Weird foreign laws that could get tourists in trouble – from stepping on cash to Winnie the Pooh pics

ONE of the joys of travelling overseas is exploring different cultures.

But those charming cultural differences could also get you in trouble too - what’s perfectly legal at home could be a massive no-no somewhere else.

Here are some of the more unusual rules that you might not even realise you’re breaking overseas.

Thailand: stepping on money 

Yep, treading on 20 baht banknote is definitely something to avoid in Thailand.

This is part of wider, and incredibly serious, laws in Thailand that criminalise any display of disrespect to the highly revered Thai royal family.

As the ruling monarch appears on Thai banknotes, it follows that stepping on that banknote would be considered hugely offensive — and criminal.

Thailand’s lese majeste laws, as they’re known, have tripped up many foreign travellers over the years.

Germany: running out of petrol on the autobahn

One of the most glorious things about the Autobahn in Germany is that there’s no speed limit on many parts of it. So you can drive as fast as you want.

But this isn’t quite a lawless highway.

If you run out of fuel, you’ll actually be fined by police for stopping without good reason. The idea is that if you failed to sufficiently fill up your tank, your breakdown was your own fault — and that’s why you’re in trouble.

Harsh but fair.

Poland: using the phrase "polish death camp"

We don’t recommend anyone goes to Europe and makes wild accusations about World War II, but just to be absolutely clear about this, the Polish government is about to make it illegal for anyone to accuse Poland of complicity in the atrocities of the Holocaust.

The proposed law would also make it a crime to use the phrase “Polish death camp”.

The bill, which Polish president Andrzej Duda said this week he would sign into a law, has received mixed reactions from the international community.

Probably best to avoid that whole subject altogether.

Also in Poland: Winnie the Pooh

Here’s something a little lighter. The small Polish town of Tuszyn has actually banned Winnie the Pooh from a playground.

The local council outlawed the beloved character because of his “dubious sexuality” and “inappropriate” dress.

One councillor went so far as to call Pooh a “hermaphrodite”.

“The problem with that bear is it doesn’t have a complete wardrobe,” Ryszard Cichy said.

“It is half naked which is wholly inappropriate for children ... [He’s] only dressed from the waist up.”

Portugal: Having a wee in the sea

This is good news or bad news, depending on your point of view.

In Portugal, it’s illegal to urinate in the sea. So if you happen to swim into an unusually warm patch of water at a Portuguese beach, someone’s broken the law.

And if it’s you who has the urge to relieve yourself during a swim, you have no choice but to get out of the water and head for the public bathroom.

We don’t know how this is enforced, but we’re sure glad there’s a law against it.

Sri Lanka: Tattoos of Buddha 

Sri Lankan authorities take strict action against perceived insults to Buddhism, which is the religion of most of the island’s population.

There are a lot of laws protecting Buddhism and the image of Buddha. And that extends to tattoos.

Don’t think they’re serious? In 2014, British nurse Naomi Coleman was held for four days during a holiday in Sri Lanka and then deported after the large tattoo of Buddha on her arm caused offence.

However, in November, Ms Coleman was  when a British court decided there had been no legal basis for her arrest. Still, it’s best to keep that tatt hidden.

Singapore: Not flushing the toilet

Everyone knows Singapore has some very strict rules against some pretty innocuous behaviour, such as its ban on chewing gum.

But a lesser-known law prohibits people from not flushing a public toilet after using it.