Technically, the full 1872 law mandates people not be drunk when in charge of a cow, horse, carriage or steam engine. Actually, its French law that men do not wear loose-fitting swim trunks on beaches, swimming pools and other public places where a swimsuit is required attire. And don’t even think of walking to a gas station; you’ll get another fine for that! So much so that all Canadian radio stations are required, by law, to play Canadian artists on the airwaves at least 35 percent of the time, especially during the hours of 6 a.m.
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You Must Honk When Passing a Car in New Jersey
It’s worth noting that while the story of the urine tax is widely recounted, historical records from the time are limited, and some aspects of the tale may be embellished or symbolic rather than entirely factual. Critics of the tax asserted that the tax disproportionately disadvantaged people from lower-income brackets, as they spent a higher percentage of their income on food. Now the idea behind the tax was to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices by making high-fat products more expensive. More specifically, the tax applied to foods containing more than 2.3% saturated fat, and it covered a range of products, including butter, oils, processed foods, and certain dairy products.
- Once a bagel is sliced open – even if just to toast it – you will have to pay the standard New York sales tax of 8.875%.
- The battle against junk food reached new heights in Hungary with a 27% value-added tax on junk food items, which comes on top of the 25% tax it already charges on most food.
- Now the idea behind the tax was to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices by making high-fat products more expensive.
- Cereals sold in our northern neighbor that include toys in the box are exempt from an extra tax.
- In an effort to encourage people to keep their chickens under control, there is a statute in Quitman, Georgia, that says you can be fined if your chicken should get loose.
How to Deal With Corrupt Police While Traveling Abroad
This ended when Germany passed the public contracts of 20-30%. Bribes were not only legal in Germany but it was also tax-deductible, published by Businessweek editorial of 1995. Most people think of congested Los Angeles highways or black-smoke-belching factories as the cause of greenhouse gasses. It’s no surprise that Switzerland is a tax haven. The cereal toy tax break in Canada is pretty cool. So if you want to take a tax-free ride in a hot air balloon, make sure it’s actually going somewhere.
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Strange Taxes Around the World That We Don’t Have
If stopped by an officer and unable to produce backup specs they would be slapped with a hefty fine. Up until this year, anyone who required prescription glasses to drive was expected to keep a spare pair on them (or in their vehicle) at all times. That’s because it’s prohibited to use unclean or unhygienic objects to clean your vehicle, as laid out by Section 694 of San Francisco’s legal code. Did you know it’s forbidden to polish vehicles in the state commonly referred to as ‘The City’ with used underwear? If you thought that strange, a little-known law from San Francisco will leave you utterly speechless.
It is illegal to ride on the roof of the car
If you’re a guy, you’ll also need to go sitting down so that you don’t make noise. This means that if you buy a phone in the country, you will be unable to turn off the shutter sound. The worst part is that the law is actually strictly enforced. Unless the bar or lounge that you’re in has a dancing license, it is illegal to move your body to the songs they are playing. If caught, you could receive a fine up to $500 and even up to a year in jail. Not that South Africa has bears, but if it did, it would be illegal to wrestle with them.
Get real-time poker news, in-depth coverage, and elite strategies from top players. Be part of us as we discover these fascinating points of taxes that always go unnoticed. This video reveals weird and lesser-known tax rules from numerous nations that may go away us each shocked and amused.
Walking an elephant down market street in San Francisco is illegal
- Drivers who are caught eating while operating a car face a fine.
- Next, we turn our attentions to cleanliness and two contrasting laws.
- Under the Salmon Act of 1986, Parliament deemed it illegal to handle salmon in suspicious circumstances across the U.K.
- A bylaw in the city of London, Ontario, forbids the sale of spray paint to anybody under the age of 18.
This is subject to a fine or a maximum one-year sentence in jail. One is guilty of obstructing business if it is determined that they have interfered with a wedding hall’s business. The purpose of this law is to stop vandalism and graffiti. A bylaw in the city of London, Ontario, forbids the sale of spray paint to anybody under the age of 18. In order to maintain a consistent appearance in residential areas, the community’s design requirements included the creation of this unique law. Prior to Kanata, Ontario, becoming a part of Ottawa, painting your garage door purple was against the law.
It is also in line with the Sunday blue laws that sought to increase religious piety among individuals. This law was introduced in the 1920s to prevent people from flaunting their wealth. Another strange law in Victoria is that it is illegal to drive a black car on Sunday. The goals of this law are to deter crime and safeguard public safety. So fasten your seatbelts and get ready to learn about some extremely odd laws that are still in force today. The strangest laws from throughout the world will be examined in this article, along with their origins and justifications.
However, it also contributes significantly to methane emissions – half of the country’s emissions is mainly through the digestive process of ruminant animals like cows. The agricultural industry in New Zealand, including dairy farming, is a major part of the country’s economy (New Zealand isn’t called Saudi Arabia for milk for no reason). While there isn’t a widely implemented tax specifically targeting cow flatulence, the idea has been discussed in the context of environmental policies.
History is full of eyebrow-raising taxes, from taxes on beards to taxes on items we would never imagine. In Sweden, the law says anyone “wishing to acquire or change a personal name must apply for this from the Swedish Tax Agency,” and, though some might agree to limits on legal names, it’s not clear why a baby name is a tax issue, specifically. Keeping track of real-estate investments/businesses’ financial health helps you be profitable, receive tax benefits, and make sound financial decisions in difficult times.
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One of the most unsanitary laws on the books is undoubtedly this one. It is unlawful to interfere with a sermon, church event, or funeral. Find out more about the 15 strange laws top 12 weirdest tax rules around the world you should be aware of in India This law was enacted to prevent the city from lawsuits emanating from accidents that women in heels encountered.
Here are some of the weirdest tax laws from throughout history and around the world that defy even the most creative author’s imagination. Every country has its distinct tax rules based on the country’s requirements or culture. For getting such tax exemption, the artists have to file a lawsuit for their original work under the tax authorities of Ireland. This continued till 2002, after which various laws were passed and bribery became illegal. That’s why willingly or unwillingly, people do follow the tax rules and pay their fraction. For the social welfare and development of any country, taxes are crucial and must be taken more promptly by its citizens.
It is a means of escaping the hands of law and law enforcement officers. The wearing of a mask or disguise in public is prohibited in South Carolina, with a few exceptions made for Halloween and other special occasions. Hence on a touchy day like election day it is necessary that people are in their right mind.