OHIO It is illegal to have a bathtub in a private home in Ohio.

This law dates from the 1800’s during the time of the cholera and smallpox epidemics, when whole families were being wiped out by the common practice back then of the whole family using the same bath water.

Rumor has it that this is still on the books, and government inspectors can legally issue citations for this offense.

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TEXAS It is illegal to ask about a job

Texas Penal Code § 38.12(a) makes it a felony to talk to someone in hopes of finding employment.

(a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to obtain an economic benefit the person:
(1) knowingly institutes a suit or claim that the person has not been authorized to pursue; [or] (2) solicits employment, either in person or by telephone, for himself or for another; [or] (3) ...

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BELGIUM None shall take your last cow (or 12 sheep), pig, or 24 chickens.

The Belgian Judicial Code provides a list of goods and items that may not, in principle, be seized by a bailiff (art. 1408), basically in order to safeguard minimal living conditions and means.

While such a list is useful in itself, its details harken back to days of yore. Most notably, it details that a seizure may not lay claim to “a cow, or 12 sheep or goats”, nor can someone’s last (or only) pig “and 24 poultry animals” be seized. Supplies required for maintaining and feeding said livestock “for the duration of one month” are also precluded from being seized.

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BELGIUM Street musicians can be fined for playing off-key.

In Leuven, Article 424 doesn’t literally provide that playing off-key, but it does state that a musical performance must not give rise to “a disturbance of the public order or peace”. However, local authorities have interpreted this provision to prohibit playing off-key.

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UNITED KINGDOM It is illegal to ride a cow while drunk.

The Licensing Act of 1872 stipulates that operating a cow, horse or steam engine while intoxicated carries either a prison sentence or a fine. It allegedly carries a penalty fine of up to 1,200 GBP excluding the costs of looking after the cow, horse, etc. So when you go out cow-tipping, just make sure not to hop on one!

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LONGYEARBYEN It is illegal to die in town

In 1950, it was discovered that bodies were not decomposing in the permafrost. The town passed an ordnance to outlaw dying to protect residents from disease that may spread from bodies in graveyards. Spanish Flu has been extracted from victims of the 1918 breakout since they were preserved in the permafrost.

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