The "weirdest" law is subjective, but historically notable odd laws include the UK's 1313 ban on armor in Parliament to stop intimidation, Italy's requirement to walk your dog at least thrice daily in Turin, and Singapore's ban on chewing gum (with dental exceptions). Other bizarre laws range from Arizona's old rule against donkeys in bathtubs to Vermont's requirement for women to get permission to wear false teeth, showing how laws often stem from specific local incidents or cultural norms.
50 Weird State Laws in the US
It is illegal to play 'Knock Knock Ginger'
This kids' game might seem like a harmless prank, but playing it is breaking the law. A law from 1839 makes it illegal to “willfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any doorbell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse”.
Here's a more detailed look at some unusual laws: Singapore: Chewing gum is illegal, with exceptions for dental or nicotine gum. It's illegal to walk around naked if you are visible to the public, even in the privacy of your own home. Switzerland: It's illegal to flush the toilet after 10 pm in an apartment building.
Everyone knows the weekends are convenient mattress shopping days. However, in Washington State, it is still on the law books that it's illegal to sell or buy a mattress on Sunday. Thankfully, the law isn't strictly enforced.
While there's a myth that Washington state has banned all lollipops, actual legislation remains silent on the subject. But even if hard candy suckers really were a no-go, you could probably still get away with making cake pops.
To protect consumers, many states have strict regulations for selling secondhand mattresses. For example, many states require sellers to fully clean and sanitize the mattress, and some states prohibit the resale of mattresses that have visible stains.
Dubai law. Homosexuality is illegal. Kissing in public places is illegal, even for married heterosexual couples. The law is strictly enforced: Expats in Dubai are deported for kissing in public, while Emiratis face imprisonment or a fine.
Chewing gum sales ban in Singapore. The sale of chewing gum in Singapore has been illegal since 1992. Some motivations for the ban included stopping the placement of used chewing gum in inappropriate and costly places, such as the sensors of subway doors, inside lock cylinders, and on elevator buttons.
One weird law, that's since been long-forgotten, is that it's illegal to pass wind in Florida after 6pm on a Thursday. It's never really been enforced in Florida but it was probably written in the 1800's.
In York it is said that it is legal to shoot a Scotsman with a longbow within the city walls on any day but a Sunday. Well, I'm pleased to say that our Scottish cousins are perfectly safe in this beautiful city.
The 5 Most Frequently Broken Laws
The prankster can face charges of trespassing and disturbing the peace. In England and Wales, trespassing is a civil matter rather than a criminal one, and the police will not compile a case for a victim.
There's no single "weirdest" law, but top contenders include Western Australia's former rule against possessing over 50kg of potatoes without a license, Queensland taxis needing a bale of hay in the trunk, and Victoria's law against making artificial rain, with many others involving attire, horse care, and specific public behaviors, though most are outdated or rarely enforced.
Not all stories of strange laws in Virginia are true. Some websites claim it is against the law to tickle women in Virginia but not men. However, these websites fail to offer citations to back up this claim. Searching the Code of Virginia for the word "tickle" does not bring up any results suggesting this law exists.
It's an offence to beat or shake your carpet or rug in the street in London. The Metropolitan Police Act 1839 strikes again! You can shake your doormat out, but only before 8 am. It's actually illegal to be found drunk in the pub.
Vaporisers, smoking and e-cigarette bans
You must be 21 or over to purchase, use, own, sell or supply tobacco products in Singapore. Smoking is banned at all public parks, all beaches and along certain waterways. Orchard Road is a No Smoking Zone. Make sure you smoke in designated areas only.
Milan in Italy states that it is a legal requirement to smile at all times except at funerals or hospitals What's with the long face? In Milan, the law compels you to smile.
In July and August 1991, gum stuck between MRT train doors caused the trains to stop as the doors could not close fully. These two incidents led to train disruptions with passengers having to disembark before the train could move again.
Public Behaviour and Manners. Displaying public affection, even holding hands or a brief kiss, is prohibited in Dubai and can lead to deportation or jail. Loud arguments, swearing or obscene gestures can be punished by heavy fines (up to AED 10,000) or imprisonment.
The answer is - Yes, unmarried couples can share a hotel room in Dubai. Dubai has relaxed many of its regulations in recent years to accommodate international tourism. It is now customary for hotels to accept unmarried couples, as well as foreign couples, without requiring proof of marriage.
Yes, tourists can wear casual outfits in Dubai. Anything too short or revealing is not accepted. Tourists can wear anything they wish as long as they abide by the general dress code of covering the shoulders and knees. Since it is very hot, cotton, linen, or breathable material is preferred for clothes.
The cost to dump a mattress varies significantly by location, ranging from free (with council pickups or recycling programs) to around $30 to $60 per mattress, depending on local council fees, landfill levies, and if you use a paid collection service or drop it at a waste center. Many councils offer a free bulky waste collection once a year, while others charge for landfill drop-offs or specific mattress recycling programs.
Estimated Used Mattress Resale Value
Like-new mattresses (under 3 years old) may sell for 50–75% of the original price when lightly used and from a recognizable brand. Good condition mattresses (3–5 years old) often resell for 20–50%, depending on demand and overall appearance.
Even if your mattress arrived in a box, rolling it again will disrupt the materials inside and ruin the mattress. Re-rolling could also invalidate your mattress guarantee or warranty. It also won't feel the same when you unroll it again.