Weird SA laws revealed after man busted allegedly trying to steal two guitars from Elizabeth Park church and charged with sacrilege
You can be fined $250 for ringing a doorbell and running off in SA. Forget that homing pigeon. And never, ever tattoo a drunk person. Here are SA’s weirdest laws.
Police & Courts
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A man who was charged with sacrilege, after he was seen allegedly jumping the fence of a northern Adelaide church carrying his booty, is just one offender charged with an often overlooked offence in South Australian criminal law.
Police were called to Shillabeer Rd at Elizabeth Park around 1am after reports a man was seen leaping over the fence of Adelaide Chin Christian Church.
Patrols arrived at the scene and allegedly found property from the church lying on the ground. They searched the area and found a man allegedly carrying two guitars that belonged to the nearby church.
The 19-year-old Elizabeth East man was arrested and charged with sacrilege - an offence automatically triggered by any alleged criminal incident occuring inside a church or holy ground.
He faced court on Thursday afternoon charged with one count of theft and one count of serious criminal trespass, and was bailed.
Sacrilege is listed as criminal law, describing someone who breaks and enters a place of divine worship and commits an offence.
A total 119 sacrilege offences were recorded in the last five years by SA Police. The maximum penalty for committing sacrilege is life imprisonment.
Other strange acts also illegal in SA
1. Inferring with homing pigeons
A person who kills or injures a homing pigeon without lawful authority can be fined $250.
2. Ding dong ditching
A person who without a reasonable excuse, disturbs another person by ringing a doorbell of a house, or knocks on a door is guilty of an offence and can be fined $250.
3. Consuming dogs or cats
A person who knowingly kills or processes a dog or cat for the purpose of human consumption, or supplies another person with meat from a dog or cat case faces a maximum penalty of $1250.
4. Body modification procedures on intoxicated persons
A person must not perform body piercing or body modification procedures like tattooing on a person who is intoxicated. The maximum penalty is $5000 or 12 months’ imprisonment.
5. Begging alms
A person who begs in a public place, goes from house to house begging, encourages a child to beg, or exposes wounds or deformities with the object of obtaining goods is guilty of an offence, and can face a maximum fine of $250
6. Interfering with gates and fences
A person who, without the authority of the occupier of land where animals are kept, who opens and leaves a gate open, or removes/disables a gate on or leaving the land can face a maximum penalty of $1500.
7. Weeing and pooing in public
A person who urinates or defecates in a public place, aside from a public toilet, is guilty and can face a fine of $250.
Other strange road offences reported by The Advertiser can be read here.