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The recent arrests of a pre-teen in Bali, for possession of a small amount of marijuana, and an American blogger in Thailand for defaming the King, have brought extra attention to the fact that many foreigners are ignorant of the (sometimes bizarre) laws of the countries they are visiting.
Luckily for most travelers an arrest and jail time are unusual–the average American traveler’s chances of being arrested abroad are only .006 percent. But there are a few laws that are so unexpected that they can catch even culturally sensitive, well-informed tourists off guard.
In Japan, many medicines that are over-the-counter in the U.S. are illegal, and that includes some Vicks and Sudafed products and anything else containing pseudoephedrine. If you are packing any of these meds in your bags you many be detained at customs.
Pristine Singapore takes great pride in its public toilets. Visitors who fail to flush in may face a fine in this city-state.
In the cities of the Philippines scooter drivers must wear appropriate foot wear. Drivers can get ticketed for driving in sandals or bare feet.
In Finland, taxi drivers playing music in their cars are required to pay a copyright fee. So chances are your cab ride in Helsinki will be silent.
Get more at MSNBC.