The four weird laws that could ruin your holiday with a hefty fine or even jail
Brits travelling abroad this festive season should be aware of some important laws that could land you in hot water and spoil your holidays - with penalties ranging from hefty fines to prison terms.
As much as we all want to let loose and have a carefree holiday, tourists are being warned of some international laws they may find a bit on the extreme side. From taking large amounts of cash out of the country to causing public disturbances, there are some bizarre rules you must follow if you don't want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
In some holiday destinations, simply being annoying could land you in hot water - and leave you out of pocket (Getty Images)Being annoying
In some holiday destinations, simply being annoying could land you in hot water - and leave you out of pocket. And one such place is the Philippines, where you could be penalised £75 for simply "annoying others".
The 1930 Philippines Revised Penal Code states that a fine of 200 pesos (£3), or jail for up to 30 days, is seen as just punishment for anyone causing "unjust vexation" However, in 2020, an amendment was made to the code as it was considerted to be too vague.
Now the law defines it as "a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress... and serves no legitimate purpose".
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Running out of petrol
Running out of fuel on a busy road isn't just annoying, but it can also see you get in trouble with the law - and some countries frown on it more than others.
The country that takes a dim view on running out of fuel is Germany, with it's autobahn's famous for free flowing traffic with high speed limits.
For running out of fuel on the autobahn - where drivers are free to go as fast as they want in de-restricted sections - the penalty for no petrol in the tank is around £27-£62.
One strict rule that could see you in trouble in the UK is taking large amounts of cash out of the country (Getty Images)Chewing gum
In Singapore, chewing gum has been outlawed due to it's environmental impact and the amount of resources used to clean up the sticky stuff from public places. Since 1992, the substance has been banned from the city - and people can face high fines of up to £1,665.
Such is the mission against chewing gum, those found to be selling or importing it in the nation state could be fined up to £83,000 - or face a jail sentence of up to two years.
But the law changed in 2004 to include gum with health benefits such as nicotine or dental gum, can be bought legally from pharmacies.
Taking large amounts of cash with you
One strict rule that could see you in trouble in the UK is taking large amounts of cash out of the country. Brits could be fined a whopping £5,000 for taking large sums on holiday.
If you take £10,000 or more on holiday you must declare it to UK customs. This rule is in force if you are carrying cash between England, Wales or Scotland - or a country outside of the UK or Schengen Zone.
If you are travelling as a family or in a group with people who are carrying more than £10,000 in total, even if individuals are carrying less than that, you will still need to declare the cash at customs. The penalty for failing to declare a large amount over £10,000 is a hefty £5,000 - and you'll have your cash seized.
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