Banned in France: The 20 oddest laws

France loves laws. There are 9,500 in force and parliament passes 70 new ones every year while the state issues some 120,000 decrees. Just about every aspect of French life is governed by a regulation, which means that many are ignored. The 1995 ban on taking photographs without permission is an example.

Prohibition also comes in varying degrees, between just plain interdit and the stronger formellement interdit and rigoureusement interdit. On the Paris Métro, the signs say that all pets are "interdit" then add that small ones are "tolerated".

Here is my list of odd things that you are not allowed to do in France. Some bans, such as winter evictions and price discounts, are supposed to protect the vulnerable (indigent tenants and small shops). Others protect privileges, like pharmacists and the state betting monopoly. Some are just strange. Please add any that I have omitted.

French law provides fines or imprisonment if you

-- Evict a tenant in cold weather, defined as between November 1 and March 15 

-- Arrest or search anyone at their homes between 10pm and 6am

-- Cut any chlidren out of your will. All property/real estate must be divided equally among all offspring.

-- Broadcast music on the radio that is less than 60 percent French. Half of that must come from "new talent or new productions and be broadcast during hours of significant audience".

-- Call Nicolas Sarkozy a "bloody Hungarian" (A demonstrator was jailed for one month for shouting at Sarko, when he was Interior Minister: Go back to China, espèce de Hongrois". The offence was "insulting a person who holds authority for public order".)

-- Sell any book at less than 95 percent of its official retail price

-- Broadcast television commercials for books, movie films or political parties

-- Advertise a party or candidate within three months of an election except for small standardized posters on municipal panels and a state-allotted television broadcast. Posters are banned if they are black and white or red, white and blue.

-- Own more than one chemist's shop (drugstore) or open one without official permission

-- Open a hairdresser's shop without two diplomas that take five years to earn.

-- Hold a store sale outside two annual periods set by the state prefect for each département

-- Open a shop on a Sunday more than five times a year (exceptions for tourist zones, bakers, florists and corner shops)

-- Sell goods below cost price "with the exception of products that are seasonal or unfashionable" -- and then only during official sales

-- Take, transmit or publish any person's photograph without their permission

-- Divulge information on anyone's private life

-- Record or transmit any private conversation without permission

-- Collect or keep statistics that mention ethnic origin

-- Gamble on anything except at licensed casinos or with state agencies. Bets may only be placed on  horse racing, tennis, rugby, football and Formula 1 motor racing.

-- Buy, sell or display Nazi uniforms, insignia or other paraphernalia

-- Use foreign words in advertising or broadcasting without an accompanying French translation.

Comments

[Pierre Bernardi]

Sell a 'petit crème' en terrasse. It has to be a café crème normal, although cafés are allowed to sell petits crèmes at the bar. This was once explained to me by the owner of a café place Cambronne. I checked: the petit crème does not appear on the regulated price list en terrasse (note that the law does not govern the price of beverages, merely which are allowed to be sold).

[gisèle]

"Collect or keep statistics that mention ethnic origin"
Article

j'ai appris lors d'une réunion l'autre soir qu'en ce qui concerne nos concitoyens européens, leur nationalité (mais pas leur ethnicité dieu merci) sera obligatoirement mentionnée sur leur carte d'électeur et qu'ils figurent
sur une "liste complémentaire" et non pas sur la liste électorale principale

on peut se demander dans quel but puisque leur vote sera pris en compte de la même manière que les autres

[GAG]

Is there a law against happiness, smiling or conviviality in France ? If there is, most of the population seem to be abiding by it.
GAG

[textibule]

>on peut se demander dans quel but puisque leur vote sera pris en compte de la même manière que les autres

Peut-etre Gisèle, c'est une façon d'avoir un moyen de contrôle d'identité supplémentaire s'il y a un soupçon de fraude.

[Andy]

You forgot to mention that walking on the grass in most parks is interdit. Grass is for looking at.

[John Gregory Flinn]

Charles, you forgot;

"It is forbidden to speak about the political crisis (or any crisis) in Belgium"!, and

"Shops cannot open on mondays in Pas-de-Calais"....

[Romain]

How about this one :"Défense d'uriner".

[gisèle]

"Peut-etre Gisèle, c'est une façon d'avoir un moyen de contrôle d'identité supplémentaire s'il y a un soupçon de fraude."
textibule

mais puisque ces gens habitent la commune à plein temps et obtiennent leur carte d'électeur à la mairie après présentation de la carte de séjour - le danger est minime, non?

en tous cas on parle d'une poignée de britanniques ici

je ne pense pas que cette minorité de gens honnêtes comprendrait assez bien la procédure électorale si différente de la leur pour pouvoir la frauder!

[John Gregory Flinn]

And;
"Schools should be closed on Wednesday afternoon, and all day in certain cases",
"Vehicles entering a major highway from a minor road on the right can have priority".

GISELE'S post is relevant.
Our 'Cartes Electorales' issued by the Canton actually say 'commune de naisssance', which may amount to the same thing.

[rocket]

Click on the link below for some really crazy laws in the US

http://www.dumblaws.com/

Then click on the individual state

[xine]

Gisele: The explanation is probably a practical one. Since European residents only vote in some elections, they are listed in a different list, so that there's no risk of them receiving a "carte electorale" for the presidential elections by mistake for instance. And then, for the cantonales/municipales, all you have to do is complete the main list by adding the appropriately called "liste complementaire".
That doesn't explain why the nationality is mentioned on the card though.

"obtiennent leur carte d'électeur à la mairie après présentation de la carte de séjour"

The carte de séjour is no longer issued to EU residents.

It might be imaginable to present ones carte d'électeur that is valid for municipal and EU elections only, without this restriction being remarked, at a crowdy moment.

Not all Europeans are as honest as British nationals. And some may naively not even be aware of not being allowed to participate in all elections.

[JeanD22]

You are right. This is a crazy country that tries to legislate everything. I don't know who was to blame, Louis XIV, the revolution, Bonaparte ? But our rulers think that everything will be solved by a law. No wonder we don't care....

[Robert Marchenoir]

Pierre Bernardi: unless you actually meant this as a joke, the bartender was obviously lying to you.

Of course he has the right to sell big, small or medium cafés-crème on his terrace, and he could even legally spray them with pepper if consumers could be persuaded this is the trendy thing to drink.

The compulsory price list is just there to publicize the price of some of the most common products on offer (not all), and to prevent unscrupulous bartenders from charging higher prices to American tourists, for instance.

The petit crème was denied to you because the larger version is more expensive, and the owner wants to make more money out of this very coveted piece of real-estate which is the nice terrace of a Parisian café.

The confusion is understandable, however. French salespeople routinely tend to suggest some laws or regulations prevent them from providing a service the consumer is asking for, when it's really only their own business decision.

The presence of the state is so pervasive that they can often get away with it.

My advice is to get up, leave and go to another café.

[Daisy]

-- "Sell any book at less than 95 percent of its official retail price"

Guess you're not gonna find too many book bargains there, eh?

[Dominique]

All these laws appear very good to me. Only one does not sound elevant any more: "Open a hairdresser's shop without two diplomas that take five years to earn."

Where i live in Paris, dozens of hairdressers's shop, very cheap, all being held by immigrants who harly speak french : they probably don't have their diplomas, but are still authorized and regular.

[Paul]

There's the law that forbids the sale of tobacco anywhere but at a tabac, or Metro/Bus tickets at a similar place other than the stations themselves.

Let us not speak of the (non) availability of taxis in Paris in certain areas at certain times! Or the interdiction against hailing a taxi within 250 metres of a train station (thankfully, often ignored).

But it's a great country to live in, even if only part-time! Deeply old-fashioned.....

[Mike]

I am somewhat dismayed by Charles' editorial style. What is he trying to achieve? A new 100 years war? Does he actualy live in France or has he just visited for a couple of weeks and learned how to order a steak-frites? His level of understanding of French life has obviously a long way to go but maybe he just got a transfer from The Sun and is already on a learning path. A bit of San Antonio would serve him well.

"carte de séjour is no longer issued to EU residents"

Yes it is, if you really really want one :)
http://www.prefecture-police-paris.interieur.gouv.fr/demarches/etrangers/paris/sejour/ressort_ce/guichet.htm

[naomie]

Et la meilleure? - Il est interdit d'interdire.

[Francois D]

"Laws are essential to holding together the" ideal city "because man has no predisposition to cultivate interest from birth." Platon

Although Platon was the first to teach us the importance of laws d’not forget that we are a latin country and importance of laws comes from the Romans, laws always written on stone (and if possible on marble), later on paper.

Then, there was Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws), Descartes and later de Tocqueville, familiar for US citizens. Napoleon left us (for Belgians and Italians also) the Civil Code, basis of the actual one. Enough, I am not a lawyer ..

Since 1985 (contaminated blood affair), we are in a society based on the so-called "precautionary principle" now enshrined in our constitution. If state does not protect the consumer (voter) this later is angry with legislature and policies. A spot of politicians is to provide (« to govern is to forecast« ).

It's true that some of these laws may sometimes become comical.

Prohibit walking on a lawn is expected to get greener one in public parks, an old complex that we have with British.

I know, it makes the English laugh, but the ban of public urinating in some places requires explanation. If it is prohibited on a wall (the poster should be regulatory and include references to the specific law of 1881), this means that anywhere else, it is theoretically allowed and this offers a high degree of autonomie within however the limits of morality (exhibition). If a policeman comes, he may ask you for explanations, and you have to prove that your goal was physiologic, concerning the bladder.

In the same way, if the policeman does not have a correct dress code, if he smokes during the service (rare), or even worse if you think that his blood alcohol level may be too high, you may register that on the official paper (that you must sign before payement). For alcohol, be careful: "slander" is a crime, aggravated vis a vis a police officer.

Some laws that seem to amaze you, in reality, protect individuals, such as those concerning prohibition of photographing a person in the street without his permission (idem for public video, a poster must advertise you), to rattle home after 22 hours, or ban to evict tenants before March 15 of each year. The last is the one on banning smoking in public places.

Sarko (we can not avoid talking about him on CB blog ) when he was minister of the interior has enacted a law to fight prostitution. This law, still in effect for at least 4 years and 2 months, may order a woman having a « racoleuse » attitude (provocation with sexual connotation). This raises the question of miniskirts. If you travel in France this summer, and if you want to wear a mini skirt, d’not smile to unknowned men and wears in your luggage a Carla's picture with her smallest mini skirt (they are easily finded on net). A judge may be very sensitive to this argument (especially since this corporation generally dislikes Sarko)

But for many French, the more stupid laws come from Europe, and among them, those regulating the manufacture of cheese and making almost impossible to find a true Camenbert issued from. uncooked milk, prohibiting his transport and marketing, nearly like an illicit drug.

[Robert Marchenoir]

Somewhere in Paris, there is a very obvious spelling mistake on the sign over the length of a shop window. One letter is missing. It might be something like "Electricit" instead of "Electricité".

It is not a mistake, however. The owner posted an official letter from the town hall for everybody to see, denying him the extra foot or so which would have been necessary to advertise the full name of the business.

The building is an old one, and obviously the city's pen pushers have decided that putting up all the letters required would have altered the delicate aesthetics of the place, which allow us to extract such outrageous prices for chicken and Coke from Terry and his lawyer buddies when they venture here (but that's only legitimate, when you consider the sky-high fees they inflict upon their clients back in America).

I suppose the sign had already been ordered, because the shop owner had never thought the city would squabble over its length.

So "Electricit" it will be.

[HdF]

Charles,

If I may, your third example is not correctly formulated. You can reduce the amount one of our your children inherits, but with some stringent limits that prevent you from completely excluding him. The rule is based on a quota system giving you the freedom to allocate to whomever you want the equivalent of one child's share. If you have one child, you can give 50% of your estate to somebody else.

[Thanks. I was simplifying, as I did in many of these examples. But I'll put backsome detail on this one. CB]

[azloon]

[In the same way, if the policeman does not have a correct dress code, if he smokes during the service (rare), or even worse if you think that his blood alcohol level may be too high, you may register that on the official paper (that you must sign before payement). For alcohol, be careful: "slander" is a crime, aggravated vis a vis a police officer.] Francoise D.

the idea of accusing your arresting police officer of being under the influence of alcohol is a wonderful image for this american.

americans, and many other europeans i'm sure, drive in mortal fear of being arrested for driving while 'impaired.'

in france, apparently, there is at least an equal chance that the arresting officer may also be impaired. :)

"carte de séjour is no longer issued to EU residents"

Yes it is, if you really really want one :)"

The carte de séjour is not a requirement to get ones 'carte d'électeur'. The national passport and a 'justificatif de domicile' are sufficient to be allowed to vote at municipal and EU levels.

[Francois D]

Carla last interview (among a great lot of men)

http://www.purepeople.com/4691-VIDEO-Carla-Bruni-reagit-quant-a-son-premier-voyage-officiel-au-Tchad-.html

[Rick]

There's no doubting that France is the Land of a Thousand Prohibitions... and yet getting a few pals out into the street to chant slogans and wave banners is enough to cause an (elected) government to retreat. I wonder why.

[gisèle]

The carte de séjour is no longer issued to EU residents

oui vous avez raison, j'aurais dû dire "pièce d'identité" ce qui revient à la même chose

[Ros]

PAUL
"There's the law that forbids the sale of tobacco anywhere but at a tabac, or Metro/Bus tickets at a similar place other than the stations themselves." There are many "Maisons de la Presse" in Paris who sell metro/bus tickets (they have a big ticket hung outside as a sign)- this is really useful for people who only take buses and don't want to go down many steps to a metro station just to buy a ticket.

[Ros]

FRANCOIS D
"But for many French, the more stupid laws come from Europe" - you are absolutely right & I can think of other examples than that of camembert! I may be British but all the same I still think that the uk is the "nanny" state and not France(where most of Charles' "rules" are ignored anyway.

[I agree, Ros, that Britain is the real nanny state. It hits you from the second that you enter the Underground when you get off the Eurostar in London -- non-stop loud loudspeaker announcements telling you what to do. CB]

[christopher muir]

Andre Breton observed, "No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering the appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist." Just experiencing Paris traffic violations confirms the correctness of his thoughts.

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

A bartender in Ibiza in the old days when they stayed open until 3 a.m. refused to serve the motor-cycle policeman at 5 minutes to 3 so the cop (who was tiny and looked like Action Man in his little leather boots) waited outside and arrested George for being drunk. At the town police station he was made to touch his nose, stand on one leg, walk the line, etc etc. which he did; then the cop accused him of insuting Franco (an old trick, guaranteed to work in Fascist Spain) but George said: "Not true. I asked him if his boss is Heinrich Himmler. And he was drunk and that is why I refused to serve him. Furthermore he has no driving licence for a motor cycle."
How cops love to drop each other in the mire. They made Speedy Gonzalez (also known as Sterling Mouse to the Brits) walk the line etc and later George was told that he had been stripped for driving drunk and without a licence and sent to the mainland. No one knew his new job but it was suspected that he was modelling for either Garden Gnomes or Toby Jugs.

[Pierre Bernardi]

To many outsiders parisian driving habits seem crazy. It takes a French person to realise that the code on the place de l'Etoile, where cars, buses, mopeds and lorries arrive from twelve different direction, is rigidly respected: without the need for a single road marking, everyone knows that the vehicle coming from the right has right of way. That such a system can exist and function fluently in rush-hour traffic, says some something for the often-queried French sense of discipline.

Warning: do not try this at home.

[Pierre]

In general you can not open a bank account if you do not have evidence of an electricity/gas bill. However in order to have an electricity/gas bill, you need to have a bank account! How can you win?!

[Terry]

I was struck by these:

"Open a hairdresser's shop without two diplomas that take five years to earn.

-- Hold a store sale outside two annual periods set by the state prefect for each département"

Really? Two diplomas to be a hairdresser. Do you think perhaps there are some hairdressers that got government to pass that law to stomp out the competition.

[Ros]

Pierre
"However in order to have an electricity/gas bill, you need to have a bank account!" - not absolutely necessary, although preferable, you can always pay in cash at the Post Office, if you provide the part of the TIP which is on the extreme left- you will pay a few extra centimes ----

[Ros]

And maybe the most complicated of all = "nul est sensé ignorer la loi" - am not sure how this should be translated into english?

"nul est sensé ignorer la loi" - am not sure how this should be translated into english?
ros

ignorance of the law is no defence, perhaps?

[azloon]

Forbidding the cutting of children out of one's will would eliminate one the favorite american tactics to manipulate the behavior of their offspring, not to mention a financial blow to estate lawyers who often revise wills multiple times as benefactors change their minds).

the u.s. has it's share of weird laws but they are virtually and practically unenforceable. here in the u.s. mountain west, the reigning (libertarian) ethic is, 'no more laws than are absolutely necessary to keep people from killing each other." otherwise, it's ok to do your own thing. it's an invitation for some fairly anti-social behavior but most people out here like it that way.

[Dominique]

-- Open a hairdresser's shop without two diplomas that take five years to earn.

How come are there more than 10 legal hairdressers in my neighborhood? All legal, pignon sur rue, cheap, opend by immigrants from Asia or Africa, who hardly speak french for some, and certainly did not make it through the diplomas.

Are you sure this list is serious? Or are all hairdressers of Paris 18th arrondissement illegal?

[Daniel Strohl]

Some off-topic stuff:

Today, on TF1 with Pernaud, there was a short subject about the virtual banning of "foie gras" in the UK. They interviewed a few Gascons; one said that he didn't care too much, since the British market represents only 1,5% of the sales. The same (or another one) had an explanation regarding the British attitude to foie gras : "The Brits are somewhat strange. This is BTW the reason why they live in an island up there...".

I hope that the Brits will not cut us the whisky supply in retaliation to this intolerable irony!

[Alison Culliford]

Here's a strange one: it is interdit to serve take-away food or drinks between 2am and 4am.

And apparently women are only allowed to urinate in the street when pregnant!

[remy]

some are really stupid...

but for the private life protection i think that s normal

and for the obligation of french artists on tv, radio and movies, despite i often don t like them, i know that if we don t do that we will just have english or american music and american tv show and movies
and not just because of their quality but also because of their massive advertising

so more liberlaism in french society and economy good thing...
but don t touch private life and culture

[General Pepper]

Gisèle, c est simplement pour distunguer ceux qui peuvent voter dans toutes les élections, les français, et les autres résidents européens qui ne peuvent voter aux municipales et européennes... on a jugé peut être que le personnel des mairies n était compétante pour gérer des bases de données avec plusieurs critères !

[qwerty]

Charles: "Divulge information on anyone's private life", well there's a European directive on that as well, isn't there? (Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data).

In the same lines as Pierre Bernardi & le petit crème: I bought a Perrier last week at the counter because the waitress was slow, but I had just enough time to take it to a table to drink it. However that was NOT ALLOWED: ce n'est pas le même tarif. I ended leaving the Perrier and getting out because calculating the supplement turned out to be a quasi-impossible task.

[qwerty]

Pierre and the Etoile: it's incredibly easy to get around the Etoile. Just make a bee-line for the middle - you're allowed to cut everyone's paths, and circle until you think you recognise the avenue you want to turn into. Then, alas, you no longer have either priority or protection and must watch your right. But it globally saves time and nerves. I've never seen an accident happen on the Place de l'Etoile.

[Mica]

"-- Collect or keep statistics that mention ethnic origin"

This is probably the most ignored law in France. I mentioned it to friends and colleagues and they just wouldn't believe me. Not in France, the (self-proclaimed) country of Human Rights, where everyone is born free and equal. This law is a very handy one though when you know the French government sweeps many outrageous inequalities under the carpet of the Republic. This is especially helpful when you don't want the world and the French to know a painful number of non-white French citizens in French Guiana, the Carribeans or Polynesia live in dreadful conditions in favelas à la française and subsist on meagre unemployment benefits. Not to mention the fact that of the many languages spoken in Metropolitan and overseas France, among which some with a prestigious background such as Occitan, French and only French is officially recognized after Article II of the 1958 Constitution was hastily and controversially amended in 1992 just months before the EU passed its Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. France must look weird to foreign eyes but unfortunately it knows exactly what it's doing...

[Ludovic Windsor]

Great post -France has a long way to go to reform. The only thing is that I guess most French people won't understand your points as they know of nothing else.

[John Styx]

“The 1995 ban on taking photographs without permission…” Can you elaborate, Charles?

[Babette]

If I've understood it correctly, in the case, for example, of a family feud, parents cannot prevent their children from seeing their grandparents!

[Pierre Bernardi]

The French state considers the private life of its citizens to be business of the state. For instance, when I declared my daughter at the mairie yesterday, they asked me my profession.

Is it any different in other countries?

[Pierre Bernardi]

Qwerty: On a chilly pre-rush-hour morning in the autumn of 1993, my Renault 5 drove into the side of a small car as I approached the avenue de la Grande Armée by way of the place de l'Etoile. The woman got out of her car, glanced at the dent on her door, waved "ce n'est rien", and drove off.

[Daniel Strohl]

Ludovic Windsor,

"as they know of nothing else".

Another reason for them not to understand Charles' points is that most of them speak a very poor English, if any!

But I am not sure that in the other way round, i.e. a French correspondant in London making some (gentle) fun in French about British eccentric laws would be understood any better by your compatriots, who - if I have got it right - are no geniuses either in foreign languages - LOL!

PS : there was an interesting reporting today on TF1 (édition de 13 heures) which showed that life in the UK is not as economically idyllic as many French believe. The UK has a long way to go to reform (in the reverse direction, of course) - LOL! That is may be the reason why we have got some numbers of British in France - they were perhaps thinking that the reforms in their country would be very slow - too slow - LOL!

[Romain]

John Styx
Privacy is protected in France, paparazzi expose themselves to hefty penalties if a photograph is published without the person's consent. One of the reasons why the Royals like to spend holidays on "côte d'azur".
Recently a French trash magazine published the photos of Carla and Cecila in bikini on its front page.
It really looked like comparing two meat products.The magazine was condemned to pay 30 000 euros as damages.
I would consider that one as a civilised law.

[gisèle]

"my Renault 5 drove into the side of a small car" (pierre bernardi)

they are wonderful, our cars!

[Lily]

All these laws are a true problem for foreigners because it seems that they are out there in great numbers and most will not be observed. So you think, let’s just do as the French do in France and ignore the ‘interdit de…’ whenever this looks reasonable – and then get caught by surprise when French authorities enforce their laws, as is done e.g. in the case of speed limits.

Our photograph (that of our car) was taken without permission (!) at a very short distance from when we were advised to slow down to 90 km/h (from 110 km/h) – at 93 km/h and we were fined.

What rules are there to be taken seriously and which are the rules no one really cares about (anymore)?

In any case it seems better to be over-observant of rules and learn a nation’s common sense rule enforcement laws with time.

To understand this is similar to understanding a nation’s humour.

[Lily]

"my Renault 5 drove into the side of a small car" (Pierre Bernardi)

Pierre,

You should have written 'my BIG Renault 5 drove into the side of a small car.'

After the incidence:

BIG Renault 5: "I may not drive into other people's car doors. I may not drive into other people's car doors. I may not drive..."

My now-husband-then-boyfriend-of-10-days crashed my pretty RED Renault 5 (jealousy...).

He wrote: "I crashed him to have her for myself. I crashed him to have her for myself. I crashed..."

(We were stranded and had to spend the night at a hotel.)

What did BIG Renault 5 have against 'small car'?

[rocket]

Lily

I wouldn't pay the fine and contest the reliabilility of the equipment. Ask for certified reliability tests

http://www.321auto.com/Juridique/Contestations/Contestations.asp

"Les radars doivent être homologués et subir un contrôle tous les ans."

http://tinyurl.com/yu6ygh

French cops are just trying to "faire du chiffre" now. They flash anything and then once you pay you are stuck. As "La République ne fait jamais d'erreur"

Check out magazine auto plus for more info but don't take a French lawyer to defend you. They often promise but fail to deliver and are very expensive.

[Lily]

"common sense rule enforcement laws" -
"common sense law enforcement rules" is probably the better term.

[Francois D]

If I've understood it correctly, in the case, for example, of a family feud, parents cannot prevent their children from seeing their grandparents!
Posted by: Babette

Reponse:

It ‘s a little that… Parents may not prevent their children from. seeing theirs grandparents and "a third person, relative or not"

That last point was added in 2002

Art. 371-4 (of civil code)
(modified by Act no 2002-305 of 4 March 2002)
"A child has the right to have personal relations with his grandparents. Only serious reasons may constitute a bar to that right.
Where the welfare of the child so requires, the family causes judge shall fix the details of the relations between a child and a third person, relative or not. "

You may find that here:

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/./affichCode.do;jsessionid=BCB54EF0415919D88274C940773315B2.tpdjo09v_2?idArticle=LEGIARTI000006426462&idSectionTA=LEGISCTA000006136194&cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006070721&dateTexte=20080119

from the official site where there are all laws:

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/home.jsp

However, it is advisable (not enshrined in law, and this is a general rule ) to have exhausted all amicable solutions before having recourse to the courts. Very conflicting situations entrain development of 'family houses "where parents - grandparents can see the children, on neutral ground in the presence of professionals of early childhood. There are in the big cities but not every where. This idea, it seems to me, comes from the Nordic countries or Holland (?).

And what is the definition of the third person?. Take an example that you will understand about the presidential couple . Carla has a son (I do not know his first name ..). I say that with all respect for this little boy brievly seen at Petra. This child will have emotional ties with Nicolas which is nothing for him except the new law husband of his mother. I do not want, the couple separates but if this happens one day, this little boy could be sad and distressed not to see the man with whom he spent good moments; His mother, after Judge-release, if an "gentleman agreement" on this matter is not possible, could not oppose the right of visit between these two persons...

[marianne]

Anyway, we do love France, dont'we ?
And French are not that bad, aren't they ?

[Lily]

Rocket,

thank you. We paid already (months ago). We exceeded the speed limit by 3 km/h - and there is "zéro tolérance". Sarko repeatedly said so.

I will safe your link - for next time.

[86nr11]

I'm sure there are many strange laws in every country...French administration bothers me much more than odd one or three French laws though!

...to change the subject though. Has there been a photo change of Charles?? They look completely different. Is the same person writing these blogs????

Keep up the good work. They all make for a good read.

[azloon]

[Has there been a photo change of Charles?? They look completely different. Is the same person writing these blogs????] 86NR11

Yes, much to CB's relief, in the course of his research for this story, he discovered an obscure French law which makes photographic representation of oneself, as a journalist, using a photo more than five years old, to be punishable by assignment as NS's media advisor for a term not to exceed five years.

talk about dodging a bullet !!!

[thanks, Azloon... yes it's a newer photo. I'll get them to change the old one.. Actually there are strict rules about ID photos in France -- but then there are now on US passport pictures too, for all the reasons we know. CB]

[Maggie G]

"Actually there are strict rules about ID photos in France" (CB)

What about the driver's license? They get their driver's license at age 18, and fifty years later they are still using the same piece of paper with the same photograph, showing an 18-year-old who is now totally unrecognizable.

[Raymond]

Don't all countries have laws that have been on the statute books for many, many years, without being put to use? Has anyone bothered to look at the English statute books? And what about oh so liberal Denmark? Only a Protestant can be king (no mention of queen in the constitution). And how about, if a Dane marries an under 25 years old foreigner the couple must not live in Denmark!

[rocket]

Maggie

"Actually there are strict rules about ID photos in France" (CB)

What about the driver's license? They get their driver's license at age 18, and fifty years later they are still using the same piece of paper with the same photograph, showing an 18-year-old who is now totally unrecognizable."

Thank God. it would be a bureaucratic nightmare for the French administration to renew licenses for example every 4 years.

Or as Sir Elton John once said

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/22396.html

[Lily]

Rocket, Rocket, tss-tss-tsss - your link... - Regarding driver's licences: Are they getting renewed anywhere in Europe? In Germany they aren't.

[Daniel Strohl]

Rocket,

re : your link above

"The French are just useless. They can't organize a piss-up in a brewery" (Elton Johns)

If my memory still works properly, you said once that you have lived for a given period of time in the UK, but that you had had difficulties to adapt to the British life style.

Therefore, you decided to settle in France. Since almost certainly "piss-up in a brewery" does work properly in the UK, was this ponderous argument not sufficient to retain you amidst these ale drinking folks - LOL?

[peter kinsley www.peterkinsley.com]

French cars and drivers: as a newspaperman covering A-M my colleague's car was hit by a Frenchman in Nice. An eye witness said the French driver was at fault and gave his name and address. In court he said it was the Englishman's fault. My colleague's lady lawyer asked him, later: "How much did you give the witness?" "I didn't give him anything." "Oh, you must always pay the witness in France or the other side will."
Some months later he was fined when a French driver claimed a stone from his back wheel had shattered his windscreen high in the hills; again he had to pay. Our young Photographer (see www.philiptownsend.com)knocked a Frenchman off his bicycle in Nice. He surrendered his passport and we asked the British consul to keep an eye on the case. Next day at HQ Philip was told: "We have been polishing our boots here this morning, Monsieur Townsend. We have no wish to worry the British Royal Family. You are free to go."
I looked in his passport: it gave his next of kin as Mrs. Sylvia Townsend, Address: Buckingham Palace Mansions, Victoria, London.
(This is an aged and rather tatty block of flats opposite Victoria Station).
"They must have thought you are related to Peter Townsend." I said.
"No. They thought I WAS Peter Townsend." said Philip.

[rocket]

Daniel

"If my memory still works properly, you said once that you have lived for a given period of time in the UK, but that you had had difficulties to adapt to the British life style."

ROTFL

You are either a rumor monger Monsieur or the Alzheimer's is kicking in rather fast. I never said that and "Je vous défie au nom de la république d'apporter la moindre preuve de tel propos de ma part! (Bises)

I'm not angry with you as we are all heading towards dementia!

I think you confused UK with US (giggle)

[Daniel Strohl]

Rocket,

Sorry for the confusion US - UK, Rocket. It was not done on purpose. I will have to buy new glasses!

"we are all heading towards dementia!

Après vous, Monsieur, après vous! - LOL

[Larry]

I recognise most of those laws from when I lived there. The French have a very bemusing way of governing themselves. On the whole the application seemed to be dictated by the area, the time, the degree of conscienciousness. When they get bored most of those laws go out the window (exception is the ones governing lunch). I found it all rather charming. I can certainly think of worse places that I have lived, but I struggle to think of many that were better.

[V]

"On the whole the application seemed to be dictated by the area, the time, the degree of conscienciousness. When they get bored most of those laws go out the window (exception is the ones governing lunch). I found it all rather charming."

LOL This is one of the most true things I've read in months ! :))

"The carte de séjour is not a requirement"

Maybe, but it's still issued.

[Kirchner]

Are you sure this list is serious? Or are all hairdressers of Paris 18th arrondissement illegal?

Posted by: Dominique | 29 Feb 2008

Serious yeah right. Just Ch.Bremner bashing France one more time.

[nutsinmay]

"The carte de séjour is not a requirement"

Maybe, but it's still issued.
(Posted by: | 5 Mar 2008 00:06:02)

Yes, and there are still lots of fonctionnaires who request it for this or that document which won't be issued until they've seen it, frowned at it, photocopied it, stamped it, scrutinised you and handed it back.

Try saying "actually, a Carte de Séjour isn't obligatory these days" and see where it gets you.

[gisèle]

Is there a law against happiness, smiling or conviviality in France ? If there is, most of the population seem to be abiding by it.
GAG

Posted by: GAG | 28 Feb 2008 17:19:30

Excuse me, is this French-bashing, or what?
Where is Miquelon.org? - This is a scandal calling for immediate intervention.

[Johnny Foreigner]

I believe there is a law forbidding women from wearing trousers in France, unless in possession of a bicycle or horse. The law dates from the Napoleonic era and has never been repealed.

An acquaintance was arrested outside the Sacré Coeur for doing that statue business and was subsequently charged with "travestissement". I wouldn't know how to translate this as I cannot recall what he was wearing and what constituted illegal dressing up. Have the laws governing masked balls in the mid 19th century never been repealed too? Or is it simply illegal for men to dress as women in public?

Let us not forget that in Britain a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself into a policeman's helmet.

[azloon]

[Let us not forget that in Britain a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself into a policeman's helmet.] Johnny Foreigner

ROTFL

really?

[Ros]

A bit late, I know, but have just found two more "laws" in Le Monde & am lazily leaving them in french!
"Les vétérinaires, pour des raisons curieuses, ne peuvent avoir plus de deux assistants."
Les coiffeurs doivent avoir un brevet professionnel lorsqu'ils exercent en ville, mais un CAP seulement lorsqu'ils exercent à domicile.

[Pierre]

Successfully ordered a small café crème so Robert Marchenoir was right. I worked for a while in Hereford, whose good citizens consider a Welshman caught by an arrow in the vicinity of the cathedral on a Sunday as fair game.