WE ALL know about the big laws – don’t drink and drive, don’t rob a bank, don’t hit someone.

But did you know you could be breaking the law by SINGING, climbing a tree or flying a drone?

While the big laws are all handed down by national governments, the smaller ones are called bylaws and are often introduced by local authorities.

These are some of the Merseyside bylaws you may have had no idea about – and they could land you with a hefty fine or have you removed from the area.

You can’t carry poo through the Mersey Tunnels

Bylaws for the tunnels, which were made legislation in 2003, include a host of rules.

One of these states motorists cannot drive any vehicle containing “faecal or offensive or noxious matter” or a substance likely to be a nuisance or cause damage to the tunnels.

Taxi drivers can’t have the radio on

Or play any music in general – without asking their fare’s permission, that is.

Vehicles must also be clean and tidy and in a roadworthy condition, and if the driver finds any property a fare has left in the car, it should be returned to its owner within 24 hours.

There are LOADS of places you can’t take your dog

Including a number of parks, playgrounds, beaches, schools and cemeteries.

Dogs are completely banned from a long list of spaces in North Liverpool. https://liverpool.gov.uk/pests-pollution-and-food-hygiene/dog-control-orders/

In Sefton, traffic light-style signs have been installed in parks and green spaces to let people know which areas are designated as either off-lead, on-lead or no-dog zones.

You can’t make (much) noise

Under the Open Spaces Act 1906, there’s a whole list of things you can’t do in the region’s parks and open spaces – including Sefton Park, Everton Park, Chavasse Park, Saint John’s Gardens, Princes Park and Walton Hall Park.

One of these states:

No person shall, after being requested to desist by any constable, or by any person annoyed or disturbed, or by any person acting on his behalf;

  • By shouting or singing;
  • By playing on a musical instrument; or
  • By operating or permitting to be operated any radio, gramophone, amplifier, tape recorder or similar instrument.
  • Cause or permit to be made any noise which is so loud or so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to the other persons in the ground.

You can’t get on a Merseyrail train in dirty clothes

One of the rail provider’s many bylaws says no person shall enter or remain on a train if ‘his clothing may soil or damage any part of the railway or the property or clothing of any person on the railway’

Drones are banned over more places than you might think

There are tons of places you can’t fly your drone in Merseyside; including the region’s beaches, football stadiums and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

You also can’t fly your drone within 50 metres of a person, or 150 metres of a crowd that you do not have control over – basically anyone who is not with you or knows what you are doing.

NoFlyDrones.co.uk is an easy to use map, showing all of the no fly zones in your area.

You can’t get drunk in a pub

Okay, this is a national law, but one worth knowing about.

Under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872, “every person found drunk… on any licensed premises, shall be liable to a penalty."

It is also an offence under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 for the keeper of a public house to permit drunkenness or disorderly conduct on the premises.