You may think you know what can get you in trouble with the law in Saint Lucia, but the Criminal Code includes several lesser-known offences that may surprise you.
From ringing someone’s doorbell to annoy them, to singing obscene songs in public, hunting crabs with a torch on someone’s estate, or even staging a fake funeral, the laws cover a range of unexpected offences.
Below are 11 of the most unusual ones still on the statute books.
- Singing obscene or profane songs in public
A person can be fined $1 000 for singing any profane, indecent, or obscene song or ballad in a public place, or even within public hearing.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-507
2. Mock burial
It is an offence to bury, attempt to bury, or take part in burying a coffin or receptacle that appears to contain a dead body but actually does not. The penalty is a $1 000 fine. The law makes an exception for mock burials used as part of a drama, public performance, or spectacle.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-499
3. Door knocking or bell ringing
Saint Lucia’s Criminal Code makes it an offence to wilfully disturb someone by pulling/ringing a doorbell, knocking on a door, or knocking on “any other part” of a house or place. The penalty is a fine of $1 000.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-530
4. Insulting someone in public in a way likely to provoke assault
A person who insults someone in public, in their presence, in a way likely to provoke assault, can face up to three months in prison.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-532
5. Entering a plantation with a torch to hunt crabs
The law makes it an offence to enter a plantation or estate with a lighted torch, flambeau or other light to hunt crabs, birds, beasts, or for any other purpose, without the owner’s or occupier’s consent. Fine: $1 000.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-451
- A driver or conductor carrying a passenger or load without the owner’s consent
A driver or conductor of a vehicle can be fined $1 000 if, without the vehicle owner’s consent, they allow someone to ride on it or allow a load to be conveyed on it.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-470
- Being a “habitual loiterer”
If someone has been convicted three times for loitering under the Code, and within one year from the first conviction is found loitering again in a shop, public place or public premises, they can face two years in prison.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-520
8. Jeering, mocking or making personal remarks to annoy someone
A person who jeers at, mocks, or makes personal remarks to or about another person with intent to insult or annoy them can be fined $1 000.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-536
9. Publishing a fake birth, marriage, divorce or death notice to annoy someone
If someone knowingly publishes a false newspaper notice or advertisement of a birth, marriage, divorce or death with intent to insult or annoy another person, they can be fined $1 000.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-515
10. Low awnings or shades over the footway
A person can be fined $1 000 for placing a blind, shade, covering, awning or projection over a footway in a city or town if it is not at least 6 feet 6 inches high in every part.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-492
- Goods for sale sticking out over the footway
The Code also covers goods or merchandise placed, hung up, or exposed for sale in a city or town in a way that projects into or over a footway and obstructs or inconveniences people. Fine: $1 000.
https://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-493
And the “keepers of the law”: policemen, magistrates, etc., have no clue of these “laws” and other laws to be enforced.
That’s every seller on Clark Street VF hahaha 🤣
I’m sure every one of these laws are violated every day and have been violated every day since inception and no one had ever been convicted.
the court support these lawlessness
The first one should be enforced, no more loud, profane, obscene, disgusting, degrading filth referred to as Dennery Segment “Music”, anytime I hear such garbage again in public I’m calling the police!
So yeah, number 1, 4, 7 and 8 are daily life in St. Lucia. Island would be a better place if those had been enforced all along!