People might often engage in legally questionable activities without even knowing it. From seemingly innocent etiquettes to some legalities, some of which people are unaware of, it is a surprise that some actions and practices can put one into so much trouble. Below are some fifteen things that are considered unlawful:
1. Collecting Rainwater
Several states have laws against or limiting the capture and use of rainwater because of water rights and water resource management laws. Though often used in gardening or for one's use, this could attract fines in regions with supreme measures to prevent water harvesting. For instance, in Colorado and Utah, profound legal rules regulate how people collect rainwater.
2. Feeding Homeless People
Most cities prohibit feeding homeless individuals by individuals without a permit to do so. This regulation is supposed to regulate food safety and people's health but, in turn, makes benevolent acts a crime in many societies. There is an observable sizeable conflict between charity and law enforcement. For instance, activists in such areas as Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have been arrested for feeding the needy.
3. Sleeping in Your Car
While it may work well enough for a cross-country drive or a night on the town, sleeping in a car is prohibited in some areas. It is common for city ordinances to ban parking and/or resting in vehicles along public roads due to vagrancy issues. Other ‘quality of life' laws include Los Angeles' municipal code prohibitions against living in a car that applies to the contemporary US attempts at controlling homelessness or city space.
4. Swearing in Public
It may not be a severe crime, but public profanity varies from country to country, where they can sue a person and even arrest him. Promulgated under the theory of public decency derived from the older statutes, such laws are designed to enforce order. For instance, there is a place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where making a petty swear can land a hefty fine.
5. Sharing Your Netflix Password
Streaming service accounts are meant to be used by a single account holder. Therefore, one is violating the terms of service or even being a pirate in every sense of the word when he/she shares a Netflix password with his/her friends and relatives. Sometimes, companies try to fight this tendency, and the legal repercussions can be account termination or even fines because of the appreciation of intellectual property.
6. Using Phone While Crossing the Street
Some of the actions legislated by several cities aim to prevent distracted walking. New York City and Honolulu, Hawaii, prohibit residents from using their phones while walking across the road. All these measures seek to minimize hazards to pedestrians and are more inclined to safety than the comfort of the individuals.
7. Dying Without a Prepaid Funeral
There are some small towns in Europe where organizations exist that compel residents to organize for prepaid funerals. There are even places in today's world where it is unlawful to die without having already decided where to have one's funeral, such as in Sarpourenx, France; this is an indication of how local governments prioritize the utilization of scarce cemetery space.
8. Wearing High Heels in Certain Places
Most places with fragile structures, especially the archaeological sites that exhibit artifacts, give visitors a hard time if they wear high heels. Many historical sites, like those in Greece, prohibit high heels when visiting the sites cause they will harm the structures. This law emphasizes the duality of having free access to tourist sites without compromising the availability of these invaluable places for further generations' visits.
9. Frowning in Milan
An odd and incredible law in Milan, Italy, mandates individuals to smile regardless of the time or the place, except at funerals or when visiting a hospital. Although it is not quite a law, it belongs to the set of instructions aiming at improving the atmosphere in the city and, indeed, is one of the most picturesque examples of the existence of specific codes in urban areas.
10. Letting Chickens Cross the Road
Specific rules and regulations in some regions throughout the United States state that chickens cannot be let cross the road. For example, this law aimed to stop poultry from crossing the road in Quitman, Georgia. This is a clear example of how particular and even ridiculous some local ordinances can be.
11. Using Silly String
There are some cities where it is prohibited to use silly strings during certain events or within specific areas. For instance, Los Angeles banned the use of silly string on Halloween nights to fight littering and vandalism. This remains evidence of how city ordinances can work specifically on what can be considered harmless products to maintain law and order.
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12. Selling Non-Refrigerated Baked Goods
Generally, cottage food laws differ from one state to the other, but in most places, it is prohibited to sell baked goods made at home that require no refrigeration. The said regulation is meant to avoid food-borne diseases and shows that everyone in the production chain, starting from small production companies, must adhere to food hygiene standards.
13. Wearing Camouflage Clothing
As for camouflage clothes, they are prohibited from being worn in several Caribbean nations, except for the armed forces members. In Barbados and St.Lucia, for instance, civilians who put on the camo may be arrested and/or made to pay a penalty, further showing how national security policies can accompany attire.
14. Jaywalking
Crossing the streets at places that are not legally allowed, commonly called jaywalking, is prohibited in many cities. Although it can be considered a minor issue, jaywalking still implies fines, as is the case in cities like New York, where there is zero tolerance for jaywalking with an aim at protecting pedestrians from accidents.
15. Chewing Gum in Singapore
Singapore is known for its severe legislation prohibiting trivialities like chewing gum. The regulation was instituted to ensure that there was cleanliness in the area. If a person wants to import gum or sell it within the Country, they are in for a lot of trouble; thus, this is an excellent example of how the government can regulate individual's behavior in the most mundane activities.
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