In the UK, there are many strange and unimaginable laws for us - a ban on killing swans (well, at least here it is logical) or on touching pelicans. We have compiled a list of the most unusual current rules that are best observed by tourists in England.
It is forbidden to touch the pelican without permission
In fact, no one should be touched without permission, but violation of this prohibition in relation to pelicans can result in a fine. The ban is part of the 1997 Royal Parks and Other Open Areas Code of Law: to bypass it will require “written permission” from the Secretary of State. Reindeer cannot be fed or touched in a London park. Any "strange" law has a logical explanation, and this one is no exception: the listed animals are more susceptible to Lyme disease, which is dangerous for humans.
It is forbidden to carry boards or poles outside
The 1989 Metropolitan Police Act contains a list of activities that are considered “inconvenient” on the street. It is forbidden to carry boards and poles, you cannot roll or carry "a barrel, tub, hoop, wheel, any ladder, exhibition board or sign". There is one exception: you will not be fined while you load or unload the cart. It is not known how the paparazzi manage to bring the stairs to the door of the maternity hospital during the discharge of the heirs to the British throne, but there are several dozen of them around the main entrance of St. Mary's Hospital.
You can't ride on ice outside and fly kites
According to the 1989 Metropolitan Police Act, the creation or use of a slide of ice or snow on the street is prohibited if it poses a danger to citizens. The same law prohibits flying a kite or playing games on the street, making London a boring business city.
You can't knock out rugs before 8 am
Not the harshest part of the same 1989 Metropolitan Police Act: Shaking out carpets, rugs or mats is prohibited until 8am. The good news: one of the sections of the law prohibits throwing or burying garbage, ashes, various parts of the animal's body, it is illegal to throw any of these items into a sewer, pipe, well, stream, watercourse, pond or reservoir.
Don't play, sing, or jump in the subway line
TfL, London's premier transport company, issues its own bylaws that govern passenger behavior on all modes of transport, including the London Underground. They prohibit unauthorized gambling, singing, and queuing.
No "suspicious handling" of salmon
Suspicious handling means poaching: the rule applies to trout, eels, smelt, and other freshwater fish. The strangest thing about this rule is that "suspicious treatment" remains an offense, even if it is not clear what kind of offense was committed.
Don't feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square
For this ban, we should thank the former mayor Ken Livingstone, who considered pigeons "rats with wings" that bred in the famous central square of London. For distributing food to pigeons in the square, good citizens will be fined £ 500. As a result, the population of urban pigeons has declined from almost 4,000 to just over 100 in a few years. This same rule led to the expulsion of licensed pigeon feed sellers such as Bernard Reiner, whose family had been selling seeds in the area for half a century, until 2001.
Don't shoot the king's swans!
All swans without signs of belonging to the nobility were historically considered the property of the queen, and all noble people could roast their own swan on the occasion of the holiday. Swan killing was outlawed in the 1980s and many people believe that only the queen is allowed to eat mute swans. This is not entirely correct, but since the queen is considered invulnerable to prosecution, if Elizabeth II wanted to taste the swan on Christmas as a traditional dish, no one would be able to stop her.
