What stupid laws have you encountered while vacationing?

[Fredflintstone]

I quit smoking 2 years ago. However, whenever I go to Honolulu, I still find it stupid that it is criminal to smoke in a public park. Look, if someone is 500 plus feet away from anyone else sitting under a palm tree having a smoke, what’s the harm to others? Ok, if they leave their butt behind, that is ignorant, but not criminal. I suppose a littering fine might be in order but not criminal charges. Yes, let’s assume they are a careful smoker and make sure no lit cherry is smouldering.

So, what stupid law or laws have you seen while vacationing in a certain place? Why do you think it’s stupid?


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[goaliedave]

I agree with you that smoking is stupid. Unfortunately the government uses our tax dollars to pay for smokers' health problems; a stupid law i encounter on my travels.

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[goaliedave]

Lots of Dubai laws
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47847740

Unusual Dubai Laws For Tourists And Residents

There are various unusual ways in which you can get arrested slapped with a hefty fine or even deported from the UAE check out the most bizarre laws here.

theculturetrip.com

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[goaliedave]

In Florida, it is illegal to fart in public after 6pm on Thursdays.

10 weird laws from around the world - Traslo Service

It is known that this world takes all kinds. There are so many different religions, languages and traditions and laws. This is the reason why, before you start pack, you must have …

trasloservice.com

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[Krteczech]

Durian is a forbidden fruit in Singapore hotels and on public transportation..but sold in my neighborhood Safeway in Colorado.

 

[mentalbreak]

Utah alcohol laws!

ETA: just googled and it looks like they at least eliminated the private membership requirements in 2009. So less quirky today.

 

[Brett]

swearing in public is illegal in Virginia
https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/article_263a4b38-6ff3-11e9-9599-cb102cfe8bfd.html

 

[Eric B]

Had to become a private club member in order to buy beer in a dry county in Arkansas once.

 

[Timeshare Von]

swearing in public is illegal in Virginia
https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/article_263a4b38-6ff3-11e9-9599-cb102cfe8bfd.html

WOW . . . good thing I moved from there to Wisconsin in 1994!

 

[Mongoose]

Back in the 90's I went to Singapore and my wife packed a box of chewing gum in my bag as a surprise. Chewing gum in illegal in Singapore. You really don't want to break the law in Singapore. You end up getting caned….

 

[Mongoose]

Here's one that's perfect for an election year...

Virginia state’s Code of 1930 includes a statute prohibiting corrupt practices or bribery by anyone other than political candidates.

 

[Brett]

Here's one that's perfect for an election year...

Virginia state’s Code of 1930 includes a statute prohibiting corrupt practices or bribery by anyone other than political candidates.

Bob McDonnell knows that!
But this activity is legal in Virginia
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...tion-for-violating-vancouver-bylaws-1.5456776

 

[Chrisky]

I quit smoking 2 years ago. However, whenever I go to Honolulu, I still find it stupid that it is criminal to smoke in a public park. Look, if someone is 500 plus feet away from anyone else sitting under a palm tree having a smoke, what’s the harm to others? Ok, if they leave their butt behind, that is ignorant, but not criminal. I suppose a littering fine might be in order but not criminal charges. Yes, let’s assume they are a careful smoker and make sure no lit cherry is smouldering.

So, what stupid law or laws have you seen while vacationing in a certain place? Why do you think it’s stupid?


I agree, that law may seem stupid, but I have friends who are extremely allergic to any kind of cigarette, or cigar smoke; and if the wind is blowing in their direction they cannot breathe. Plus, where do people put their burnt out butts? In the sand!!!!
It all comes down to consideration for the other person.


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[Big Matt]

Places that don't allow alcohol on public beaches. It's just so, so wrong.

 

[Mongoose]

Bob McDonnell knows that!
But this activity is legal in Virginia
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...tion-for-violating-vancouver-bylaws-1.5456776

Either making up these laws simply makes lawmakers feel like they are doing something or they are looking to create so many unenforceable laws that every citizen is guilty of violating at least one law. Think about locals where they hand out hypodermic needles (legal) that end up on the street but you can't give out straws to paying customers without breaking the law.

 

[Fredflintstone]

I hear ya.

I know folks extremely allergic to cigarette smoke as well. But should someone smoking be criminal especially when the purchase of these products are legal. If the product was illegal, I would think differently.

I also know people who are extremely allergic (to the point that breathing it in causes the wind pipe to close) of peanuts. Should we make eating a peanut butter sandwich or chewing nuts in public criminal because some are deathly allergic to it?

I agree smoking near anyone is ignorant. Whenever I breathe it in now it does make me nauseous. However, I don’t see it as a criminal act.


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[JohnPaul]

I can’t remember the location, but one timeshare we stayed at did not offer salt and pepper and blamed health laws.

 

[Sea Six]

I believe some of this has relaxed over the years, but in Pennsylvania you can't buy beer or wine in a grocery store. You can take out 6 packs or quarts of beer from a bar, but if you want to buy a whole case, you have to go to a licensed beer distributor. Wine and liquor can only be bought in a state operated store. I almost flipped when I went to Illinois and saw beer, wine and liquor for sale in the grocery store. But they did have steel bars to put around the liquor shelves on Sunday

 

[goaliedave]

Some "fine" parents will find this law silly https://www.happiest.net/wisconsin-anti-bullying-law/

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[DrQ]

Blue Laws:
Texas-
No hard liquor sales on Sunday
Car dealerships cannot be open both on Saturday AND Sunday (usually closed on Sunday)
Grocery stores could not sell clothing on Sunday (Has been repealed)

 

[bluehende]

I believe some of this has relaxed over the years, but in Pennsylvania you can't buy beer or wine in a grocery store. You can take out 6 packs or quarts of beer from a bar, but if you want to buy a whole case, you have to go to a licensed beer distributor. Wine and liquor can only be bought in a state operated store. I almost flipped when I went to Illinois and saw beer, wine and liquor for sale in the grocery store. But they did have steel bars to put around the liquor shelves on Sunday

Those laws have been relaxed. You can buy beer at most grocery stores. The caveat is that there is a limit on how much you can buy and it has to be a separate area and checkout. The funny part of course is you can go right back in and buy the limit again as the law reads per transaction. Also the beer distributors now can sell less than a case. And don't get me started on the three tier distribution laws.

In related news appropriate for this thread the big boys were trying to pass a law in FL that would make every beer go through a distributor. That would mean a brewery with a taproom would have to sell to a distributor and then buy it back to serve it. Cigar City led the charge against it saying they would leave the state. I never heard the outcome but assumed it did not pass.......yet.

 

[moonstone]

Places that don't allow alcohol on public beaches. It's just so, so wrong.

That's what a Yeti (or if Canadian, a Timmie's) cup is for!
Not that we've ever done that!

~Diane

 

[Fredflintstone]

That's what a Yeti (or if Canadian, a Timmie's) cup is for!
Not that we've ever done that!

~Diane

I like to disguise it in a slurpee. did I say that?


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[Big Matt]

That's what a Yeti (or if Canadian, a Timmie's) cup is for!
Not that we've ever done that!

~Diane

Yes, Diane, we all figure out how to get around it, but it sure is nice to go to the Outer Banks with a huge cooler full of tasty beverages and not have to worry about hiding it like I do on Hilton Head.

 

[Talent312]

Myrtle Beach -- No private umbrellas closer to the beach than the concessionaire's.
They said it was an ordinance, but then, they may have been blowing smoke.
.