Column Chronicles: More incredible laws

More incredible laws

Frank Cotolo
November 26, 2015

The law is the law, as is said by those who follow the law. But there are so many laws that so many people don't know about. Now, once again, here are some laws that are incomprehensible but official.

In France, no one drinking red wine is allowed to hail a taxi without singing a bawdy song aloud.

In Mississippi, any two people walking hand in hand must lead with their left feet.

On Fridays in Hong Kong, you can get a stiff fine for swinging a cooked noodle while waiting for a bus.

British Columbia's blue laws are suspended for the duration of a Chinook Wind blast.

New Mexico residents, not tourists, can be jailed for three days if they wear rubber gloves for reasons not having to do with repairing some electric machine.

There are numerous fines for citizens of Berlin if they imitate Richard Burton in a public place. One fine is for admitting to changing their voices while talking to a stranger. Another fine is for drinking alcohol while reading a Shakespeare play and saying, "I am Richard Burton, the great thespian, and I will play Hamlet." A minor fine is for marrying a woman named Elizabeth more than once.

In Monte Carlo a person can go to jail if that person goes to jail to visit a prisoner and does not leave at the request of the person he or she is visiting.

In London, no one may wear a Popeye mask after midnight.

Facing a policeman with no intention of asking him if he would like to ride on your back is illegal in Louisiana.

Women over five feet tall can not make money as contortionists in Geneva.

In Hawaii, a resident must admit to liking everything and anything that happens to them while they are poll dancing.

In Pretoria, no one can open a restaurant without wearing an ear ring.

Madrid will imprison any man between the age of sixteen and twenty-five if they look like they are sixty and do not own a trumpet.

In Glasgow, anyone named Jack must pass a test to prove he is nimble and quick while jumping over a candlestick.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.