12 weird laws from around the world that sound made up, but are actually true

任芳

1. It’s Illegal To Toss Non- Biodegradable Plastic Confetti In Mobile，Alabama

In the Code of Ordinance of the city Mobile in Alabama，there is a section talking about the use of confetti：“It shall be unlawful and an offense against the city for any person to have in possession，keep，store，use， manufacture，sell，offer for sale，give away or handle any non-biodegradable，plastic-based confetti.”

2. Billboards Are Banned In Alaska，Maine，Vermont，And Hawaii

There are four states in the United States that have banned billboards：Alaska，Maine，Vermont，and Hawaii，where the ban was introduced the earliest. Businesspeople understand that this actually benefit them， because billboards ruin the landscape;without them， these states maintain their scenic beauty and attract more people to visit.

3. Wearing High Heels Is Prohibited At Some Historical Sites In Greece

In 2009，the director of Greek prehistoric and classical antiquities，Eleni Korka，said：“Female visitors must wear shoes that do not wound the monuments. These monuments have a skin that suffers and people must realize that.”Stilettos can punch holes as the whole  body’s pressure is on them，so to minimize the wear on the monuments，the ban was introduced.

1.在美國阿拉巴马州莫比尔市抛洒不可生物降解的塑料彩屑是违法的

在美国阿拉巴马州莫比尔市，有一则关于彩屑使用的法令：“任何人拥有、持有、储存、使用、制造、出售、提供、赠送或处理任何不可生物降解的塑料彩屑都是违法的。”

2.美国的阿拉斯加州、缅因州、佛蒙特州和夏威夷州禁止竖广告牌美国有四个州禁止竖广告牌：

阿拉斯加州、缅因州、佛蒙特州和夏威夷州，夏威夷是最早推行广告牌禁令的。商人们明白这其实会让自己受益，因为广告牌会破坏景观，没有了广告牌，这四个州就能保有美景，吸引更多人来旅游。

3.在希腊的一些历史古迹禁止穿高跟鞋

2009年，希腊史前古遗址主任艾莲尼·科尔卡说：“女游客必须穿着不会损坏历史遗迹的鞋子。这些遗迹的表面很脆弱，人们必须意识到这点。”高跟鞋承受着整个身体的重压，会在地面上留下孔痕，因此为了将遗迹受到的损害最小化，希腊就出台了这一禁令。

4. In Capri，You Must Clean Up After Your Dog;If Not，They Will Trace It With DNA

In the small island on the south side of the Gulf of Naples，Capri，there is a local law that dog owners must clean up after their dogs if they poop on the street. Unfortunately，not everyone is obeying the law and to enforce it，Mayor Lembo thought he could take advantage of another existing law requiring all dogs to have blood tests for canine leishmaniasis， and just have the DNA matched. If a person is busted for leaving a mess on the streets，they will be fined €2，000.

5. By Law You Have To Walk Your Dog Three Times A Day In Turin，Italy

In Turin，dog owners must walk their dogs three times a day. This rule was introduced in 2006，a year after Rome issued a decree saying that dog owners must walk their dogs at least once a day. This is a way of fighting cruelty against animals. The fines can go up to $600.

6. It’s Illegal To Disrupt A Wedding In Australia

In South Australia，if you purposefully disturb a wedding，a funeral，or any religious service，you can be fined $10，000 or be imprisoned for 2 years. In the Summary Offences Act 1953，it is stated，“A person who intentionally obstructs or disturbs a religious service or a wedding or funeral[...]is guilty of an offence.”

7.Russia，Belarus，And Kazakhstan“Ban”Lace Undergarments

In 2014 Russia，Belarus and Kazakhstan introduced a regulation which requires clothing in contact with skin to contain at least 6 percent of cotton. Underwear not meeting the requirement was not to be sold in stores. But most luxury lace undergarments have less than 4 percent cotton in them，meaning that the regulation is practically banning it.

The reasoning for this was that synthetic fabrics don’t absorb moisture as well and can cause skin problems.However，textile producers and shoppers were not happy about this and there were even protests against the ban in Kazakhstan.

4.在意大利卡普里岛，狗主人如果不清理狗狗的便便，当地会利用狗狗的DNA来追踪狗主人

意大利那不勒斯海湾南部的卡普里小島上，当地法律规定，狗主人必须为当街拉便便的狗狗善后。不幸的是，不是每个人都遵守这一法律。为了推行该法律，市长伦博认为他可以利用另一条现行的法律来对狗狗进行DNA匹配，该法律要求所有的狗狗都要接受犬利什曼病的血液检测。如果一个人被抓到未清理狗狗在街上拉的便便，就会被罚款2000欧元（约合人民币15679元）。

5.依据意大利都灵市的法规，狗主人每天必须遛狗三次

在都灵市，狗主人每天必须遛狗三次。这一法规是在2006年颁布的，就在一年前，罗马出台法令称，狗主人每天至少要遛狗一次。这是抗击虐待动物的一种方式。违者罚款最高可达600美元（约合人民币3837元）。

6.在澳大利亚，破坏婚礼是违法的

在南澳大利亚，如果你故意破坏婚礼、葬礼或其他宗教仪式，你会被处以1万美元的罚款或被监禁2年。《1953治罪法概要》中写道：“故意阻碍或扰乱宗教仪式、婚礼或葬礼者都是有罪的。”

7.俄罗斯、白俄罗斯和哈萨克斯坦禁止穿蕾丝内衣

2014年，俄罗斯、白俄罗斯和哈萨克斯坦颁布了一条法规，要求接触皮肤的衣服含棉量至少达到6%。达不到要求的内衣不能在商店销售。但是多数高端蕾丝内衣的含棉量都不到4%，这意味着该法规实际上是在禁止穿蕾丝内衣。

推出这一法规是因为人造纤维织物的吸湿能力不够强，会引发皮肤问题。不过，纺织品制造商和消费者对此感到不满，在哈萨克斯坦甚至有人抗议这一禁令。

8. In Public Pools In France，Men Can Wear Only Clinging Swimming Trunks

In France，swimming shorts are not allowed to be worn in public swimming pools by men;only skintight swimming trunks are allowed. Apparently，it has to do with hygiene，because men may wear their baggy swim shorts as normal shorts and then they may pick up dust， dirt，and such.

9. It’s Illegal To Tell Fortunes In Baltimore，Maryland

In the city of Baltimore，fortunetelling for money is forbidden and is punishable with a fine or jail：“Every person who shall demand or accept any remuneration or gratuity for forecasting or foretelling or for pretending to forecast or foretell the future of another by cards，palmreading or any other scheme，practice or device，shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $500 or subject to imprisonment for not more than 1 year.”

10. You Could Be Fined If Caught Eating And Drinking Near Churches And Public Buildings In Florence

In 2018，the city of Florence banned people from pausing in the historic center to eat food standing or sitting on sidewalks，roadways，and on the doorsteps of shops and houses. For breaking the law，a person can get a fine up to €500. It was needed to stop people from littering and keeping the crowded historical center clean.

11. It’s Illegal To Sell And Import

Chewing Gum In Singapore Chewing gum was banned in Singapore in 1992， but currently it is not illegal to chew it，just to import it and sell it. In 2004，the ban had a revision and since then it is possible to buy therapeutic，dental，and nicotine chewing gum from a doctor or registered pharmacist.

8.在法国的公共泳池，男性只能穿紧身五分泳裤

法国不准男性在公共泳池穿宽松平角泳裤，只能穿紧身五分泳裤。显然，这是出于卫生考虑，因为男性可能会把宽松的平角泳裤当成普通内裤来穿，这样他们可能会感染尘土之类的脏东西。

9.在美国马里兰州的巴尔的摩市，算命是违法的

在巴尔的摩市，收钱给人算命是被禁止的，而且会被处以罚款或监禁。“任何索要或接受报酬的算命者（无论是纸牌算命、看手相还是其他算命方式）都会被视为犯有轻罪并被处以最高500美元（约合人民币3193元）的罚款或处以一年以下监禁。”

10.在意大利佛罗伦萨的教堂和公共建筑附近吃喝会被罚款

2018年，佛罗伦萨市立法禁止人们在历史中心停下来站着吃东西或坐在人行道、马路上及商店和房屋的门前台阶上吃东西。违规者将被处以最高500欧元（约合人民币3892元）的罚款。这是为了防止人们扔垃圾，让人流密集的历史中心保持清洁。

11.在新加坡，出售和进口口香糖是违法的

1992年新加坡发布了口香糖禁令，不过现在嚼口香糖已经不犯法了，只有进口和出售口香糖才犯法。2004年，新加坡对这一禁令进行了修改，从那以后，人们就可以从医生或注册药剂师那里购买用于治疗的、92保护牙齿的口香糖和尼古丁口香糖。

The ban was introduced because vandals had begun sticking chewing gum on the door sensors of MRT trains， preventing doors from functioning properly and causing disruption to train services. Although they were rare incidents，they were difficult to fix and it was almost impossible to catch who did it. These incidents were just the last straw as the ban on chewing gum was brought up earlier， but not approved. Vandals were sticking their gum in mailboxes，inside keyholes，and on lift buttons. Chewing gum left on the ground，stairways，and pavements in public areas was hard to clean，so cleaning cost more and damaged cleaning equipment.

12. You Can’t Take Selfies With Buddha In Sri Lanka

Mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is strictly taboo in Sri Lanka. And when you are taking a selfie，you stand with your back turned to Buddha，which is considered disrespectful，so you shouldn’t take selfies in front of it.

新加坡推行這一禁令是因为蓄意破坏公物者开始在地铁的感应门上粘口香糖，阻止感应门正常开合，扰乱地铁服务。尽管这是偶发事件，但是感应门上的口香糖很难清理，而且几乎抓不到是谁干的。早先就有人提议过禁止口香糖，但是未被通过，这些事件促成了禁令的实施。破坏分子过去会将口香糖粘在邮箱上、锁眼里和电梯按钮上。公共区域的地面、楼梯和人行道上的口香糖难以清理，增加清洁费用的同时也有损清理设备。

12.在斯里兰卡，不能和佛像自拍

在斯里兰卡，对佛像和佛教文物不敬是绝对的禁忌。自拍时，你会背向佛像，这被视为不敬，因此你不能在佛像前自拍。