Guide to holidaymakers

**Groenewolf** · 08-04-2009, 09:30 AM

Singing whilst wearing a swimming costume and carrying an ice cream cone in a back pocket on a Sunday are just two foreign laws of which British holidaymakers should be wary, according to a new guide.

By Ben Leach
Published: 10:59AM BST 30 Jul 2009

Other prohibitions they cite include laws against unmarried women parachuting on a Sunday and flushing the lavatory after 10pm, according to the travellers' compendium.

It comes after a string of cases involving holidaymakers getting arrested abroad. In May an Australian mother was arrested for stealing a beer coaster from a nightclub in Thailand.

Last year two Britons were convicted of indecency after being caught having sex on a beach in Dubai. They were initially given three-month jail terms but these were suspended on appeal.

In April visitors to Malaysia were warned they face up to a year in jail if they behaved too affectionately in public after a local couple were arrested for holding hands and kissing.

Sunshine.co.uk, an online travel agent, said it had seen an "influx of inquiries" from worried holidaymakers about the rules and regulations of their chosen destination.

A spokeswoman said: "Aside from the more serious rules, such as showing affection to a non-marital partner in public or walking around in swimwear in Dubai, there are many outdated rules around the world that people should be aware of."

Here is the list of examples of which they say holidaymakers should be aware:

In Milan it is a legal requirement to smile at all times, except during funerals or hospital visits.
In Massachusetts, taxi drivers are prohibited from making love in the front seat of the car during their shifts.
In Denmark, people are legally obliged to honk the horn and check for small children underneath the car.
In Thailand, it is illegal for anyone to leave a building without wearing their pants.
In Michigan, anyone planning on bathing in public must have their swim suit inspected by a police officer.
In Florida, any unmarried woman who parachutes on a Sunday could be jailed. Singing while wearing a swimming costume is also prohibited.
In Portugal it is unlawful to urinate in the sea.
In Hong Kong the wife of a husband who commits adultery is legally entitled to kill the mistress in any manner desired, and the husband with just her bare hands.
In Switzerland flushing the lavatory after 10pm is illegal.
In Canada if you are arrested and then released from prison, it is a legal requirement that the felon is given a handgun with bullets and a horse, so they can ride safely out of the town.

Chris Brown, managing director of sunshine.co.uk, said: “We aren’t sure how serious these countries are when it comes to prosecuting on the above but it’s quite mind boggling trying to figure out why there was ever a need to have a law against carrying an ice cream cone in your back pocket on a Sunday or looking at a moose from an aeroplane.

“All jokes aside, we are very committed to reassuring our customers about the rules and regulations of their chosen destinations and we welcome the enquiries from Brits predominantly visiting locations like Dubai, Turkey and Egypt."

Last month the Foreign Office warned holidaymakers to check out local laws and customs before travelling abroad.