In the United Kingdom, there are several laws that may seem extremely bizarre. For example, you cannot carry a plank of wood along a pavement unless it is being unloaded to or from a vehicle!
That’s just one example of one of the strangest laws in the UK as mentioned by EM Law. While some of these laws may seem odd, they all have unique histories and origins. Here are some of the UK’s most outlandish laws:
You cannot shake a rug or carpet on the streets
It is prohibited to shake any carpet or rug in any street under Section 60 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839. There’s an exception for doormats in which you may beat or shake a door-mat on the roadway only before 8 AM. Anyone found guilty of this might face a fine or an arrest. The law was put in place to prevent the spread of disease and dirt.
Singing the Happy Birthday Song in public can land you in big trouble
The “Happy Birthday” song was bought by a private firm and therefore copyrighted, so singing the birthday song in a public gathering without paying a license fee is illegal. Warner/Chappell obtained the song’s rights in the 1980s for £16 million ($25 million).
So before singing this song in public, you might want to rethink your decision. However, you can still ‘Happy Birthday’ privately in the comfort of your own home to your loved ones.
It is illegal to slide on an icy street in London
In 1839, the British Parliament passed the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839, prohibiting people from sliding around on snowy streets because it creates a common danger and harm to people nearby. If anyone is caught doing so, they’ll be liable to pay big fines.
It is illegal for a pet to mate with another from the royal family
Allowing your pet to mate with a royal house pet without permission was a punishable offence. This law previously resulted in executions. Although the death sentence was abolished in 1965, the crime is still punishable.
One of the reasons why this law was implemented was to protect the royal line of succession and maintain the purity of the royal bloodline.
Unusual Laws in the United States
Compared to the United Kingdom, the United States has its share of strange laws too. Here are some of them:
You can’t put couches on your porch in Colorado
The Boulder, Colorado, college town passed legislation preventing residents from storing upholstered furniture on their porches. Local officials decided it was time to act after students at the University of Colorado set fire to porch furniture daily. Although the jury is still out on whether this law prevented any sofa bonfires, it is still in existence.
A pickle must be able to bounce in Connecticut
The pickle must bounce to be legally classified as a pickle in Connecticut. Pickle packers Sidney Sparer and Moses Dexler were jailed for selling sour pickles in 1948, which led to the statute’s passage. Their pickles were destroyed after receiving the maximum penalty of $500. The bouncing-pickle law in Connecticut took effect soon after.
A law in Georgia prohibits people from living on boats for over 30 days a year
In 1992, Georgia made it illegal to spend more than 30 days on a boat in a calendar year. Homeowners were concerned about the environmental impact of run-down floating homes along the Altamaha River; therefore, this legislation was passed.
It was difficult to enforce a rule that required boats to leave Georgia after 30 days. The Georgia legislature changed the law so people could boat on the Chattahoochee River for 90 days instead of 30.
It’s prohibited in Louisiana to send a surprise pizza
Sending a pizza to someone who isn’t expecting it is considered harassment. A $500 fine could be imposed if you deliver pizza to someone’s house without permission.
Conclusion
While there are some significant variations between UK and US legislation, there are also many commonalities. These laws might look and sound unique, but they all would have been implemented for a specific reason to comply with the culture at the time when the laws were initially implemented.
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