Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
This law was designed to combat illegal poaching and underground fish-smuggling rings. By making it illegal to handle poached fish, police could arrest black-market smugglers.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
Scientists proved that guinea pigs are highly social herd animals that suffer severe psychological stress when kept alone. Recognizing their emotional needs, the government mandated they must live with companions.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
The German Autobahn features stretches of road with no speed limits, making stopping incredibly dangerous. Running out of fuel is considered a completely preventable human error.
Status: technically enforceable
Why Is This a Law?
In 1313, furious noblemen kept showing up to Parliament wearing battle armor and carrying swords to intimidate King Edward II. To stop the bullying, the King banned armor in parliament.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
During a 1954 wave of UFO hysteria, the local mayor realized a ban would get free global advertising for his town's wine. He wrote a serious-sounding anti-UFO law, and journalists flocked there.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
The city's massive pigeon population was pecking at microscopic gaps in ancient statues to find crumbs. Their highly acidic droppings were severely eroding priceless marble, costing taxpayers millions.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
Giant sand structures and abandoned deep holes create severe safety hazards on crowded beaches. They block emergency rescue workers, cause tripped ankles, and stop night-time beach cleaning tractors from operating safely.
Status: still on the books
Why Is This a Law?
Millions of tourists began treating the historic metropolis like a giant resort, wandering into banks and cathedrals in wet swimsuits. Fed up with the disrespect, the city mandated real clothes off the sand.
Myth or Law? — The Europe Challenge
You have toured the continent, but can you spot the fake among the facts? Two of these European laws are totally real, while one is a legendary internet fib. See if you can sniff out the imposter!
Two of these are real, citable laws. One is a famous fake — can you spot it?
It is strictly illegal to own a single guinea pig, as they must be kept in pairs or groups.
It is completely illegal in France to name a pet pig Napoleon out of respect for the former emperor.
It is a traffic offense to stop your vehicle on the highway just because you ran out of gas.
The verdicts:
[real] It is strictly illegal to own a single guinea pig, as they must be kept in pairs or groups. — This is a real law in Switzerland! To protect herd animals from loneliness, it was mandated by the Swiss Animal Protection Ordinance of 2008, Article 13.
[myth] It is completely illegal in France to name a pet pig Napoleon out of respect for the former emperor. — This is a famous fake! The myth actually started when a nervous French publisher voluntarily changed a dictator pig's name to Cesar in the 1947 translation of George Orwell's book Animal Farm.
[real] It is a traffic offense to stop your vehicle on the highway just because you ran out of gas. — This is a real law in Germany! It is enforced by the Straßenverkehrsordnung (StVO) sections 18 and 23, which classify an empty tank as a preventable human error.