For example, is there a ‘laws dot gov’ kinda URL I can go to and type “importing raccoons to Northern Ireland to create a self-sustaining population” into the search bar?

Or maybe something like a multi-volume book series I can check at the library to see if “raccoon husbandry; N. Ireland” is mentioned?

Maybe an AI chatbot on the local council’s website that I can ask “is it legal to raise baby raccoons by feeding them from miniature wheelie bins to teach them where food comes from and how to open the lids”?

I’m not about to do anything [potentially] illegal, I’m just curious.

Cheers! 🦝

  • Tuukka R@piefed.eeEnglish
    7·
    2 days ago

    I would be surprised if there was a country that don’t have their all laws set in the paper form.

    But, regarding Finland: You’re thinking of http://finlex.fi/ .

    There’s for example this gem, telling about how you should take care of the hops trellis the law requires you to maintain! :)
    (Please don’t tell anyone, but I do not actually have a hops trellis! I’m breaking the law.)
    It’s also helpful if you want to know how to let your pigs to run in an acorn forest. Or if your bees escape and land inside someone else’s tree.

    Also, the beginning words of our Criminal Code are a bit, well, outdated? Here goes: https://www.finlex.fi/en/legislation/1889/39-001?language=swe&highlightId=798156&highlightParams={"type"%3A"BASIC"%2C"search"%3A"rikoslaki"}

    (I’m linking the Swedish-language versions because I believe a machine translator does a better job translating to European languages from Swedish than from Finnish)

    • Successful_Try543@feddit.org
      6·
      2 days ago

      I would be surprised if there was a country that don’t have their all laws set in the paper form.

      The anglosaxon school of law is more case-based than build on written law like e.g. in continental Europe.

    • Hjalmar@feddit.nu
      2·
      2 days ago

      This is amazing. Somewhere in the back of my head I knew that you still had the old Criminal Code left, but never had I read it. Here in Sweden we have since swapped that one for a hopefully less outdated law. Here is a English translation for those interested:

      We Alexander the Third, by the Grace of God, Emperor and Autocrat of all Russia, Tsar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, etc., etc., etc., do hereby solemnly declare: At the submissive request of the Estates of Finland, We hereby ratify the following penal code for the Grand Duchy of Finland, concerning the introduction of which, as also concerning the execution of punishment, a special decree is issued:

      (That’s a machine translation, I couldn’t be bothered to do it myself. But I must say I’m impressed of how well it handled the very old school Swedish)

      Also, regarding the other law, byggningabalken or Rakennuskaari, we apparently removed the really funny section about the mandatory ownership of a hops trellis in 1860 here in Swede. To bad really. But the rest of that law still applies here. Also, on behalf of the Finnish state I would like to charge you a fine of one riksdal for not maintaining your hops trellis the last year.

      And finally, in regards to OPs question, in Sweden we have the official government site https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/ and then https://lagen.nu/ which is a bit more user friendly

      • Hjalmar@feddit.nu
        2·
        2 days ago

        I fumbles into a rabbit hole. Both of those laws are from 1736, which I have heard before. But apparently, the trade code from that year is also still in effect. It isn’t nearly as funny (although I didn’t check the Finnish version that thoroughly, so there might be some gems there that I missed) but there are some highlights:

        Chapter 14 is titled “About Mercenary” (at least that’s how I interpret “Om legohjon”) but the chapter is left completely empty. They chapter is completely removed in the Finnish version.

        Also, there is chapter 3 about what one shall do to receive the right to trade and become a part of the burgher class. Removed in Finland

        Finally, you may not use boats, shipyards or aircraft in a pledge (is that correct English?). This is revised in the Finnish version, and the same prohibition doesn’t exist there. This is chapter 10 § 7 for those interested

    • nocturne@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      In high school I worked at the police station for one summer. There was a huge book that had a ton of laws in it. I remember me and the other kid who worked there would read through it.