New record for 'most idiotic law'?

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**ChrisWWII**

Malawi row over whether new law bans farting. Two of Malawi's most senior judicial officials are arguing over whether a new bill includes a provision that outlaws breaking wind in public.

BBC wrote:Justice Minister George Chaponda says the new bill would criminalise flatulence to promote "public decency".

"Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting," he told local radio.

However, he was directly contradicted by Solicitor General Anthony Kamanga, who says the reference to "fouling the air" means pollution.

"How any reasonable or sensible person can construe the provision to criminalising farting in public is beyond me," he said, adding that the prohibition contained in the new law has been in place since 1929.

The Local Courts Bill, to be introduced next week reads: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."

Mr Chaponda, a trained lawyer, insists that this includes farting.

"Would you be happy to see people farting anyhow?" he asked on the popular "Straight Talk" programme on Malawi's Capital Radio.

He said that local chiefs would deal with any offenders.

When asked whether it could be enforced, he said it would be similar to laws banning urinating in public.

**KingCracker**

Oh my god. Do you guys have Taco Bells over there? If so, I suggest not going.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Blimey that would be me criminalised for sure. :(

better out than in as me grannie used to say!

edit:
More like Tacky Bowels KC it runs in the family
*parp*

**Chowderhead**

So... Farting's a crime?

Are they going to line up all the cows and shoot them against a brick wall?

**Melissia**

The average person passes gas something like a dozen times a day, lol... even if this interpretation were passed, it'd be unfeasible to enforce...

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Just a thought
Malawi is where Madonna buys her children from
Maybe the legislation is a means of preventing farts getting into the country and taking the kids away?

**WarOne**

Farts are a natural resource.

I cannot fathom how they can make it illegal to provide a natural resource.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

And suddenly the "who smelt it dealt it" game takes a turn for the serious...

**Mr. Burning**

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:And suddenly the "who smelt it dealt it" game takes a turn for the serious...

I cite 'who smelt it dealt it' vs 'whomever said the rhyme..'

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Jonny Fartpants type kegs could become quite the thing!
Would a methane powered IPad be possible, or maybe a laptop.
Windows xP

**Mr. Burning**

I would sell mine to whatever their national energy provider is.

Hook me up and bring me beans, Mexican and Indian food stuffs....

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Hook me up and bring me beans

Bet you say that to all the girls!

**Slarg232**

Yup, that takes the cake.

Did you guys know that it is fully legal to shoot people of the Indian ethnicity (Feathers and hatchets, not country) in North Dakota, provided that there is five or more of them and you are in a covered wagon? It's considered a raiding party still.

**alarmingrick**

you guys could always adopt our gun 'philosophy':
"you have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands"
on second thought, that probably wouldn't go over so well....

**Albatross**

I believe the dictator of Turkmenistan, Sapamurat Nizayov banned facial hair for a while. He also named a month after himself. THAT guy takes the cake as far as stupid laws are concerned. This sort of this isn't all THAT out of the ordinary - it's illegal to spit in the street in many countries, and obviously urinating is a major no-no in most civilised nations.

It wouldn't surprise me if farting in public was banned in somewhere like Singapore.

**Mr. Burning**

Chibi Bodge-Battle wrote:
Hook me up and bring me beans

Bet you say that to all the girls!

I look for understanding ladies, who 'do not speak the English too good' and whose passports I have locked away....

Anyway Stupid laws....

Is it still illegal to explode an atomic device within Chicagos city limits?

**ChrisWWII**

Chico, and last I checked it wasn't illegal. it was just a $500 fine.

**Destrado**

So if I fart, and it doesn't produce any smell (unless they can somehow quantify it), then I'm safe?

Granny used to say, it's better to lose a friend than to bust a gut. Doesn't sound half as nice in english though.

**Billinator**

Old danish law:
"If a horse drawn carriage is trying to pass a car and the horse becomes uneasy, the owner of the car is required to pull over and if necessary, cover the car."

**Melissia**

Texas Law: When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone.

**Albatross**

It's still legal to shoot a Scotsman if found within the city walls of York.

**Melissia**

But why would a Scotsman want to enter York?

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Lovely place York with a splendid cathedral.

**Frazzled**

Melissia wrote:But why would a Scotsman want to enter York?

Think Braveheart...

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Braveheart

History lesson for the hard of thinking

**Cheesecat**

I agree this law stinks, I think the Malawi government is being way to anal about people's lives.

**ghosty**

Cheesecat wrote:I agree this law stinks, I think the British government is being way to anal about people's lives.

Oh cheesecat, if only those puns weren't deliberate...

**Albatross**

Cheesecat wrote:I agree this law stinks, I think the British government is being way to anal about people's lives.

I love that fact that you edited this post 3 times, yet still missed the fact that this story concerns Malawi, not the UK.

Dumbass.

**squilverine**

Albatross wrote:
Cheesecat wrote:I agree this law stinks, I think the British government is being way to anal about people's lives.

I love that fact that you edited this post 3 times, yet still missed the fact that this story concerns Malawi, not the UK.

Dumbass.

very good!

I remember whilst working night shifts a few years back. There were so few people about in the office we all used to have our 'lunch' break together. Engineers, tech support and security would generaly chip in for pizza or fried chicken. At the time the security company employed a bunch of African lads who were over here studying, and earning a bit of rent money as security temps. We had finished eating and one of tne other engineers let out a massive fart. The African lads didn't find it funny one little bit, they refused to speak to him afterwards unless absolutely neccesary.
It may well be that this sort of thing is frowned upon in general in African society?

**Cheesecat**

Albatross wrote:
Cheesecat wrote:I agree this law stinks, I think the British government is being way to anal about people's lives.

I love that fact that you edited this post 3 times, yet still missed the fact that this story concerns Malawi, not the UK.

Dumbass.

Yeah I was too busy focusing on the puns but was crap on the accuracy of the statement unfortunately. Guess I had a brain-fart.

(edited a 4th time)