The state of New York instituted the nation's first mandatory seat-belt law on July 12, 1984.
The U.S. Congress passed a law in 1832 requiring all American citizens to spend one day each year fasting and praying. For the most part, people ignored the law, and no effort was made to enforce the legislation.
The U.S. Congress passed laws in 1999 to discourage the practice of registering popular or trademarked domain names for the sole purpose of resale or profit, although it is legal to do it with generic words or surnames.
The U.S. interstate highway system requires that 1 mile in every 5 must be straight. These sections can be used as airstrips in a time of war or other emergencies.
The United States Supreme Court once ruled Federal income tax unconstitutional. Income tax was first imposed during the Civil War as a temporary revenue-raising measure.
There are some differences on driving in Japan that tourists should know. Motorists drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right, like in the United Kingdom. In areas where the cops are few, people routinely speed 30 km over the speed limit (50 kph), and taxi drivers are notorious for their aggressive driving. The pedestrian always has the right of way, and drivers can not turn on a red light.
In Pakistan, it is rude to show the soles of your feet or point a foot when you are sitting on the floor.
In Paraguay, it is helpful for visitors to the country to know that the gesture of tilting the head backwards means "I forgot."
In Pennsylvania, Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.
In Riverside, California, there is an old law on the city's books which makes it illegal to kiss unless both people wipe their lips with rose water.
In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad.
In Saudi Arabia, a woman reportedly may divorce her husband if he does not keep her supplied with coffee.
In seventeenth-century Japan, no citizen was allowed to leave the country on penalty of death. Anyone caught coming or going without permission was executed on the spot.
In Somalia, Africa, it's been decreed illegal to carry old chewing gum stuck on the tip of your nose.
In some parts of the Philippine Islands, it is forbidden to mention the name of anyone living.
In some smaller towns in the state of Arizona, it is illegal to wear suspenders.
Tourists need to be aware that, when traveling in Germany, a screwing gesture at one's head is a strong symbol, meaning "You're crazy." Often used by drivers on the autobahn to comment on the driving skills of other travelers, this gesture can get you arrested. The same gesture is used in Argentina.
Two Marble Valley, Vermont prison escapees were caught in New York City in 1996. Police found their to-do list, which read, "Drive to Maine, get safer place to stay, buy guns, get Marie, get car — Dartmouth, do robbery, go to New York..."
Under Norwegian law, a polar bear may be shot only if deemed a menace.
Until 1893, lynching was legal in the United States. The first anti-lynching law was passed in Georgia, but it only made the violation punishable by four years in prison.
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