Unusual laws to be wary of in Switzerland?

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
61
I heard another one, years ago, that you can be fined as a vagrant if you take your shoes off after a night of shaking your booty in a disco and walk home barefoot.

Shoeless equals vagrant. And those guys are out to get their beer money outside the Nightclubs.

But, in the end, I love this country with all it's little ups and downs. It's my home.

I came here when i was nine, i grew up here I have no other home. But i still see the funny side and strange side of it.

Are we sure the people asking strange questions about Switzerland are not confusing it with Swaziland?

I'm off out to try and find some towels.

62
"Pissing in public", some Cantons used to harsh on this. So if you really must piss in some alleyway or some bush, be aware if you being watched, as a fine might follow?

Someone my OH knew was fined CHF180 around 15/20 years.

63
you guys need to take a break from the "Big Cities" and head out to the countryside. I suppose there might be rules, but people are much much more laid back and friendly out here. I am often wondering about this other version of Switzerland y'all live in

64
Does anyone know if any action can be taken to lads who make loud noises in the neighbourhood and is there a time to observe and what are the limitations? what about residentials above cafes, are the patrons allowed to make noise even after 12am?

Thanks

65
I find its even worse in small villages. Big cities at least afford some anonymity. But you must be a rule abiding citizen.

The neighbor next door parked his car in the wrong spot again. That's not allowed. We'll send him an anonymous letter.

66
These ticket dodgers can sit next to the people that got caught speeding. My hairdresser told me the story yesterday how one day a few months ago he forgot about the 50km camera towards the airport, was in a hurry, did 70, got a 3 month driving ban, a big fine, and now yesterday a letter saying that only because he has no prior convictions they will leave it at this, otherwise it was apparently jail sentence!!

67
I don't know about "up there" but here in Geneva most bars and restaurants have signs out say "respect the neighbours". There was a case of an old man who shot someone coz he couldn't take it anymore.

Everybody loves to go out and have a good time. But going home time should be quiet, even if you want to sing and shout. Don't do it on the street.

Wait till you get home put your earplugs in.

68
The follow are all illegal:

1. Enjoying a schnaeggliwaehe (Introduced following the infamous summer of 1964)

2. Betting on frog fighting (1982 - although betting on frog racing is still legal depending on the kanton)

3. Since 1974 it has been illegal to impersonate a philosopher

4. It has been illegal to sell "mud" drinks since 1933 - in response to Hitler coming to power.

5. The SBB applied for special permission to build train tunnels as underground travel in Switzerland was banned in 1876 - and never repealed.

6. Caving in Kanton Zurich was originally banned in 1922, it was repealed in 1977 (by popular vote) and then rebanned in 2001 due to the increasing size of the caves beneath Zurich.

7. Following the massacres of 1892, 1893 and 1894 it is illegal to take Chocolate and Nut spreads into the woods above Zollikon.

8. Outdoor dancing has been forbidden in the vast majority communities in kanton Zurich since 1912 - Affoltern am Albis joined Mannedorf and Meilen as a mecca for hedonism in 2011.

9. The use of dried fruit for the purposes of personal cleansing was banned in 1945 - due to post war famine worries.

10. The dubious activity of knee rubbing is no longer illegal. In 2000, after 85 years of being outlawed, Zurich succombed to the popular vote and made it legal again.

I hope that hasn't ruined anyone's list of things to do.

69

That's how it works. If you don't have a nosy, interfering neighbour, then it's you.

70
It is a criminal offence to mime in Vevey and Montreux. This includes air guitars.

71

Corollary: Residing within every EF'r is a tiny little secret policeman; watching, waiting for you to commit some forum infraction. And out of nowhere, they hit you with it...

72

Meanwhile, the OP is even more confused than he was before he posted his question.

73
Indeed.

So I can't wear a white shirt on the first Tuesday of the month unless the first day of the previous month was a Friday. Right?

74
Only if your belt and shoes match

75
Match what?

76

Yes, but that rule only applies in the French speaking cantons. If you’re moving to a German speaking canton then it needs to be a red shirt, belt and shoes.

Of course if a canton is bi-lingual like Fribourg then red and white stripes are de rigueur.

77
The socks, shirt, underpants, hat, gloves, curtain, wallpaper, carpet, car

78
Oops. My girlfriend is a repeat offender

But I don't have a Maine Coon cat

79
And you can't just set your fireworks off whenever you want. Only on the first of August and if you're lucky at New Year.

Sunbathing nude is only in designated areas. Not on your balcony.

On the cat subject, you cannot have only one cat. Get two, because one gets lonely and eats the woodwork the cost of which will be taken out of the horrendous three month plus one guarantee that you have put down for an extremely expensive flat which looked good in the photos.

80
No, I think he wonders WHY he posted the question.