List of Previous Titles

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Interesting Laws


Interesting Laws to Think About

Every jurisdiction has its share of very interesting laws. A bit of research will turn up all sorts of laws, many that are ages old and are strange, to say the least. Trying to determine what made such laws necessary in the first place can be a fun exercise, although chances are that if law makers thought their Bills necessary it was because some one, somewhere was guilty of doing the things that the laws were enacted against.

The Valencia government have just passed a whole raft of new laws that are designed to combat behaviours that we residents have been complaining about for some time. For example:

The law against El Botellón:

A Botellón is an outdoor drinking party where young people congregate with the idea of getting as drunk as they can. If such a party takes place on public property or disturbs the peace of the neighbourhood between 22:00 hours and 8:00 hours, organisers and participants can be fined up to 1,500 euros. Such parties are a real nuisance because they create a great deal of trash, including vomit, and people get in their cars to drive away while being seriously impaired. They are also dangerous from the standpoint of alcohol poisoning.

The Buying and selling of Fake Goods:

There is a flourishing business in knock-off goods in Spain. Usually immigrants are put to work in this trade by suppliers, who remain behind the scenes. The quality of such goods is always suspect, so it is a shame that this is often the only option available to immigrants by which to feed themselves. Personally, I would rather that they did this than break into my home. The fine for such activities is up to 400 euros.

Creating an act of Vandalism by ringing doorbells maliciously in the night.

Apparently, if you live in town you can expect to have (presumably) young people ringing your doorbell while you sleep at night. This is now an offence that has a punishment of up to 750 euros. I don`t suppose that it has occurred to anyone to have an off switch on the bell

Prostitution:

One of the oldest professions in the world is not illegal, as such in Catholic Spain. This country has a very enlightened attitude towards sexual relations. Basically it is felt that everyone should be doing it. That way the stress level can be expected to be lower. However, there have to be rules because the sight of young women loitering at roundabouts in very skimpy attire is to be discouraged. For one thing it’s difficult enough negotiating roundabouts, but add in practically nude girls and we are going to have crashes. That is no good for business.

So, if anyone is caught offering, accepting, negotiating, or arguing over sexual services in the street, you will be attracting a fine between 750 and 3,000 euros.

Sexual Relations

I have saved the best for last, because under this heading the authorities are most concerned about people having sexual relations in the street. Now remember that if there is a law against it, somebody has been behaving inappropriately. The law is quite specific that if two people are seen in the act of having sex, whether in a vehicle or not, they will be subject to a fine of up to 3,000 euros and not less than 750 euros. It will be an aggravating factor if it takes place in sight of homes, schools or businesses.

I just think it incredible that people have been walking along the street and been confronted by couples having sex. The Beatles sang in one of their songs “Why Don’t we do it in the Street?” Has it actually come to that?

The law seems to be silent about a person having sex with himself, but with many thousands of available prostitutes, both male and female, why would you have to?

Copyright © 2010 Eugene Carmichael