Some say the law's an ass, others might point out that it can be just plain weird, too. Here are some of the strangest bans ever, from operas to laundry…
Laundry: Actually illegal to hang out according to an 1847 act
Nuclear Explosions
The Labour Party made atomic explosions illegal in 1997. Weird, we think, because setting off a crafty nuclear bomb surely doesn't need to be entered into the statute books as a crime. Or does it?
Armour
Edward 1 banned the wearing of armour in Parliament in 1279 – and it's still a crime to do so.
Hanging Washing Out
It's never a good idea to hang your dirty laundry out – and it's not a good idea to hang out your clean washing either, because it's against the law. The 1847 Town Police Clauses Act banned it.
Random Car Banning
In Chile, for help prevent excessive pollution, drivers can become banned at random by the government from driving into cities. Registration plates are picked willy-nilly from a directory and announced on television – and a special restriction hotline. Surely this would be enough to drive anyone around the bend.
Operas
The nutty ex dictator of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, decided that operas were unnecessary – so he banned them.
Ballets
Niyazov banned those, too.
Pants
Niyazov didn't have anything to say on underwear, as far as we know, but in Thailand it's illegal to leave the house without wearing any.
Skirts
In Italy, men are banned from wearing them.
Driving
You won't see women driving in Saudi Arabia – it's against the law for them to do so.
Dead Horses
If you had the nagging feeling that it was illegal to drag a dead horse down a street in Toronto, you'd be absolutely right.
Nuclear Explosions
The Labour Party made atomic explosions illegal in 1997. Weird, we think, because setting off a crafty nuclear bomb surely doesn't need to be entered into the statute books as a crime. Or does it?
Armour
Edward 1 banned the wearing of armour in Parliament in 1279 – and it's still a crime to do so.
Hanging Washing Out
It's never a good idea to hang your dirty laundry out – and it's not a good idea to hang out your clean washing either, because it's against the law. The 1847 Town Police Clauses Act banned it.
Random Car Banning
In Chile, for help prevent excessive pollution, drivers can become banned at random by the government from driving into cities. Registration plates are picked willy-nilly from a directory and announced on television – and a special restriction hotline. Surely this would be enough to drive anyone around the bend.
Operas
The nutty ex dictator of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, decided that operas were unnecessary – so he banned them.
Ballets
Niyazov banned those, too.
Pants
Niyazov didn't have anything to say on underwear, as far as we know, but in Thailand it's illegal to leave the house without wearing any.
Skirts
In Italy, men are banned from wearing them.
Driving
You won't see women driving in Saudi Arabia – it's against the law for them to do so.
Dead Horses
If you had the nagging feeling that it was illegal to drag a dead horse down a street in Toronto, you'd be absolutely right.