Outdated Laws Quiz | The Law

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the city of London, it is illegal to hail a taxi if you have which of the following nasty diseases?

Answer: The Plague

It is still illegal to hail a taxi in London if you have the plague. The "Black Death" wiped out around one third of Europe's population in the 14th century. Although rare today, it has not been completely eradicated so maybe it's for the best that this old law is still on the books!

Source: Times Online

Question author: Paperhat76

2. What belongs to the British monarch if it is washed up on a British coast?

Answer: Any whale or sturgeon

The Royal Prerogative of 1324 decrees that any whale or sturgeon found on the British coast is a "royal fish" and belongs to the monarch. In 2004 fisherman Robert Davies of Llanelli contacted the Royal Household to tell them he had caught a sturgeon, and was told to keep it, but did not realise it was still illegal to try and sell it. The 9 foot long, 264lb fish was eventually donated to the Natural History Museum.

Source: BBC news online

Question author: megrim

3. In the UK, what are you not allowed to do within 300 yards of a dwelling house?

Answer: Fire a cannon

The Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 prevents anyone from firing a cannon within 300 yards of a dwelling house. Lunatics used to have to be licensed under the Madhouse Act of 1774 (this has now been revoked), and the ban on impersonating a Chelsea Pensioner was repealed in 2008.

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk - legal oddities

Question author: megrim

4. In which of the following is it illegal to queue-jump?

Answer: The London Underground ticket hall

A London Underground byelaw requires "any person directed by a notice to queue (or when asked to queue by an authorised person) shall join the rear of the queue and obey the reasonable instructions of any authorised person".

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk - legal oddities

Question author: megrim

5. Under which Act of English legislation is it illegal to hang washing, beat a carpet or fly a kite in a public street or thoroughfare?

Answer: Town Police Clauses Act 1847

These are all offences still on the statute book, and punishable with fines of up to �1,000 or 14 days imprisonment.

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk - legal oddities

Question author: sdmcc

6. Would be Romeos, beware; in the state of Mississippi U.S.A., you can get up to five years imprisonment for which offence against innocent and chaste young ladies?

Answer: Seducing and falsely promising to marry them.

In Mississippi, any person who obtains carnal knowledge of any previously chaste female over the age of 18, by virtue of any false promise of marriage, will be liable, on conviction, of up to five years imprisonment. However the testimony of the seduced female, alone, will not be sufficient to warrant conviction. Sweet talkers keep clear!

Source www.dumblaws.com

Question author: Tedbhoy

7. What totally impractical motor vehicle law still appears on the books in the state of New Jersey in the USA?

Answer: A motor vehicle being operated after dark must be preceded by someone carrying a lantern

Although it is obviously no longer enforced, this law, along with many others that are presently obsolete, has never been removed from the books.

Source: New Jersey motor vehicle laws

Question author: janslam

8. According to an 1887 byelaw, what are you not allowed to beat on Blackpool Promenade?

Answer: Carpets

An 1887 Blackpool Borough Council byelaw prevents the beating of carpets or the placing of any clothing or towels on the Promenade.

Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk

Question author: megrim

9. An outdated law or an urban myth? Apparently, before the London Hackney Carriage Act of 1831 was repealed in 1976, if you want to stay within the law when hailing a cab in the city of London, you should have checked that the cab driver had what items in his vehicle?

Answer: A bale of hay and a sack of oats

There is much confusion about whether or not this is true. The hay and the oats apparently were for the horse when the cabs were horse-drawn and the law wasn't changed to 1976. Allegedly some taxi drivers had miniature bales of hay and bags of oats made so that they could stay within the law.

I have read conflicting reports on different web sites about this. As I don't have access to the actual law books and for the sake of a bit of fun, we will assume that it is true.

Question author: tedbhoy

10. In London, the Metropolitan Police Act (1839), which has never been repealed, makes it illegal to be drunk in which of the following places?

Answer: A pub

Amazingly, it is illegal to be found drunk in a pub, club or any other licensed premises in London as publicans are not allowed to permit drunkenness in their house. If this law was strictly enforced today, the prison population would be enormous!

Source: mirror.co.uk

Paperhat76

11. What are you not allowed to wear in the Houses of Parliament?

Answer: A suit of armour

A 1313 Stature "Coming Armed to Parliament" forbids any Member of Parliament from wearing armour to the House.

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk - legal oddities

Question author: megrim

12. This common law has been used up until quite recently but appears to have been dropped due to other available charges. The definition of this crime is to break into someone's property with the intention of assaulting that person. What is the charge?

Answer: Hamesucken

The offence of "hamesucken" is sometimes believed to cover an assault on an occupier that occurs during a housebreaking. However, strictly speaking the offence only applies if the specific intention for the entry is to carry out an assault on the occupier.

As a common law it can't be repealed - it just fades away into obscurity.

Question author: BillMcC

13. What prevented some women in Scotland from talking in the 16th Century?

Answer: A Scold's Bridle or Branks

There was a law in the 16th Century that prevented women from scolding or nagging. The Scold's Bridle was placed over the face (like a modern day muzzle) and a curb-plate went into the mouth, preventing the tongue from moving. I believe this law has been repealed, although I'm sure there are those amongst us who would still be in favour of its use.

Sources: Various Old History Books

Question Author jonnygroat

14. Under a 1799 law, it is illegal for women to wear what item of clothing on the streets of Paris, France, without police permission?

Answer: Trousers

Under a 1799 law it is illegal for a woman to dress like a man without the permission of the police (except when riding a horse or a bicycle). The French government apparently intend to repeal this act soon, which will make life easier for French policewomen who break this law daily as they are legally obliged to wear trousers.

Sources: www.telegraph.co.uk

Question Author: Steve

15. Who said "Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered."

Answer: Aristotle

Lincoln said "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." Twain's interest in the law concerned trying to beat copyright laws. Voltaire studied the law.

Source: www.greektexts.com

Question author: megrim

Source: Author tedbhoy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Outdated Laws Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about some of the weird and wonderful laws that are still on the statute books around the world. We've added our sources so that you can check them out for yourself. Team quiz Scotland the brains.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>