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luke
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Location: by the sea
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 Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject: Die and you're under arrest! Britain's most stupid laws |
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| Quote: | Die and you're under arrest! Britain's most stupid laws
Queen Elizabeth II's speech in the British parliament Tuesday may have been routine but at least nobody got bored to death. That would have been against the law.
Dying in parliament is an offence and is also by far the most absurd law in Britain, according to a survey of nearly 4,000 people by a television channel showing a legal drama series.
And though the lords were clad in their red and white ermine cloaks and ambassadors from around the world wore colourful national costumes, at least nobody turned up in a suit of armour. Illegal.
Other rules deemed utterly stupid included one that permits a pregnant woman to urinate in a policeman's hat and murdering bow-and-arrow-carrying Scotsmen within the city walls of York, northern England.
A law stating that in Liverpool, only a clerk in a tropical fish store is allowed to be publicly topless, was also ridiculous, said a poll of 3,931 people for UKTV Gold television out Tuesday.
Nearly half of those surveyed admitted to breaking the ban on eating mince pies on Christmas Day, which dates back to the 17th century and was originally designed to outlaw gluttony during the rule of the Puritan Oliver Crowmell.
The laws and other regulations were culled from published research into ancient legislation that has never been repealed although subsequent statutes have rendered them obsolete.
Respondents were given a shortlist and asked to vote.
Most ridiculous British law:
1. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament (27 percent)
2. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside-down (seven percent)
3. In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless except as a clerk in a tropical fish store (six percent)
4. Mince pies cannot be eaten on Christmas Day (five percent)
5. In Scotland, if someone knocks on your door and requires the use of your toilet, you must let them enter (four percent)
6. A pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet (four percent)
7. The head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the king, and the tail of the queen (3.5 percent)
8. It is illegal to avoid telling the tax man anything you do not want him to know, but legal not to tell him information you do not mind him knowing (three percent)
9. It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour (three percent)
10. In the city of York it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow (two percent) |
from http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/britainlawsoffbeat
 
best not take that bow and arrow to york faceless  |
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Skylace
Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I love those old laws that are still on the books. Thanks for this post. |
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SpursFan1902
Pitch Queen
Joined: 24 May 2007
Location: Sunshine State
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| I heard about this on the radio this morning as I was driving to school...on my sports talk radio station believe it or not! I was laughing so hard I almost drove off the highway. Very entertaining....especially the topless tropical fish shop girls.. |
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Marcella-FL
Don't make me pull this van over!!!
Joined: 01 May 2006
Location: KMC, Germany
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| So is tropical fish store code for strip joint? I keep seeing John Cleese .... |
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SpursFan1902
Pitch Queen
Joined: 24 May 2007
Location: Sunshine State
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| And why only in Liverpool? |
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Kezza
Gone To The Dogs!
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh, that was funny - thanks for the post! |
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luke
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Location: by the sea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Marcella-FL wrote: | | So is tropical fish store code for strip joint? |
i'm not sure, but i might do some investigative work  liverpool here i come |
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major.tom
Macho Business Donkey Wrestler
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| luke wrote: | | Marcella-FL wrote: | | So is tropical fish store code for strip joint? |
i'm not sure, but i might do some investigative work liverpool here i come |
Let us know how you make out, Luke. I wonder what it is about Liverpudlian fish girls...
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