Weird foreign laws that you should beware of

As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as Romans do. But in the case of tourists, I think a modified version would be more appropriate: when in Rome, don’t do anything that Romans themselves don’t do. Delays, small accidents and unfortunate accommodation choices are not the only things that can potentially ruin your vacation.

Some of these laws are so obscure that sometimes not even the locals are aware of it, but in any case, better safe than sorry, especially if you don’t know how to say sorry in the language of the country you are visiting.

1. Pennies in Canada: When you are buying something in a shop in Canada, don’t get too enthusiastic about small change. No matter how many pennies you have, you’d better save them for jukeboxes and coffee machines, because in Canada it is prohibited to pay with more than 25 pennies at a time.

2. When you’re traveling to Japan, you’d better get rid of your medicine and pills before you pass the customs. Some medicine that can be bought without prescriptions in the United States is illegal in Japan, and the list of things that are not allowed includes harmless sinus-clearing products like Vicks or Sudafed.

3. If you have no choice but to visit a public toilet in Singapore, make sure that you don’t forget to flush. Singaporeans take the cleanliness of their public toilets extremely seriously (good for them!), and failure to flush will land a hefty fine on your wallet.

4. If you are planning a long trip to Germany in the company of your faithful canine friend, first check if the breed of your dog is allowed in the country by the German authorities. Breeds that are considered dangerous are not allowed for more than 4 weeks in the country.

5. If you’re planning on spending next Halloween in Denmark, don’t get carried away with your costume. Wearing masks in public is strictly prohibited in Denmark, which means that your choice of costumes will be pretty slim.

6. Major cities in the Philippines have very strange laws regarding traffic during rush hours. Cars can be driven during rush hours only on days determined by the numbers on its license plate. And if you’re thinking of switching to a scooter, keep in mind that you’re not allowed to drive in sandals (or bare feet).

7. It’s a well-known fact that in Thailand people should not mock the monarchy unless they want to go to jail. Well, this law applies to every one, including tourists. So, unless you want to suffer the same fate as an Australian novelist who was sentenced to three years for bad-mouthing the kind, you should watch what you say about the rich and famous, even if they’re not involved in politics.

8. In Finland, taxi drivers cannot play music in their cars unless they are prepared to pay a copyright fee. So if your cabbie does not turn on the radio, it doesn’t mean that he or she is interested in a chat, nor that that they’re not a music lover – they’re probably just saving up some money.

9. If you think that feeding pigeons is romantic and therefore should be practiced in one of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice, think again. You’ll be fined with $645.

10. In Mexico, you are not allowed to take your foot off the pedal when your biking, so don’t try any new moves. Also, don’t swear in public, unless it’s in a language that nobody else around you can understand.

You might also like