Global laws that can catch you unawares

Every country has a defined set of laws to maintain the proper functionality of the system. It is very essential for individuals to abide by the laws in order to refrain from any punishment. The laws differ from one country to other. For instance- In some parts of the world such as the USA, Canada and Uruguay, marijuana has been legalized whereas in other parts it remains illegal.

However, there are certain set of global laws which can lead to situation called as “unawares”. There are laws which can lead to unawares in tourists travelling to foreign countries. There are some of the major laws elaborated to guide the travelers around the world.

1. With the ongoing trend of following military lifestyle, people have started wearing camouflage t-shirts, caps and pants. In most of the countries, there is no objection related to the dressing sense of a person. However, in Barbados, you can fall into a trap for wearing camouflage.

2. In countries such as India, there is a lot of swearing in public that happens for accidents or even for small mishaps in day-to-day life. In Australia, swearing in public is a serious offence for which fine has been increased to 500 Australian Dollars.

3. Since 2008, feeding pigeons is a serious offence in Venice, Italy. A fine of €50 can be imposed on a person breaking this law. The pigeons have been blamed for ruining the monuments, due to which this ban has been imposed, especially for the tourists.

4. In countries such the USA, Singapore, a person can be fined for not crossing the road at the zebra crossing or the designated crossing area.

5. In countries such as Singapore, smoking is considered as one of the common activities which can lead to fine or jail term. A person cannot smoke at the bus shelters, car parks or playgrounds, a fine of S$10,000 can be imposed on an individual. Throwing a cigarette butt is also a punishable act in the country, where a fine of up to S$1,000 can be imposed on an individual.

6. In Sweden or Norway, a person must drive with the headlights on at any time of the day. It is one of the important road trip rule in these countries, especially for tourists.

7. In Italy and Turkey, entering the churches or mosques with exposed arms or legs is considered as a serious offence. This is one of the common rule which is also followed in Dubai and other countries in UAE where women are not allowed to enter mosques without covering their heads. There are strict regulations in these countries for entry into religious places.

8. In Greece, wearing of heels is banned since 2009. Heels are believed to have caused wear and tear to the monuments. The tourists should think twice before choosing their footwear for visiting museums and ancient monuments across the globe.

9. In UAE, bringing e-cigarettes in the country has been banned by the government. There are strict regulations for the customs in the country.

10. In countries such as Barbados, Spain, it is an offence to wear beachwear outside the beaches. A person can be fined €100-200, for breaking the semi-nudity law in these countries.

11. In UAE, many over-the-counter medicines are considered as narcotics, due to the presence of codeine as a component. The consumption of painkillers is an offensive act in the country, which can lead to 4 years prison sentence.

12. In India, jeans and shorts have been banned in temples for women. There are few temples, where men are only allowed to enter if they wear dhotis.

Holidays are definitely for relaxation; however, the listed laws are strict for the tourists across the world. It is very essential to respect the sentiments of people in a country.

Therefore, even the tourists should be well-aware of the laws enforced in the travelling country in order to avoid unpleasant situations. It is necessary to read about the visiting country and plan the wardrobe ahead, which would help in avoiding mishaps.