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UK chooses 'most ludicrous laws'
BBC News ^ | 6 November 2007 | Staff

Posted on 11/06/2007 2:22:18 PM PST by Aristotelian

A little-known law which prohibits people dying while in the Houses of Parliament has been voted the UK's most ludicrous piece of legislation. Another law which states it is treason to use a postage stamp upside down was placed in second place by those polled by UKTV Gold.

The most absurd international law was judged to be in the US state of Ohio, where it is illegal to get fish drunk.

The 3,931 people asked selected the laws from a shortlist of bizarre rules. . . .

The UK's top 10 most ridiculous British laws were listed as:

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 king or queen's image upside-down (7%)

3. It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

4. Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is banned (5%)

5. If someone knocks on your door in Scotland and requires the use of your toilet, you are required to let them enter (4%)

6. In the UK a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet (4%)

7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen (3.5%)

8. It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing (3%)

9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour (3%)

10. It is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls of York, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (2%) False teeth

Other bizarre foreign laws voted by those polled included:

In Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk (9%)

In Indonesia, the penalty for masturbation is decapitation (8%)

A male doctor in Bahrain can only examine the genitals of a woman in the reflection of a mirror (7%)

In Switzerland, a man may not relieve himself standing up after 10pm (6%)

It is illegal to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle in Alabama (6%)

In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on a Sunday could be jailed (6%)

Women in Vermont must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth (6%)

In Milan, it is a legal requirement to smile at all times, except during funerals or hospital visits (5%)

In France, it is illegal to name a pig Napoleon (4%)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; United Kingdom
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My international favorite is the ban on naming your pig after the Emperor. And my fav UK law is: It is illegal not to tell the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing
1 posted on 11/06/2007 2:22:20 PM PST by Aristotelian
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To: Aristotelian

Here is one: It is illegal for British subjects to arm themselves against intruders or others seeking to steal their property or injure them.


2 posted on 11/06/2007 2:26:23 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: Aristotelian
The most absurd international law was judged to be in the US state of Ohio, where it is illegal to get fish drunk.

There must be a lot of lawbreakers in Ohio...........

3 posted on 11/06/2007 2:26:36 PM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Aristotelian

Dueling is legal on the Boston Common on a Sunday if the Governor is present. Me Likey.


4 posted on 11/06/2007 2:27:28 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Aristotelian

how about this ludicrous law: high taxes even if it results in lower revenue just in order for the rich to pay their fair share


5 posted on 11/06/2007 2:27:30 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: Aristotelian
I’m still trying to figure out why the Brits thinks it’s necessary for tropical fish store clerks in Liverpool to go topless. Could be dangerous bending over a piranha tank.
6 posted on 11/06/2007 2:30:43 PM PST by colorado tanker (I'm unmoderated - just ask Bill O'Reilly)
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To: Aristotelian
In Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk (9%)

Well, my weekend is shot. I guess I'll have to drink it all myself.

7 posted on 11/06/2007 2:31:36 PM PST by KarlInOhio (May the heirs of Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski rise up again to defend Europe.)
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To: Aristotelian
It is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls of York, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow

York still nurses a grudge against that Wallace lad, or so it would seem.

8 posted on 11/06/2007 2:35:14 PM PST by Charles Martel (The Tree of Liberty thirsts.)
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To: massgopguy

Turns out there’s a website devoted to nutty laws, http://crazylaws.com/

Here are a few:

In Alaska it is illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they are moose hunting.

Little Rock: Dogs may not bark after 6 PM.

In Los Angeles courts it is illegal to cry on the witness stand.

In Colorado it’s now legal to remove the furniture tags that say, “Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law.”

In Delaware you may not sell dead people for money without a license.

In Florida, men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

In Quitman, Georgia, It is illegal for a chicken to cross the road.


9 posted on 11/06/2007 2:35:27 PM PST by Aristotelian
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To: Aristotelian
It is illegal to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle in Alabama...

Actually that sounds like pretty good advice to me. We don't have that law in Idaho and it shows.

10 posted on 11/06/2007 2:41:37 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Aristotelian

In Los Angeles courts it is illegal to cry on the witness stand.
-
that actually makes sense. jury manipulation

I like this one:
The Chico, California, City Council enacted a ban on nuclear weapons, setting a $500 fine for anyone detonating one within city limits.


11 posted on 11/06/2007 2:42:15 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: Aristotelian

http://www.dumblaws.com/

Above URL is to The 50 States and international dumb laws.

International
Thailand
Turkey
Philippines
Switzerland
Sweden
Korea, South
Singapore
United Kingdom
Norway
Cambodia
Netherlands
Morocco
Mexico
Japan
Italy
Australia
Greece
Belgium
Canada
China
Denmark
France
Germany
Ireland
Israel
South Africa
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Finland


12 posted on 11/06/2007 2:45:34 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto)
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To: Aristotelian
3. It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

Explaining, no doubt, the extreme popularity of tropical fish among Liverpudlians.

13 posted on 11/06/2007 2:48:30 PM PST by blau993 ((Fight Gerbil Swarming))
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To: Aristotelian
In Florida, men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

I wonder if Rudy will conform to the dress code.

14 posted on 11/06/2007 2:50:04 PM PST by DeFault User
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To: blau993
3. It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)

Liverpool strip clubs have a two angelfish cover charge.

15 posted on 11/06/2007 3:02:52 PM PST by KarlInOhio (May the heirs of Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski rise up again to defend Europe.)
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To: Aristotelian; Slings and Arrows; martin_fierro
3. It is illegal for a woman to be topless in Liverpool except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (6%)
16 posted on 11/06/2007 3:03:08 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
http://www.dumblaws.com/

The problem with that site is that a lot of them are fake/misrepresented. For example, where it's illegal to disrupt church or an assembly, whether by whispering...or other means...the site says that whispering in church is illegal.

That's like saying "driving is illegal" if there's a speed limit.

Here's another old story on UK laws... When the law is an ass

17 posted on 11/06/2007 3:44:00 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: KarlInOhio

ROFL! Great line!


18 posted on 11/06/2007 3:49:02 PM PST by SAJ
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To: Aristotelian

bookmark


19 posted on 11/06/2007 5:12:43 PM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/Ron_Paul_2008.htm)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Exactly. And in a world ruled by common sense, that would be 1st on the list. Sadly, our English friends have yet to awaken to the fact that it is a God given right to protect themselves, no matter what the left says about the fact.


20 posted on 11/06/2007 5:22:41 PM PST by alarm rider (Why should I not vote my conscience?)
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