10 Weird UK Laws People Break Every Day.

Have you always prided yourself on being a law-abiding UK citizen? I hate to tell you this but I’m afraid this may not still be the case once you’re done reading this article. With lockdown back and in full swing, we thought we would lighten the mood with a brief look at the weird and wonderful laws we’re expected to abide by. But a brief word of warning: the chances are you’ve broken at least one of these weird UK laws in your lifetime.

10. It’s illegal to be drunk in a pub

One weird UK law which may come as a big shock to many is the fact you’re not actually allowed to be drunk in a pub. According to the Metropolitan Act of 1839, it’s against the law for the “keeper of a public house to permit drunkenness on-premises”. Under the Licensing Act 2003, it’s also illegal to serve acholic beverages to patrons who are already intoxicated or purchase alcohol on behalf of someone who is already drunk.

So, if you leave the house and drink over three to four pints, you might be facing a £200 fine.

9. It’s illegal to carry a plank of wood along a pavement

Another weird UK law introduced states that it’s illegal to walk along a pavement while carrying a plank of wood. Introduced in the medieval times through the Metropolitan Police Act, this law thankfully provides some exceptions. It’s okay to carry a plank of wood provided that you are loading it onto a vehicle or offloading it.

Introduced to prevent overloaded carts leaving planks of wood all over the pavement and creating hazards for pedestrians, be sure not to fall foul of this law.

7. It’s an offence to handle a salmon and look at all suspicious

Definitely, a worthy contender on this list of the weirdest UK laws is handling a salmon suspiciously. More amazingly, this law even has its own act as section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 that covers the suspicious handling of the fish.

However, although this law may sound a bit fishy, it does make more sense when understanding the context of the law coming into play. The Salmon Act 1986 was aimed at people selling fish through illegal means, rather than people hanging around dark alleyways clutching a salmon.

If fishing isn’t your thing, you may instead want to familiarise yourself with sub-section 3 of section 54 in the Metropolitan Police Act 1839. This section covers any ‘mischief, misbehaviour and negligence’ in driving a herd of cattle through town.

6. UK law states it’s illegal to linger after a funeral 

Perhaps the saddest weird UK law is the fact you’re not allowed to linger after a funeral.

Even more sadly, it’s a law that has also been enforced. In 2015, Frank Blades wasn’t in any rush to leave the graveside of his wife. Frank stayed for an extra 20 minutes after the funeral and was punished by receiving a £160 fine. The fine was originally put in place to allow gravediggers to carry out their work.

5. Illegal to pay with your phone at a drive-through whilst your car is still running

This law dates back to the mobile phone laws from 2003 that outline when it’s illegal to touch a phone or a handset while driving. So, if you’re handling your phone while the engine is running, you’re technically using your phone while operating a car.

Scarily, the punishments for paying using your phone with the engine running at a drive-through are severe.

Pulling up to the window at your local McDonald’s and paying with your smartphone with the engine on can get you slapped with a £200 fine and six penalty points if spotted by police. In circumstances where your driving is particularly careless at a drive-through as a result of using your phone, you may have a court case and £1,000 fine on your hands.

Furthermore, if you only recently passed your practical driving test in the past two years, you face a ban from driving.

4. It’s against the law to jump the queue at a tube station

While queuing has become something of a national hobby and jumping a queue will certainly earn you a raft of tuts and death stares, it’s actually illegal to do this in a tube station.

This by-law says you must join the rear of a queue if directed to by an authorised person or sign. Furthermore, it’s also illegal to gamble or ‘sing to the annoyance of any person’ on the tube!

3. It’s an act of treason to put a British stamp on upside down

This is one of the weirdest UK laws, but mostly because of its punishment. Sticking a stamp upside down in absolute defiance on an envelope is considered an attempt to dispose of the monarch in the Treason Felony Act of 1848.

Because this is still considered an act of treason, you could technically be sentenced to imprisonment. Thankfully, the part of the law that previously stated you would be ‘transported beyond the seas for the term of your natural life’ has been repealed.

We’ll leave this law to you to test at your own risk.

2. Weird UK law preventing you from sliding on ice or snow in London

Making or using a slide “upon ice or snow in any street or other thoroughfare” is banned if it creates “common danger” to your fellow Londoners, according to The Metropolitan Police Act of 1989.

Any person guilty of such an offence could be liable to receive a fine of up to £500.

If the thought of making a slide on ice is too extreme for you, we’re sorry to inform you that even more mundane activities like flying a kite, or ‘playing any game to the annoyance of the inhabitants’ are also prohibited. 

1. Sounding your horn through anger

Sounding a horn aggressively because you are annoyed or frustrated could land you with a fine of £50, with the possibility of it rising to £1,000 if you were to go to court, contest it and lose.

You may still face this fine, even if a pedestrian or driver acts dangerously or is at fault in some way. It’s also against the law to sound a horn whilst the vehicle is stationary or while in a built-up area between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am.

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