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Did you know that in Florida it's illegal to wear swimwear while singing in a public place and in Alabama it's against the law to play dominoes on Sunday? Seriously though, know the local culture before you get there

And don't be fooled into thinking that it's just America that has some weird laws. In Italy, it's an offence to not have a smile on your face while in the city of Milan, unless you're visiting someone in hospital or attending a funeral!

Now fair enough, many of these laws should be taken with a large pinch of salt, but there is a serious message here. Other countries have different laws to our own and when we travel abroad such laws must be respected, regardless of how strange they may seem.

As part of its 'Know before you go' campaign, the Foreign Office has compiled a list of laws worth noting. These include:

  • In many countries it is forbidden to take photographs or use binoculars near military or government installations. Penalties can include jail sentences
  • In Singapore, smoking in public buildings, littering, spitting, chewing gum on public transport and failing to flush public lavatories are civic crimes and attract instant fines
  • Nude bathing is illegal in India, even in holiday resorts such as Goa. Topless sunbathing is illegal on most beaches in Florida
  • It is illegal to make rude gestures or swear in public in Bahrain, the UAE and Kenya, and for doing so you could face a severe fine
  • In the United Arab Emirates, it is a criminal offence to eat, drink or smoke in public during Ramadan from sunrise to sunset
  • The penalty for entering or bathing in a fountain in Italy is a heavy fine

Do some research before you travel to any foreign country, not just the more obscure destinations. Most good travel guides include information on local laws and the Internet can be a useful resource, provided you visit the right sites - try official tourist information sites first. You should also check the 'Country Advice' section of the Foreign Office website.
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