View Full Version : Review of laws
rory_20_uk
08-09-2006, 12:18
Most countries in the world have laws that stretch back hundreds of years, and in some countries a thousand or more.
This does mean that there will be some extremely ancient ones that are ignored (how many UK taxis have a bale of hay on the back seat?) or conflict with more recent legislation.
What do other members think of countries having a department that is there merely to sort out any messes that exist, or advise if updates are required.
I feel that this is especially true for some countries that seem to view ossification of a code of law as a good thing, rather than a curse that should be addressed.
~:smoking:
InsaneApache
08-09-2006, 12:33
Nah leave 'em alone. I quite like the idea of being fined a penny for not practising with my longbow after church on Sundays.
What's the saying? "There are two things you don’t want to see being made—sausage and legislation." And just like sausages, laws should have an expiration date.
Marshal Murat
08-09-2006, 17:21
I think laws should be reviewed every 100 years or so. If it's silly (bale of hay in taxi, stuffing burger in shorts on Sunday at 12:00) then they should be eliminated.
Rodion Romanovich
08-09-2006, 17:44
Most countries in the world have laws that stretch back hundreds of years, and in some countries a thousand or more.
This does mean that there will be some extremely ancient ones that are ignored (how many UK taxis have a bale of hay on the back seat?) or conflict with more recent legislation.
What do other members think of countries having a department that is there merely to sort out any messes that exist, or advise if updates are required.
I feel that this is especially true for some countries that seem to view ossification of a code of law as a good thing, rather than a curse that should be addressed.
~:smoking:
I think it's a very good idea, the mere fact that so old laws exist makes all professions involved in law enforcement look pretty silly, to say the least. It also makes it really difficult for the average citizen to know what is legal and what isn't. When neither law people nor regular citizens have an idea of what is allowed and what isn't, then law hasn't much of a purpose anymore, you might as well just tell the police to arrest anyone who seems immoral and judges to sentence anyone it pleases them to sentence. Ideally the book of laws should be so thin that every citizen can learn it by heart, or at the very least the laws should be well classified after situations they may apply in, so that school could teach everyone where to look before doing certain things, and make regular people to know by heart all basic laws that apply in many and not so specific situations.
When the citizens don't know what the law says then it's really easy to be criminal without knowing it. And then there's some kind of law that says you have a duty to know the law - well does anyone really know by heart the monstrous law collection books we have? Not even the best lawyers do. I guess we're all criminals for being human...
Marshal Murat
08-09-2006, 18:08
Are there any links so we can laugh, then contemplate the implications of these laws?
Rodion Romanovich
08-09-2006, 18:39
Are there any links so we can laugh, then contemplate the implications of these laws?
Just found this with google, but I've not checked the quality of the site yet: http://www.dumblaws.com/
Rodion Romanovich
08-09-2006, 18:42
Hehe some samples:
Alabama:
- You may not drive barefooted
- Dominoes may not be played on Sunday
- It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church
- Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death
- It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern attached to the front of your automobile
- You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time
- It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle
Alaska:
- It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane
Arizona:
- It is illegal to manufacture imitation cocaine
Arkansas:
- The Arkansas River can rise no higher than to the Main Street bridge in Little Rock
- A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month
etc.
Evil_Maniac From Mars
08-09-2006, 19:00
Well, I looked up Germany for fun, and under "Dumb Laws", I found this:
It is illegal for ones car to run out of gas on the Autobahn.
That's not a dumb law. Running out of gas could be painful.
The thing about many of these silly laws (and others as well), is that it is very obvious that they are a knee-jerk reaction to something that occurred right before the law was made. Other seemingly stupid legislation comes from targeted articles that a lawmaker slips in to aid a political ally/backer/constituent. 50 years later, you look at the law and wonder "WTF?", but at the time it probably made political sense. All the more reason to review them later.
Any man who shall seduce and debauch any unmarried woman shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not more than 5 years or by fine of not more than 2,500 dollars; but no prosecution shall be commenced under this section after 1 year from the time of committing the offense.
haha...
A woman isn't allowed to cut her own hair without her husband's permission.
There is a 3 cent bounty for each starling and 10 cent bounty for each crow killed in any village, township, or city in the state.
Not so stupid... This has actually happened in other states.
It is legal for a robber to file a law suit, if he or she got hurt in your house.
You think American have strange laws? look at these:
quoted form dutch site (http://www.famvdhurk.nl/pl/archives/000197.html):
Als je een Schot ziet, is het wettelijk toegestaan hem te beschieten met pijl en boog, behalve op zondag (York, GB)
When you see a Scot, it legal to shoot him with a bow, except for sundays.
Het is verboden een auto te starten als er iemand onder ligt (Denemarken).
It's forbidden to start your car's engine when someone is beneeth your car. (Denmark)
Plassen in een lift is illegaal (Singapore).
It's illigale to pee in an elevator. (Singapore)
Het is illegaal je huis te verlaten als je geen ondergoed draagt (Thailand)
It's illigal to leave your home without wearing underwear.
The wierdest of them all:
Het is verboden beren mee naar het strand te nemen (Haifa, Israël).
It's illegal to take bears to the beach. :s
Duke Malcolm
08-12-2006, 20:14
A not-so-old law in Scotland bans fur-farming, even though it never happened here anyway...
Duke Malcolm
08-12-2006, 20:16
Those wishing to purchase a television must also buy a license.
Why is this a "dumb law"? How else is one to acquire a TV License...?
Why is this a "dumb law"? How else is one to acquire a TV License...?
Anywhere. Don't you watch the incessent ads? Good use of money there...
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