9 Things That Are Perfectly Normal in America but Illegal in France

You packed your bags, booked your flight, and maybe even practiced saying “bonjour” in the mirror. But there are a handful of everyday American habits that could get you fined, whistled at, or flat-out turned away in France.

Some of these rules make total sense once you hear the reasoning. Others will have you shaking your head. All of them are real.

Wearing Board Shorts to the Pool

Show up to a French public pool in your favorite board shorts and here’s what happens – a lifeguard blows a whistle and sends you straight back to the changing room.

French pools require men to wear tight-fitting swim briefs or jammers. Board shorts, Bermuda shorts, and anything loose are banned.

The reasoning? Loose shorts can double as streetwear, meaning people could walk in off the street without changing. Tighter swimwear is harder to wear outside the pool, so the theory goes that it carries less dirt and bacteria into the water.

And if you show up unprepared? Some pools actually have vending machines near the entrance selling approved swimwear. So yes, you might end up buying a pair of French swim briefs from a machine next to the snack dispenser.

Turning Right on Red

In America, right on red is practically a reflex. You slow down, check for cars, and go.

In France, this will get you a fine. Turning right on a red light is illegal unless a specific flashing arrow signal tells you otherwise. And those signals are rare.

This catches American drivers more than almost any other road rule in Europe. The light is red, the road is empty, and every instinct says go. Don’t.

Putting Ketchup on Whatever You Want at School

French school cafeterias don’t let kids drown their food in ketchup. A 2011 law limits when ketchup, mayo, and vinaigrette can be served – only alongside dishes they’re traditionally meant to accompany.

In practice, ketchup only shows up with fries or plain pasta. And fries themselves are limited to about 4 out of every 20 school meals.

The goal is partly about healthy eating, partly about protecting French culinary traditions. Bread, on the other hand, must always be freely available. Because France.

Flying Between Nearby Cities

Since May 2023, France has banned domestic flights on routes where the train takes less than two and a half hours. It was the first country in the world to do this.

Right now, the ban covers flights from Paris Orly to Bordeaux, Lyon, and Nantes. More routes could be added as rail connections improve.

The law came out of France’s 2021 Climate Law and was approved by the European Commission. Connecting flights are still allowed – so if you’re flying from New York to Lyon with a layover in Paris, you’re fine. But booking a standalone Paris-to-Lyon flight? That plane isn’t going anywhere.

Using a Radar Detector While Driving

Most Americans think nothing of having a radar detector on their dashboard or using an app that warns about speed traps. In France, radar detection devices are illegal. Period.

This includes certain GPS features and apps that alert you to fixed speed camera locations. French authorities are strict about speed enforcement, and visitors from the U.S. are often caught off guard – both by the rule and by the tickets that follow.

Speeding tolerances in France are also much tighter than what Americans are used to. A few kilometers per hour over the limit can trigger a camera.

Ordering a DNA Test Online

In the U.S., spitting into a tube and mailing it off to 23andMe or AncestryDNA is a casual weekend activity. In France, consumer genetic testing is restricted.

You can’t just order a kit online. Genetic tests need to be prescribed by a doctor and performed for medical or research purposes. The reasoning centers on privacy, bioethics, and concerns about how genetic data gets used commercially.

French authorities have even fined people who ordered tests from abroad. So if you’re an expat living in France and thinking about surprising your parents with an ancestry report – maybe wait until your next trip home.

Having Your Boss Email You at 10 PM

In 2017, France passed the “right to disconnect” law. Companies with 50 or more employees must negotiate clear rules about after-hours digital communication – emails, texts, calls, all of it.

The law doesn’t technically make it illegal for a boss to hit send at midnight. But companies are required to set boundaries, and employees have formal grounds to push back.

One French company was fined over €60,000 after it set up an after-hours phone line that automatically redirected to an employee’s personal cell phone. That’s the kind of thing that barely raises an eyebrow in American work culture.

Trimming Your Hedges in Summer

Between mid-March and the end of August, trimming hedges is banned in France. The reason is bird nesting season – cutting during these months can destroy active nests and harm protected species.

Get caught with the hedge trimmer during this window and you’re looking at fines up to €750. If you disturb an endangered species, the penalty goes much higher.

There are also noise restrictions on top of the seasonal ban. Using loud garden equipment during lunch hours (noon to 2 PM) is illegal in many French towns, including on weekends and holidays.

Getting Free Shipping on Books

Amazon’s free delivery model doesn’t fly in France – at least not for books. French law requires a minimum shipping charge of around €3 on online book purchases.

The rule exists to protect independent bookstores, which are a huge part of French cultural life. And it seems to be working. In some French towns, you’ll find dozens of independent bookshops thriving within walking distance of each other.

France takes its bookstores seriously. The country also has a fixed book pricing law, meaning retailers can’t discount new books by more than 5%. Between the shipping rule and the price floor, the small corner bookshop has a fighting chance against the algorithm.