OUIBUS, a French bus travel service, is using one of the unusual laws which remains 'on the books' in the US state of North Carolina without being observed to promote its journeys across France.
In a 30-second online advertisement dubbed “The Forbidden Ridiculous: Sneezing” which was released on Tuesday, an older woman is sneezing on a street. A man says (in French):
“Ridiculous as it sounds, in Asheville, North Carolina, sneezing in public is actually against the law.”
The illicit sneezer is surrounded by police squad cars and law enforcers with assault rifles. The scene then cuts to a bus in France and the narrator continues: “Stranger still, in France it's against the law to take a bus from Lyon to Marseille. Well, not anymore, with OUIBUS.”
This July, the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau started a $590K promotional campaign to attract more tourists to Western North Carolina.
Along with other strange old laws, there is legislation which forbids one to sneeze in public places in the local town of Asheville. The law is still technically in effect today, although there have not been any cases of it being enforced recently.
Some other ridiculous laws still on the books in this American state include:
— A bingo games may not last over 5 hours unless it is held at a fair. Serving alcohol at a bingo game is not allowed.
— People found in possession of illegal substances must pay taxes on them. A three dollar tax must be paid on all white goods sold.
— Organizations may not hold their meetings while the members present are in costume.
— It is a felony to steal more than $1000 worth of grease.
— It’s against the law to sing off key.
— Elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields.
— While having sex, you must stay in the missionary position and have the shades pulled.
— If a man and a woman who aren’t married go to a hotel/motel and register themselves as married then, according to state law, they are legally married.
— All couples staying overnight in a hotel must have a room with double beds that are at least two feet apart.
— It is illegal to have sex in a churchyard.
— It is illegal to visit a graveyard after midnight.
— Oral sex is considered a crime against nature.
— A marriage can be declared void if either of the two persons is physically impotent.
