7 unusual laws you don't know you're breaking – and you face £500 fine if you do | The Sun
BIZARRE laws you don't know you're breaking could leave you with a £500 fine.
From having fun in the snow to jumping queues, these seven seemingly innocent activities are all punishable offences.
Here, The Sun Online breaks down Britain's most bonkers statutes.
SKIDDING ON ICE
You are not allowed to slide on snow or ice in London.
The rule applies to frozen surfaces in "any roadway or other thoroughfare", according to the Metropolitan Police Act of 1989.
If you dare partake in the prohibited activity, you're not just posing a "common hazard" to other Londoners.
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Incredibly, you could also land yourself with a fine of up to £500, so it's probably best to not take yourself for a slide,
FLYING KITES IN PUBLIC
The popular pastime is in fact illegal in public spaces under section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.
The activity, seemingly innocent, was clamped down on to prevent danger to others.
It was also deemed a "nuisance" at the time and is technically illegal, but rarely enforced.
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CARRYING WOOD
Hauling planks of wood down a street is another activity that is technically illegal.
Just like flying kites, carrying timber on the pavement, unless being loaded or unloaded from a vehicle, is banned.
The law under the same Met Cops' act from 1839 dates back to the Middle Ages when carts were regularly overloaded and folk were at risk of falling wood.
KNOCK, KNOCK, GINGER
a.k.a. ringing doorbells and running, the irritating prank often played by youngsters is also illegal.
Section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 applies to anyone "wilfully and wantonly" disturbing any inhabitant by ringing doorbells or knocking "without lawful excuse".
SHAKING OUT CARPETS
Section 60 of the same 1839 act says public bashing of dusty carpets in London is banned.
It was bought in to stop Brits causing a mess in the streets and being a general nuisance to other citizens.
Despite the ban, you are allowed to shake your doormat, but only before 8am, according to the rules.
Shaking down carpets in the streets will not lead to a fine and it's unlikely to be enforced.
NIGHTTIME BOOZE
In 2005 Scots were told they would only be able to buy alcohol between 10am and 10pm seven days a week.
The rules, contained in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, are castle different to England where you can legally snap up booze 24/7.
Bars, pubs, clubs and hotels are not subject to the booze curfew.
Scots were once unable to buy booze until 12.30pm on Sundays, but this is no longer the case.
QUEUE JUMPING
You cannot jump a queue at London's tube station ticket halls, according to Transport for London bylaws.
If you do, you must join the back of the line – the rule is in place for safety reasons, their website states.
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Despite the rules, TfL have never actually prosecuted anyone for skipping the queue, according to a Freedom of Information request dating back to 2020.
But the organisation warns: "If a customer refused to comply and was causing a safety issue, or their behaviour escalated, the BTP (British Transport Police) would be called."
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