"Dumb" laws are impractical, useless, strange and funny laws which amuse millions of readers around the world. A common trait of "dumb" laws is that they prohibit harmless aspects of life or ban activities which can't even take place. These laws are mostly treated as curiosities by the public. Most of the so-called "dumb" laws are actually exaggerated or deliberately taken out of the context by the media, in order to get publicity and to create a "story".
A perfect example of this is an alleged Californian law which prohibits bathhouses. This of course, is not true. The media has actually left out the part of the law which clearly explains how this law refers only to those bathhouses which encourage sex (gay bathhouses). The purpose of this law was to prevent AIDS outbreaks. A similar example from Arizona tells a story about the law which prohibits camel hunt in Arizona.
At first, this law sounds hilarious because we all know that camels do not live in North America. However, this law was a result of an unsuccessful attempt by the US Army to use camels for military purposes. Only a few of the alleged "dumb" laws are real.
Here are a few examples of confirmed "dumb" laws still in power:
1. If you're a motorist with a bad attitude and illegal activities on your mind, you have to stop before you actually enter the city and inform the chief of police that you're about to enter the city.
2. It's against the law to curse a fireman in New Orleans while he is on duty. This law is in fact a fire code which is still in use today.
3. If you ever visit Eureka, Nevada, and you happen to have mustaches, don't go kissing women around because it's against the law to do so.
4. High schools in New Zealand are allowed to own up to 1 lbs of uranium/thorium for scientific experiments. If they trigger a nuclear explosion in the process however, they'll be fined with $1 million.
5. If you're a preacher or an atheist, you can't run for office in the state of Tennessee.
6. Chinese couples are fined if they have more than one child (due to overpopulation). The law also says that you need to be intelligent in order to go to college in China.
Some other "dumb" laws:
1. If you're a woman living in Liverpool, England, you can't walk around topless unless you're selling exotic fish on the market.
2. Single women in Florida are prohibited to use parachutes on Saturdays. The ones who do are breaking the law and will be fined.
3. The state of Alabama prohibits its inhabitants to drive blindfolded.
4. If you ever have to use a toilet in Scotland, just knock on someone's door - they MUST allow you to use their toilet by law!
5. People who suffer from plague are not allowed to use cabs in London.
6. Pregnant women in GB are permitted by LAW to deliver their babies anywhere in the public. They're even allowed to use a police helmet if they find it helpful.
7. Being a gynecologist in Bahrain is not easy, because they're not allowed to look at a patient's organs directly - they have to use a mirror instead.
8. If you drink and drive in San Salvador, you might end up in front of a firing squad.
9. If you like video games, don't travel to Greece, because they've banned all electronic games.
10. The people in Cambodia can't use water guns during a new year's party, because it's against the law.
11. The Swiss maintain a military discipline: It's illegal to flush a toilet after 10 pm in Switzerland.
12. Underage boys (10) are not allowed to see nude mannequins in the UK.
13. The Isrealis are strictly prohibited from picking their nose during a Sabbath.
14. If you're about to visit Singapore, don't plan on bungee jumping, because it's prohibited by law.
By Melissa Davis on behalf of Ly Lawyers, Sydney criminal lawyer
