Countries around the world are safeguarded by laws and constitutions. However, it is shocking that some of these laws are ridiculous and no one has bothered to review them or take them out of the rule books.
For instance, it is illegal to carry a plank of wood along the pavement in the UK. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door requesting to use your bathroom, you are required by law to allow them in.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. Here are 15 ridiculous laws that can get you arrested when you travel abroad.
1. Spitting on a footpath
In Nairobi, Kenya, spitting or blowing your nose on any footpath in public is illegal, except in a suitable cloth or tissue. It is also against the law to pick your nose in public.
2. Smoking in a public place
In Ukraine, smoking or drinking in a public place is illegal. Public transports, bus stops, parks, government establishments, etc. count as public places so be careful.
3. Chewing gum
In 1992, chewing gum was banned, hence the selling of gum also became illegal in Singapore. Defaulters can pay up to $100,000 in fines or face up to 2 years in jail time.
The only exceptions to the rule are those chewing dental, therapeutic or nicotine gums, bought from authorised medical personnel.
4. Crossing the road
Jaywalking, the act of crossing the road when the traffic light says you can’t is a criminal offence in America. So have your $1 ready if you plan on jaywalking.
5. Connecting to someone else’s wifi
Doesn’t matter if you are a Crazy Rich Asian, using someone else’s wifi is considered hacking in Singapore, which can attract from $10,000 to three years of jail.
6. Having sęx outside marriage
In many parts of the United Arab Emirates, tourists have been arrested and charged with sęx outside marriage.
In fact, Travel advice for the UAE countries in question states “it’s against the law to live together or to share the same hotel room, with someone of the opposite sęx to whom you aren’t married or closely related”, and anyone found guilty of doing so runs the risk of prosecution, imprisonment and/or a fine, and deportation.
7. Frowning
Here comes the fun police… but the other way round! It is absolutely against the law in Milan, Italy, to be found not smiling. It is actually a very ancient law which stuck and was never overturned. The only people exempt from this law are people at funerals and people in hospitals.
8. Cussing
Travelling to Australia anytime soon? Popular tourist locations such as Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, could dish out jail time up to six months for swearing and offensive language and you will be tried without a jury.
Also, in the United Arab Emirates, making rude gestures offline and online could result in offenders being jailed or deported.
9. Drinking alcohol
Thailand is one of the hottest travel destinations for 2018. However, it is illegal to purchase alcohol in the country between midnight to 11 am and between 2 pm and 5 pm. Outside those times, you can carry on drinking as usual.
10. Flushing the toilet at night
Flushing the toilet after 10 pm is considered noise pollution in Switzerland. However, several Swiss citizens have played down this law saying it doesn’t hold up anymore.
11. Wearing a bikini outside the beach
This is one of the many things not to do in Morocco. Religion influences culture, especially in Islamic countries. In such countries, stick to the cultural and religious norms by dressing fairly conservative. However, in Spanish regions such as Barcelona, it is outlawed for tourists to walk around the streets in bikinis.
12. Wearing camo
This is a common rule, in many parts of Africa for example. However, in Barbados and many parts of the Caribbeans, wearing camouflage colours is seen as a dangerous crime to help prevention of impersonation of military personnel. See how not to dress when on an African Safari.
13. Vaping
Vaping is the trendy inhaling and exhaling of vapour from an e-cigarette. Not sure why it is not allowed in Thailand, but it is very advisable not to carry any form of vapouriser into the country as they can either be confiscated or you can get fined or prison time up to 10 years.
14. Having certain tattoos
In certain areas, respect for religion is taken very seriously. In Buddhist areas such as Sri Lanka, mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is seriously frowned upon. So, having a tattoo of Buddha or related might get you a range of penalties, from refusal of entry to deportation.
15. Singing at night
In some countries such as Honolulu, Hawaii, singing karaoke at wee hours, or even after sunset is absolutely not allowed.
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