Quiz: Canada's Wacky criminal code

Okay law-abiding citizens, here 's a little quiz for you:

Which of the following actions is a crime under Canadian law

A)Pulling a fire alarm as a prank

B) Scaring the Queen

C) Being nude in public

D) Making crime comics

Give up?Sorry, but it was a trick question. Actually, every one of those things could land you in hot water in the Great White North.

Canada's Criminal Code, the federal document that out lines everything that is criminally illegal in Canada, is not all about assault, fraud and murder.

As progressive a country as we are, we sure do have our fair share of wacky laws.

Some of them are ludicrous, some of them are more common than you think,but each and every one of them is just as illegal as robbing a bank or stabbing someone.

WATCH OUT

Before we get into these laughable laws, there are a few ground rules you nogood-nicks should know about.

First of all, don't think just because you committed your crime in outer space that you're safe from the long arm of Canadian justice. Section 7(2.3)of the Criminal Code clearly states that some crimes committed in space still count. So watch yourself next time you 're on the International Space Station.

Another thing every Canadian should know is that cows have more protection under the law than any other animal. In fact,there is an entire chapter of the Criminal Code titled "Cattle and Other Animals."

In this chapter, Sections 444 and 445 clearly show that someone who kills, hurts or even tries to poison a cow is looking at up to five years in prison. Do that to any other kind of animal and you're looking at no more than two years.

As for the laws themselves, some of them look like they were written before our grandparents were born. Among these are the fact that it is illegal to take part in a duel (Section 71 of the Criminal Code), carry a weapon on the way to a public meeting (Sec.89),or "alarm " the Queen (Sec.49).

Some of the other laws might startle frat boys and other rambunctious students, whose antics might not only get them in trouble with school officials, but with police as well.

These include the fact that it is illegal in Canada to pull a false fire alarm (Sec. 437 )and even to write someone else 's university exam (Sec.404).There are other common behaviours that many people might be surprised to learn are illegal.

One of them is advertising rewards and immunity for criminal acts (Sec.143), so every time a victim of theft puts up a poster advertising a reward and "no questions asked " for the return of a stolen item, they're actually breaking the law.

Another of these laws is that Section 179 of the Criminal Code states no one can "support himself in whole or in part by gaming."

Ask a Canadian poker professional like Daniel Negreanu how he feels about that -- then ask the RCMP.

Other ridiculous legal no-no 's in Canada include bans on making crime comics (Sec.163), being nude in public (Sec.174), pretending to have luggage to obtain a hotel room fraudulently (Sec.364), failing to safeguard a hole that you've made in the ice (Sec. 263)and keeping lumber that you simply find floating in the water (Sec.339).

But which law is the most ridiculous?

There's no contest here. According to Section 365 of the Criminal Code of Canada, it is illegal to "pretend " to practice witchcraft -- which makes one wonder whether it is perfectly legal to actually practice witchcraft.

Something to keep in mind with Halloween fast approaching.

COURT CASES

Number of cases dealt with from 2001-2004

34 Advertising a reward, no questions asked,for stolen item

18 Impersonating someone at an exam

4. Failing to safeguard opening in the ice

14 Prize fighting

37 Making traps

1 Making crime comics

2 Duelling