Ask Lemmy

It's illegal to have your remains decomposed naturally (or one of those cool new methods like composting or alkaline hydrolysis). You're legally required to be stuffed full of embalming chemicals and buried in a box, or cremated, polluting the air and wasting bioavailable nutrients, to be turned into high pH, high sodium ashes.

I think this is because the laws were mainly created by Catholics (this is Louisiana, where we have parishes instead of counties), and people are still too superstitious to make sense.

I live in Hesse, Germany. The dumbest law I know about (that's still in use but rarely enforced) is this:

Aus der Altstadtsatzung der nordhessischen Kleinstadt Bad Sooden-Allendorf: In § 10 Abs. 6 ist geregelt, dass „Sonnenschirme […] beige-, pastell- oder sandfarbig“ sein müssen. Wer dieser Regelung zuwiderhandelt, begeht eine Ordnungswidrigkeit und kann nach dem Gesetz über Ordnungswidrigkeiten (OWiG) mit einer Geldbuße von bis zu 15.000 Euro bestraft werden.

Translation: In that particular town, sun umbrellas have to be pastel/cream colors. If you put one up that is too bright / too dark / too whatever, it can lead to a fine of 15.000€ (ca. $16,700).

Source: https://www.bad-sooden-allendorf.de/politik-ortsrecht/satzungen

Blue Laws

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_laws_in_the_United_States

…Blah blah can’t desecrate the sabbath with alcohol…

¯\( ツ )/¯

Until a couple of months ago it was illegal in Sweden for a restaurant owner to allow spontaneous dancing if they did not have a dancing permit. Since July this year they don't have to apply for a permit but still have to notify authorities about arranged dancing.

In France, it is illegal to name your pig Napoleon.

Can't buy beer or wine at Walmart before noon on Sundays. But there's totally a war on Christianity here lol.

It's technically illegal to consume alcohol in your own backyard if you can be seen from the outside.

I'm from Seattle, Washington, and it's illegal to pretend your parents are rich here. Not sure why, though 🤷‍♂️

Mine is J-walking even though police officers J-walk

Well, the DMCA is ridiculous luddite garbage. But it stopped being silly years ago, and shows us our laws are stupid and made by silly people.

The police vow to make a visit if you tie a giraffe to a telephone pole.

They still don't like smoking weed here in Atlanta, GA...Or the rest of the state.

A dozen states still have sodomy laws on the books and only aren’t enforced because of Lawrence v. Texas, a 2003 SCOTUS decision.

Be interesting to see how that plays out the next couple of years.

The government should have a say in how you cum. Get off the wrong way with the wrong people ; thats a paddling

Something about weeing in a policeman's hat. There's another one about weeing behind a car as long as you have one hand on it.

Ooh, source: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/from-urinating-in-a-policemans-hat-to-wearing-your-sandals-near-to-the-queen-this-country-has-a-host-of-bizarre-legal-offences-2442321 Most other places say that policeman's hat one is nonsense though.

Walking across the street outside of the permitted area even if there is not a car in sight.