NEW COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT DIE - Weekend Change of Pace

The mayor of a village on the French Riviera whose cemetery has run out of space has issued a decree telling people not to die.

"It is forbidden for any person not in possession of a family vault to die on the village's territory," the order stated.

The mayor of Le Lavandou, 40km (25 miles) east of Toulon, said he took the decision because a court in Nice has blocked plans to build a new cemetery.

The local Green Party had complained that the site for the proposed cemetery broke a law on sea shore constructions.

The party has proposed the new cemetery be located in a rock quarry in a less populated area.

Temporary graves

Mayor Gil Bernardi said he issued the death ban to highlight the lack of burial space in the village. "It is an absurd law enacted because of an absurd situation," said Mr Bernardi.

Under French law people have a right to be buried where they wish, but Mr Bernardi said the village simply could not fulfil that.

"Article 2013 of the local authorities code obliges the mayor to provide for the rapid burial of bodies. I have a duty, and I cannot respect it. It is absolutely impossible," he said.

Ninteen bodies waiting"The Greens want us to put the new cemetery in a remote quarry," said the mayor. "We can't get rid of our dead in a dump."

At the moment 19 bodies are still waiting for a permanent burial space. They are temporarily buried in friends' vaults, waiting for a permanent plot.

The space crisis has been brewing for three years, the mayor said. The appeal procedure to overturn the Nice court ruling could last up to three years.

About 80 people die each year in Le Lavandou, and only about half of them own a family vault. Nearly a third of the village's 5,508 residents are aged over 65.

"I issued the decree yesterday hoping for official attention," Mr Bernardi said on Thursday. "No one has died since then and I hope it stays that way."

SOME SILLY AMERICAN LAWS STILL ON THE BOOKS

Alabama:Dominoes may not be played on Sunday.

It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church.

Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death.

Alaska:

It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane.

Arizona:

Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.

When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person posseses.

You may not have more than two dildos in a house.

Arkansas:

A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.

California:

It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.

No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

Colorado:

One may not mutilate a rock in a state park.

Connecticut:

You can be stopped by the police for biking over 65 miles per hour.

It is illegal for a man to kiss his wife on Sunday.etc...

MORE AT www.dumblaws.com

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