Absurd Laws Quiz

Answer: Napoleon. To avoid ridiculing the Emperor, naming a pig Napoleon was forbidden. Though no longer enforced, the law remained on the books for quite some time. George Orwell had to dodge French censorship for his 'Animal Farm'!

Answer: Feeding pigeons in St Mark's Square. Pigeon droppings cost millions in cleaning and corrode the city's historic marble. Since 2008, selling grain and feeding them are banned. The seed merchants had to find new careers.

Answer: Bowling. For obvious reasons of slipping, safety and lane hygiene, local law requires wearing dedicated bowling shoes. Fluffy slippers will stay in the locker room.

Answer: Getting it drunk (giving it alcohol). This aquatic wildlife protection law explicitly prohibits pouring alcoholic drinks into aquariums or rivers to intoxicate fish. One wonders which student prompted this law to be passed.

Answer: Selling gunpowder. An old emergency law prohibits gunsmiths from selling gunpowder or explosive ammunition during calamities to avoid looting or tragic accidents amid the surrounding chaos.

Answer: Notify the victim in writing or verbally. This absurd law aimed to reduce crime by requiring wrongdoers to notify their future victims of the upcoming crime. Needless to say, the effectiveness of this law is approximately zero.

Answer: Monegasque citizens themselves. Since Charles III, subjects of the Principality have been barred from gambling at home: the casino exists to empty foreign pockets, not local ones. Monegasques may dine or see a show there, but not place a bet.

Answer: To take its photograph. Wildlife regulations ban disturbing a hibernating bear to get a snapshot. It remains perfectly legal, however, to photograph a bear that is already awake… if you are brave enough to stick around.

Answer: Nutella. The judge ruled that bearing the name of a chocolate spread would expose the girl to mockery. The court renamed her 'Ella'. That same year, another name, 'Fraise' (Strawberry), was changed to 'Fraisine'.

Answer: Up to 25 years in prison. The Saguaro is the iconic giant cactus of the desert. Since it takes nearly 75 years to grow its first branch, Arizona takes vandalism extremely seriously: it is a class 4 felony, carrying a heavy prison sentence.

Answer: Kissing on the platform. In the early 20th century, drawn-out romantic farewells on platforms caused serious train departure delays. The SNCF therefore banned kissing on platforms. Nowadays, lovers can embrace freely without risking the cells.

Answer: 3 times a day. To combat mistreatment and canine obesity, the municipality requires a minimum of three daily walks. The law also forbids dyeing a pet's fur.

Answer: Dying (being buried there). The permafrost stops bodies from decomposing: remains stay intact, with a risk of preserving ancient viruses. The cemetery no longer accepts new burials, and people near the end of life are transferred to the mainland.

Answer: Electronic games and video games. Aiming to fight illegal gambling, lawmakers drafted a text so broad that it also outlawed the Game Boy and computer games. Tourists were questioned before the courts ruled the law unconstitutional.

Answer: Marrying a deceased person. Article 171 of the Civil Code allows posthumous marriage for 'serious reasons', if the intended spouse had clearly given consent before dying. The law dates from 1959, after the Malpasset dam collapse killed hundreds.

Answer: Canada. The section mainly targeted scams by fake psychics. The authorities decided ordinary fraud laws were enough to prosecute them.

Answer: Cyprus. The rule targets all distractions at the wheel, and the fine can be immediate. In France, eating while driving is not banned as such, but can be penalised if driving becomes dangerous.