In case of a contact with the police, you should not raise your voice, as well as not making brusque or aggresive gestures neither making fake statements.

In case of a problem, you should contact the nearest General Consulate for more information.

Americans are very tolerant when it comes to fashion matter. Yet, monokini is formally prohibited, even for little girls. Kids including babies must wear a swimwear. Changing an infant's diaper in public can be found shocking.

We suggest you to behave properly towards opposite sex. 

Propositions, bad attitudes or jokes, trivial in the latin countries, can bring you to the court. Complains for sexual harassment can also be applied against the minors. Children must, just like adults, use toilets corresponding to their sex.

In many States, the property of firearms is authorized and very common. Visitors must thus, in all circumstances, keep calm and coldheaded.

Buying tobacco or cigarettes is strictly forbidden for people under 21, and the buyer might be asked to prove his legality. Smoking is forbidden in many public places, public transports, offices and restaurants.

 

 

Alcohol
Alcohol consumptions including beers is forbidden in public (streets, vehicles, café terraces).
All bottles must be carried inside a non-transparent bag. In certain places, having an opened bottle of wine or alcohol inside your vehicle is prohibited. Buying alcohol is forbidden for those under 21 and the buyer might be asked to prove his age by an ID card.

Driving under influence (often shortened as DUI) is severely forbidden in all American States (confiscation of your driving license, expensive fines, or even prison). Other than severe punishments applied in case of an accidental homicide can reach up to 25 years of prison, the provisory bails are often applied, and these bails can reach very high amounts. These punishments are made worse if you refuse to do an alcotest. The rate of alcohol allowed in your blood varies according to the States (0.08% in 15 States and 0.10% in 33 States).

Drugs
The American authorities are extremely attentive concerning drugs. Being in possession of drugs, even of a very small quantity, means immediate arrest and court (risk of imprisonment can reach up to several months), followed by deportation with interdiction to enter the American territory during several years as a consequence.

 

In any cases, this will lead to a cost for lawyers and bails reaching thousands of dollars.

All individuals using drugs intentionally is subject to an amend up to US$ 1,000 and up to 1 year in prison (20 years maximum according to the quantities and the kind of drug).

All individuals condemned for drug trafficking is subject to up to 20 years in prison and the bail could go up to US$ 20 million.


Having sexual relations with a minor also violates the law. The legislation reprimands severely all forms of using, encouraging, persuading or forcing minors in the production or distribution of sexually explicit images through both traditional and electronic means. Even though prostitution is not strictly forbidden, paid sexual offers could lead the perpetrator or the concerned prostitute to the justice.

 

(Source : Ministry of Foreign Affairs)