Now I know why we see little info on Alizée

[ALS]

France loves laws. There are 9,500 in force and parliament passes 70 new ones every year while the state issues some 120,000 decrees. Just about every aspect of French life is governed by a regulation, which means that many are ignored. The 1995 ban on taking photographs without permission is an example.

Here is my list of odd things that you are not allowed to do in France. Some bans, such as winter evictions and price discounts, are supposed to protect the vulnerable (indigent tenants and small shops). Others protect privileges, like pharmacists and the state betting monopoly. Some are just strange. Please add any that I have omitted.

French law provides fines or imprisonment if you

-- Evict a tenant in cold weather, defined as between November 1 and March 15

-- Arrest or search anyone at their homes between 10pm and 6am

-- Cut any chlidren out of your will. All property/real estate must be divided equally among all offspring.

-- Broadcast music on the radio that is less than 60 percent French. Half of that must come from "new talent or new productions and be broadcast during hours of significant audience".

-- Call Nicolas Sarkozy a "bloody Hungarian" (A demonstrator was jailed for one month for shouting at Sarko, when he was Interior Minister: Go back to China, espèce de Hongrois". The offence was "insulting a person who holds authority for public order".)

-- Sell any book at less than 95 percent of its official retail price

-- Broadcast television commercials for books, movie films or political parties

-- Advertise a party or candidate within three months of an election except for small standardized posters on municipal panels and a state-allotted television broadcast. Posters are banned if they are black and white or red, white and blue.

-- Own more than one chemist's shop (drugstore) or open one without official permission

-- Open a hairdresser's shop without two diplomas that take five years to earn.

-- Hold a store sale outside two annual periods set by the state prefect for each département

-- Open a shop on a Sunday more than five times a year (exceptions for tourist zones, bakers, florists and corner shops)

-- Sell goods below cost price "with the exception of products that are seasonal or unfashionable" -- and then only during official sales

-- Take, transmit or publish any person's photograph without their permission

-- Divulge information on anyone's private life

-- Record or transmit any private conversation without permission

-- Collect or keep statistics that mention ethnic origin

-- Gamble on anything except at licensed casinos or with state agencies. Bets may only be placed on horse racing, tennis, rugby, football and Formula 1 motor racing.

-- Buy, sell or display Nazi uniforms, insignia or other paraphernalia

-- Use foreign words in advertising or broadcasting without an accompanying French translation.

Full story:
charles_bremner/

[Euphoria]

I dont think too many of those are odd. Especially evicting someone in cold weather. Around here they'll turn someone's heat or electricity off in the middle of winter if they can't pay their bill. Seems a little ruthless to me.

[GianGian]

Some are odd...most of them make sense.

[SwedishFan]

OMG...these laws are just...oh man we got it real easy over here in Sweden,i think that maybe two of them apply over here,,,holy crap we REALLY got it easy...for better or worse.

[Toc De Mac]

I'm sure that we have some laws that are just as crazy in the United States...

[Just a Guest]

U.S
-In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle.
-In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk.
-In Miami, Florida, it is illegal to skateboard in a police station.
-In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed.
-In Boulder, Colorado, it is illegal to kill a bird within the city limits and also to “own” a pet – the town’s citizens, legally speaking, are merely “pet minders”.

U.K
-It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
-It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.
-Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing.
-In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.
-In Lancashire, no person is permitted after being asked to stop by a constable on the seashore to incite a dog to bark.
-In London, Freemen are allowed to take a flock of sheep across London Bridge without being charged a toll; they are also allowed to drive geese down Cheapside.
-In the UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle.
-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.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Just a Guest

-In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk.

Reason number 13,503 to not go to Ohio.

[Just a Guest]

Originally Posted by Fish

Reason number 13,503 to not go to Ohio.

Excellent!

[lefty12357]

It is also illegal in Minnesota to turn off someone's heat or electricity during the winter.

Minnesota - A person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.
Car dealers can not sell cars on Sunday.

South Dakota - It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.

North Dakota – All bars must have a hitching rail out in front of the building.

Michigan - It is illegal to kill a dog using a decompression chamber.

[Amigo!]

Originally Posted by lefty12357

It is also illegal in Minnesota to turn off someone's heat or electricity during the winter.

Minnesota - A person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.
Car dealers can not sell cars on Sunday.

South Dakota - It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.

North Dakota – All bars must have a hitching rail out in front of the building.

Michigan - It is illegal to kill a dog using a decompression chamber.

Cheese factory?