Regulation of the Day 155: Miniskirts

Italy, despite housing the Vatican within its borders, is not exactly known for uptight morality. But the small town of Castellammare di Stabia is. Located at a scenic point just south of Naples, the town lies within the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius, which famously erupted in 79 A.D.

Maybe that visible threat of apocalypse drove conservative Mayor Luigi Bobbio mad. He wants to ban miniskirts within town limits. Police officers would be tasked with paying close attention to women’s hemlines; no doubt many already do. Women who catch an officer’s eye could be fined as much as $700.

Other new regulations that Mayor Bobbio has proposed for Castellammare di Stabia would ban playing soccer in public, sunbathing, and blasphemy. Hopefully the punishment for that last one is less severe than in past centuries.