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Around the world, numerous bizarre laws still exist today. Most of them were enacted centuries ago and have never been revoked, even though they're not enforced anymore. However, they remain on the books, and unsuspecting individuals could potentially violate these laws for peculiar reasons, although they are unlikely to face penalties for it.
Although these laws may seem absurd today, it's important to understand that they were created with practical purposes in mind at the time. From rules about clothing to regulations involving animals, here are ten unusual laws from various parts of the world and the reasons they were established.
10. Wearing a Top Hat in Public Is Illegal - United Kingdom
On January 16, 1797, John Hetherington made history by becoming the first person to wear a top hat in public in England. At the time, people had never seen such a hat, and it caused a stir. Reports from that day described widespread panic, with children screaming, dogs barking, and women fainting as Hetherington walked through London wearing his silk hat.
The son of a man named Cordwainer Thomas suffered a broken arm after being knocked to the ground by the crowd surrounding Hetherington. Hetherington was arrested and charged with disturbing the King’s peace and inciting a riot for 'appearing on the public highway with a tall structure on his head, gleaming brightly, and designed to frighten timid people.' He was fined either £50 or £500, depending on the source.
Despite this, Hetherington maintained that he had not violated any laws. In response, the government passed a law forbidding people from wearing top hats in public to prevent future incidents.
9. It’s Against the Law for a Moose to Enter a Bar Through the Sidewalk - Fairbanks, Alaska
In Fairbanks, Alaska, it is illegal for a moose to enter a saloon via the sidewalk. This law was introduced in the early 20th century after a tavern owner frequently brought his pet moose into the bar and allowed it to drink alcohol. The drunken moose would often go on destructive rampages, damaging property.
After enough damage was done, city officials enacted a law prohibiting moose from walking on public sidewalks, effectively barring the moose from entering the tavern. Although the tavern owner stopped bringing his moose to the bar, he continued to get it drunk at home. It's unclear why the town didn't just ban the act of getting moose drunk altogether.
8. It’s Illegal to Enter Parliament Wearing Armor or Carrying Weapons - United Kingdom
On October 30, 1313, King Edward II of England introduced the Statutum de Defensione Portandi Arma, which prohibits Members of Parliament from entering Parliament with weapons or in full armor. This law remains in effect today and has even been expanded to include bulletproof vests.
Edward II passed this law after 'certain individuals' disrupted and caused chaos during several of his meetings with Parliament members. The king suspected these individuals were upset either by the war with Scotland or rumors about his sexuality.
Today, coat hangers in the British Parliament cloakrooms are designed to accommodate the swords of MPs. (It's unclear how many MPs still carry swords.) Meanwhile, while weapons and bulletproof vests are banned for MPs, visitors and non-parliamentarians are technically still permitted to bring them into Parliament.
7. It’s Illegal to Die Within Town Limits - Italy, France, Spain, and Norway
Several towns across different countries have either temporarily or permanently prohibited residents from dying within their town limits.
In 2012, the mayor of Falciano dal Massico, Italy, imposed a ban on residents dying within the town after the local cemetery reached its full capacity. He stated that people could only pass away once a new cemetery had been constructed. During the time this law was in effect, at least two people died.
Similarly, the town of Bordeaux, France, implemented a similar ban when its cemetery filled up, and the court prevented the town from expanding it. The mayor declared that only those with burial plots at the cemetery would be allowed to die, threatening severe punishment for anyone who violated the rule.
In Lanjaron, Spain, a similar law was enforced when the local cemetery reached its limit. The mayor instructed the townspeople to prioritize their health and postponed their deaths until new land for a cemetery could be acquired.
One town with a permanent death ban is Longyearbyen, Norway, which has prohibited death since 1950. Located as the world's northernmost city with more than 1,000 residents and covered in permafrost, the ban was enacted after it was discovered that dead bodies simply froze in the cemetery rather than decomposing, posing a risk of dangerous pathogens surviving and potentially infecting the living. Elderly and ill residents are typically relocated from the island to spend their final days elsewhere.
6. It’s Illegal to Use Cell Phones Inside Banks - Argentina, Brazil, and the Philippines
The governments of Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, and the Philippines enacted laws that prohibit customers from using cell phones within bank premises. These laws were introduced as measures to reduce bank robberies.
In some cases, criminals would enter banks and observe customers withdrawing money. Once a potential target was identified, the robber would use a cell phone to communicate with other gang members waiting outside, instructing them to rob the client.
After the cell phone ban was implemented in Rio de Janeiro, bank-related robberies decreased by 23% within two years. Argentina saw a 20% reduction in similar incidents. However, some critics question the effectiveness of the ban, as many robbers still follow their victims outside the bank to carry out the crime.
The Philippines introduced a similar measure, which was quickly adopted by local banks even before the law was officially passed. Known as the “Cell Phone in Banks Prohibition Act,” the law forbids clients from using communication devices, such as cell phones and laptops, inside banking facilities.
Bank employees are allowed to use their devices, but only when clients are not present. However, doctors and emergency health workers are granted permission to use their phones while attending to emergencies or consulting with patients.
5. It’s Illegal to Use Cell Phones and Other Devices - Green Bank, West Virginia
In the small town of Green Bank, West Virginia, using cell phones, Wi-Fi, radios, or microwaves is prohibited. This restriction exists because the town is home to the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope, operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).
The NRAO telescope collects faint radio signals from distant stars and galaxies, and nearby radio frequencies could disrupt its operations. As a result, in 1958, Congress passed a law forbidding the use of radio devices near the observatory.
The law established a 16-kilometer (10 mi) radius around the observatory where radio devices are strictly prohibited. Additionally, it required the regulation of radio wave devices within a vast 33,700-square-kilometer (13,000 mi) area that extends into parts of neighboring Pennsylvania and Virginia.
4. It Was Illegal for Women to Drive - Saudi Arabia
Until 2018, Saudi Arabia prohibited women from driving. While the country never officially outlawed female drivers, women were not given permission to drive or obtain licenses. Those who defied this restriction were arrested and fined.
The driving ban was enforced because Saudi Arabia follows the rigid Wahhabism interpretation of Islamic law. Wahhabism dictates that women must cover themselves and be segregated from men, and it mandates that every woman has a male guardian.
3. It’s Illegal to Play Online Games Between Midnight and 6:00 AM - South Korea
In 2011, South Korea introduced the Shutdown Law, also known as the Cinderella Act, aimed at curbing excessive gaming among minors. The law restricts teenagers under 16 from accessing online game servers between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM. However, they are still allowed to play offline games on personal devices like consoles, phones, tablets, and laptops.
Players over the age of 16 are required to log into game servers using their social security numbers. The law was later revised to allow minors under 16 to play online games past midnight if they have parental consent.
2. It’s Illegal to Serve Ketchup Freely in Schools - France
In 2011, France enacted a law that prohibits freely accessible sauces like ketchup and mayonnaise in schools. Instead, sauces are served alongside specific dishes—ketchup, for example, can only be served with French fries, not as a free-for-all condiment. This policy was designed to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
Several media outlets incorrectly reported that France had completely banned ketchup in schools. While some cited health reasons for the move, others suggested that the ban was part of an effort to promote French cuisine and culture.
1. It Was Once Illegal to Eat Swans - United Kingdom
In the UK, it is illegal to own or kill mute swans, the species most people associate with swans. This law was enacted under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to protect native wildlife. An earlier law, however, made it illegal for British citizens to eat swans, a law that wasn’t repealed until 1998.
While the 1981 act focuses on conservation, the original law was designed to ensure that swans were reserved exclusively for the aristocracy. In the 12th century, European nobility developed a taste for swan meat, which quickly became a symbol of wealth and was often served at royal feasts in England.
In 1482, the British crown, eager to protect its swan population from commoners, passed a law that restricted swan ownership to the nobility. Killing, hunting, or selling swans, as well as stealing their eggs, were serious crimes that could result in harsh punishment.
Although the monarchy reserved the right to own unmarked swans, wealthy landlords and institutions were allowed to have swans as well, provided they marked them with rings. The royal swans were not tagged, creating a clear distinction between the monarchy's swans and those of the wealthy elite. By the 20th century, eating swans had fallen out of fashion.
