” that lists a lot of laws you wouldn’t know about.
Here’s one you better know: In Israel, it is illegal to pick your nose on a Sunday (I wonder if it’s actually a Sabbath)
Here’s a kind of scary one: In Hong Kong if a husband cheats on his wife, she’s allowed to kill him legally, but only with her bare hands. His lover can be killed by any means possible. Man, this would make a good plot for a murder mystery – couple visits Hong Kong, wife kills husband, hides behind this law.
And here’s one you’ll really like: In Samoa, it’s illegal for a man to forget his wife’s birthday. Can just see the politician who brought that one on the books : “”Yes, honey, I’ve done it. Yes, it’s now illegal. Yes, I know if I forget again you’ll have me arrested. I’m really, really sorry. Can I stop sleeping on the couch now?”
LOl-but I am taking some of them with a grain of salt cause I know you can pick your nose here in Israel whenever you want.
There are some odd laws around. In the UK it is illegal to hang a bed out of a window. God only knows why. Oh, and to found drunk in charge of a cow.
I wrote a post on some of them a while back http://notesfromlapland.blogspot.com/2009/12/10-weird-uk-laws.html
I don’t know if there are any very strange ones here in Finland…can’t think of any that i know off the top of my head. shall have to ask the husband tomorrow.
LOL-there must be some logic as to where these came from. Maybe at the time they were made there was a good reason?
haha these comments are funny!
I Belgium it is against the law to mow your lawn on a Sunday, this is mainly observed in the city because here in the country our neighbours told us that people turn a blind eye to it.
That’s kind of like the no playing outside and making noise between 2-4 in the afternoon. It used to be like that cause that was siesta time, and all the shops would close down. Not so much enforced anymore here.
Here in Newfoundland the Beothuk (our native people) were exterminated by the first settlers. However, it’s still somewhere on the law books that anyone presenting a Beothuk scalp to their Member of Parliament be presented with 5 pounds in payment.
It caused a big hullaballo a few years back when another native group found it and realised the law had not yet been repealed.
I know in Nova Scotia it’s illegal to water your lawn while it’s raining – and they actually enforce that one.
You’re also not allowed to pay for a 50 cent item with only pennies, which means all those kids I served candy to when I worked at a conveinance store should be arrested.
LOL-hmm am wondering if you are looking for all these laws so you avoid doing the gazillion things you have on your plate right now.
Your in-laws come yet?
Better not go to Thailand anytime soon. I might get arrested.
LOL! You and my mother!
Oh my gosh, these are so funny! And interesting… I’m off to do some online research myself!
LOL-Let us know what you find.
Just saw this article with 10 of America’s weirdest laws.
http://gimundo.com/news/article/10-of-americas-weirdest-laws/