Random Bizarre State Laws (50 items)

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  (#1) Alabama

  • 1819-12-14

  It is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

  Section 13A-12-1

  Certain acts prohibited on Sunday.

  
  
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  (#2) Alaska

  • 1959-01-03

  No one may tie their pet dog to the roof of a car.

  9.36.150 Carrying animals on outside of vehicle. No person driving a motor vehicle shall transport any animal in the back of the vehicle in a space intended for any load on the vehicle on a street unless the space is enclosed or has side and tail walls to a height of at least 46 inches extending vertically from the floor, or the animal is cross tethered to the vehicle, or is protected by a secured container or cage, in a manner which will prevent the animal from being thrown, falling or jumping from the vehicle.
  
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  (#3) Arizona

  • 1912-02-14

  It is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have less than one missing tooth visible when smiling.

  This law was implemented during the Wild West days in order to encourage the people in the town to make dentistry more of a priority.
  
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  (#4) Arkansas

  • 1836-06-15

  Honking one’s car horn at a sandwich shop after 9pm is against the law.
  
  Sec. 18-54. Sounding of horns at sandwich shops. No person shall sound the horn on a vehicle at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9:00 p.m. (Code 1961, § 25-74)
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  (#5) California

  • 1850-09-09

  In Chico, California it is illegal to own a green or smelly animal hide.

  9.24.010 Hides.

  It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, store, or have in his possession, any green hide or any hide giving off an offensive odor.

  
  
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  (#6) Colorado

  • 1876-08-01

  Owning a house where unmarried persons are allowed to have sex is prohibited.

  Sec. 11-76.

  Bawdy houses. No bawdy house, house of ill-fame, house of assignation or the place for the practice of fornication or commonly ill-governed or disorderly house shall be kept or maintained within the limits of the city or within three (3) miles of the outer boundaries. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any such house, or be an inmate thereof.

  
  
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  (#7) Connecticut

  • 1788-01-09

  It is illegal to blow a whistle outdoors.

  Sec. 153-7 town code: Unlawful Use of Whistle:

  No person not a member of the Police Department of the City shall have in his possession or blow upon, whistle or use in any manner the whistle or call known as the "bean police call."
  

  
  
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  (#8) Delaware

  • 1787-12-07

  In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware it is illegal to whisper in church.

  198-23. Disturbing religious worship and lawful assemblies.

  A.No person shall disrupt or disturb any congregation or assembly met for religious worship by noise, talking or whispering, or by rude or indecent behavior, or by profane language within their place of worship, or within 300 feet of the place of worship.

  B.No person shall disturb any lawful assembly or gathering of people in any public place.

  
  
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  (#9) Florida

  • 1845-03-03

  It's illegal for hotdog vendors to dress provocatively.

  Chapter 39 ZONING*ARTICLE XVII. COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS Sec. 39-300. Limitations of uses. (s) Mobile food units. (2) Persons vending from mobile food units who are inappropriately attired shall be considered to cause a hazard or impediment to traffic. Inappropriate attire shall include clothing which shows any portion of the anal cleft, cleavage or buttocks of males or females such as G-strings, T-back bathing suits, thong bikinis or any other clothing or covering that does not completely and opaquely cover the anal cleft, cleavage or buttocks of males and females.
  
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  (#10) Georgia

  • 1788-01-02

  In Columbus, Georgia, it is only legal to fly a model airplane as long as it's either on your private property, or on property adjacent to a morgue.

  Sec. 14-44.1. Model airplanes, unlawful to fly except in designated areas. It shall be unlawful to fly within the city limits of Columbus, Georgia, model airplanes that are propelled by gasoline engines, except in the following described area: (a) Privately owned property where the flight of such planes is confined within the boundary line of the privately owned property.(b) Property of Columbus, which lies adjacent to the county morgue.
  
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  (#11) Hawaii

  • 1959-08-21

  Riding in the back seat of a car without a seatbelt will get you fined, but riding unfastened in the bed of a pickup truck is completely legal.

  "Kids 12 and under cannot ride in the back of a pickup truck. Everyone else can if all the seats in the cab are occupied. The truck has to have sides and a working tailgate. The people need to be sitting on the floor itself not on the wheel wells and not holding down any cargo."
  
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  (#12) Idaho

  • 1890-07-03

  It's illegal to sweep dirt out of your house.

  5-2-2: SWEEPING DEBRIS INTO STREETS:

  It shall be unlawful for any person to sweep any dirt from the interior of any building in the city onto any street, alley or sidewalk in the city.

  
  
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  (#13) Illinois

  • 1818-08-26

  If you're riding a bike, don't do anything fancy. "Fancy riding" is illegal in Galesburg, Illinois.

  Sec. 28-345. Trick riding. No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handlebars, or feet from the pedals, or practice any acrobatic or fancy riding on any street. 
  
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  (#14) Indiana

  • 1816-12-11

  In Indiana, it is only legal to throw a rock at a bird if it's in self defense.

  Sec. 403-4. Throwing stones or other missiles. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw any stone or other missile at any bird, except in self-defense 

   
  
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  (#15) Iowa

  • 1846-12-28

  Palm reading and fortune telling is forbidden in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

  62.25 FORTUNE TELLING.No person shall tell fortunes or practice phrenology, palmistry or clairvoyancy in the city.
  
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  (#16) Kansas

  • 1861-01-29

  In Wichita, Kansas, it is illegal to say rude things on the phone.

  Section 5.82.010 Telephone service - Interfering with.(1) It is unlawful for any person to use, cause to be used, or knowingly permit another to use, any telephone instrument, telephone equipment or telephone facilities to make any comment, request, suggestion or proposal which is obscene, lewd, las civious, filthy or indecent 

   
  
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  (#17) Kentucky

  • 1792-06-01

  It's illegal to dye a duckling blue and sell it unless you sell at least six of them.

  KRS 436.600 No person shall sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange, display, or possess living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits which have been dyed or colored; nor dye or color any baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits; nor sell, exchange, offer to sell or exchange or to give away baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or rabbits, under two (2) months of age in any quantity less than six (6) 

   
  
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  (#18) Louisiana

  • 1812-04-30

  You can be sentenced to ten years behind bars for stealing an alligator.

  RS 14:67.13 67.13. Theft of an alligator

  A. Theft of an alligator is the misappropriation or taking of an alligator, an alligator's skin, or a part of an alligator, whether dead or alive, belonging to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking. Whoever commits the crime of theft of an alligator when the misappropration or taking amounts to a value of five hundred dollars or more shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years, or may be fined not more than three thousand dollars, or both.

   
  
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  (#19) Maine

  • 1820-03-15

  It is illegal to sell thermometers.

  THERMOMETER ORDINANCECHAPTER 42Section 2. Retail Sale Prohibited. A person shall not sell or supply (including online retail) mercury fever thermometers to consumers and patients, except by prescription.
  
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  (#20) Maryland

  • 1788-04-25

  Be careful with your road rage. It's illegal to use profanity on a highway in Maryland.

  Sec. 13-53. Profanity; violation of section declared misdemeanor.

  (a) A person may not profanely curse and swear or use obscene language upon or near any street, sidewalk or highway within the hearing of persons passing by, upon or along such street, sidewalk or highway.

   
  
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  (#21) Massachusetts

  • 1788-02-06

  The sale of bottled water is illegal in some parts of Massachusetts.

  "The bottled water bylaw bans the sale of non-sparkling, unflavored drinking water in single-serving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles of 1 liter (34 ounces) or less"
  
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  (#22) Michigan

  • 1837-01-26

  In Michigan, it is illegal to kill a dog using a decompression chamber.

  Act 339 of 1919

  287.279a Killing dog or other animal; use of high altitude decompression chamber or electrocution prohibited. [M.S.A.12.529(1) ]

   
  
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  (#23) Minnesota

  • 1817-12-10

  It is a misdemeanor to get a massage after 11 p.m.

  810.085. Hours of Operation. At massage therapist businesses, no customers or patrons may be allowed to enter the licensed premises after 11:00 p.m. and before 6:00 a.m. daily. No customers or patrons may be allowed to remain upon the licensed premises after 12:00 a.m. and before 6:00 a.m. daily. 
  
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  (#24) Mississippi

  • 1817-12-10

  It's illegal to have "unnatural" intercourse. The punishment is a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in prison.

  97-29-59. Unnatural intercourse.

  Every person who shall be convicted of the detestable and abominable crime against nature committed with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not more than ten years.

   
  
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  (#25) Missouri

  • 1821-08-10

  Yard sales are forbidden.

   9.28.060 Yard or garage sales - Restrictions.A. It is unlawful for any person or persons to offer for sale household goods in a "yard" or "garage" sale in an area in front of the front building line of the premises in which such person or persons reside.
  
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  (#26) Montana

  • 1889-11-08

  The game of "Folf" (frisbee golf) can not be played at night.

  5-13-2: Folfing Prohibited. No person shall play or engage in the game of folf or throw a golf disc at nighttime in any area within the business improvement district that has not been sanctioned as a designated folf course by the city. 
  
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  (#27) Nebraska

  • 1867-03-01

  Anybody with a sexually transmitted disease is not allowed to get married in Nebraska.

  42-102Minimum age; affliction with venereal disease, disqualification.

  At the time of the marriage the male must be of the age of seventeen years or upward, and the female of the age of seventeen years or upward. No person who is afflicted with a venereal disease shall marry in this state.

   
  
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  (#28) Nevada

  • 1864-10-31

  Sex toys are illegal.

  Sec. 8.14.040. Sale of sexual paraphernalia.

  It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer to sell or display for sale any device, including but not limited to dildos and artificial vaginae, designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs.

   
  
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  (#29) New Hampshire

  • 1788-06-21

  It's illegal to take seaweed from a beach.

  Section 207:48

  In Night.  If any person shall carry away or collect for the purpose of carrying away any seaweed or rockweed from the seashore below high-water mark, between daylight in the evening and daylight in the morning, he shall be guilty of a violation.

   
  
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  (#30) New Jersey

  • 1787-12-18

  It is illegal to wear a bullet proof vest while committing a murder.

  2C:39-13. Unlawful use of body vests1.Unlawful use of body vests. A person is guilty of a crime if he uses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnaping, criminal escape or assault under N.J.S.2C:12-1b 
  
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  (#31) New Mexico

  • 1912-01-06

  According to New Mexico State law, "idiots" are not allowed to vote.

  CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO ADOPTED JANUARY 21, 1911 Article VII. Elective FranchiseSection 1. [Qualifications of voters; absentee voting; school elections; registration.]Every citizen of the United States, who is over the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in New Mexico twelve months, in the county ninety days, and in the precinct in which he offers to vote thirty days, next preceding the election, except idiots, insane persons and persons convicted of a felonious or infamous crime unless restored to political rights, shall be qualified to vote at all elections for public officers.  
  
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  (#32) New York

  • 1788-07-26

  Cheating on your spouse is illegal in New York.

  Section 255.17 of the state penal law states, “A person is guilty of adultery when he engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse.  
  
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  (#33) North Carolina

  • 1789-11-21

  Stealing over $1,000 worth of used restaurant grease is a felony.

  "Under the law, grease collectors will have to carry liability insurance and provide certain paperwork that establishes ownership of the grease. Those who steal grease worth less than $1,000 would be guilty of a misdemeanor. Those who steal more than $1,000 worth of grease would be guilty of a low level felony."
  
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  (#34) North Dakota

  • 1889-11-02

  New Years celebrations are pretty lame in North Dakota. On New Year's Eve, it is illegal to set off fireworks after 11 p.m.

  8.20.030 Hours of use.

  No person shall set off, explode or detonate any fireworks other than during the hours of eight a.m. and eleven p.m. during the dates listed in this chapter.

   
  
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  (#35) Ohio

  • 1803-03-01

  If you lose your pet tiger in Ohio, you have to alert the authorities within the hour.

  05 05. 21. 00 REPORT OF ESCAPE OF EXOTIC OR DANGEROUS ANIMAL.

  (a) The owner or keeper of any member of a species of the animal kingdom that escapes from his custody or control and that is not indigenous to this State or presents a risk of serious physical harm to persons or property, or both, shall, within one hour after he discovers or reasonably should have discovered the escape, report it to a law enforcement officer of the Municipality 
  
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  (#36) Oklahoma

  • 1907-11-16

  It is illegal to trip a horse or wrestle a bear.

  21-1700. A. It is unlawful for any person to: 1. Promote, engage in, or be employed at a bear wrestling exhibition or horse tripping event; 2. Receive money for the admission of another person to any place where bear wrestling or horse tripping will occur 
  
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  (#37) Oregon

  • 1859-02-14

  It is illegal to put a box of human feces on the side of the road.

  811.172 Improperly disposing of human waste; penalty.

  (1) A person commits the offense of improperly disposing of human waste if the person is operating or riding in a motor vehicle and the person throws, puts or otherwise leaves a container of urine or other human waste on or beside the highway.

   
  
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  (#38) Pennsylvania

  • 1787-12-12

  Convicted felons can't play Bingo.

  Sec. 105-13. Prohibited persons.

  No distributor nor any person who has been convicted of a felony or of a violation of the Bingo Law or of this chapter or of any comparable state or federal law shall have a pecuniary interest in the operation or proceeds of games of chance.

   
  
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  (#39) Rhode Island

  • 1790-05-29

  Mike Tyson would have done 20 years in prison if he lived in Rhode Island. Biting off someone's ear or other limb is a severe penalty.

  SECTION 11-29-1 11-29-1 Penalty for mutilation or disabling.  Every person who shall voluntarily, maliciously or of purpose put out an eye, slit the nose, ear, or lip, or cut off, bite off, or disable any limb or member of another, shall be imprisoned not exceeding twenty (20) years nor less than one year. 
  
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  (#40) South Carolina

  • 1788-04-23

  It's illegal for anybody under the age of 18 to play a pinball machine.

  SECTION 63-19-2430. Playing pinball machines.

  It is unlawful for a minor under the age of eighteen to play a pinball machine.

   
  
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  (#41) South Dakota

  • 1889-11-02

  For some reason, it is illegal to fall asleep in a cheese factory in South Dakota.
  
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  (#42) Tennessee

  • 1796-06-01

  In Tennessee, it is illegal for anybody to run for public office if they have ever participated in a duel.

  Sec. 3. Duelists shall hold no office.

  Any person who shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel, shall be deprived of the right to hold any office of honor or profit in this State.
  
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  (#43) Texas

  • 1845-12-29

  In Texas, it is illegal to own more than six dildos.

  CHAPTER 43. PUBLIC INDECENCY

  SUBCHAPTER B. OBSCENITY

   (f) A person who possesses six or more obscene devices or identical or similar obscene articles is presumed to possess them with intent to promote the same.
  
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  (#44) Utah

  • 1896-01-04

  No keggers can be thrown in Utah because it is illegal to possess a container of beer larger than two liters.

  32A-12-206. Unlawful sale or supply of beer. (1) A person may not sell, offer to sell, or otherwise furnish or supply beer to the general public in containers larger than two liters. 
  
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  (#45) Vermont

  • 1791-03-04

  In Vermont, it is illegal to take your clothes off in public, but if you get naked at home and then leave the house it is perfectly fine.

  "MONTPELIER, Vt. —It appears no law was violated when 42 cyclists rode through Vermont's capital naked.

  The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus reported that Vermont has no ban on public nudity. Disrobing in public is a crime, but the cyclists changed into their birthday suits before venturing out."
  
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  (#46) Virginia

  • 1788-06-25

  In Virginia, it is illegal to have oral or anal sex.

  18.2-361. Crimes against nature.

  A. If any person carnally knows in any manner any brute animal, or carnally knows any male or female person by the anus or by or with the mouth, or voluntarily submits to such carnal knowledge, he or she shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony, except as provided in subsection B.

   
  
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  (#47) Washington

  • 1889-11-11

  You may be fined for harassing Bigfoot (if you happen to find him).

  Undiscovered Species Protection Act

  Whereas, there is evidence to indicate the possible existence of an undiscovered species a primate mammal variously described as Bigfoot, Sasquatch, an ape-like creature or a subspecies of Homo Sapiens. 
  
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  (#48) West Virginia

  • 1863-06-20

  Road kill may be taken home for supper.

  "In order to clean up roads not regularly maintained by the Department of Transportation, this law was passed. Not only did this law assuage the cravings of adventurers individuals looking for free meat, it lowered the cost of road maintenance as well."
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  (#49) Wisconsin

  • 1848-05-29

  In Wisconsin, it is illegal for the government to ban flushable urinals.

  101.07

  Flushing devices for urinals. The department shall not promulgate any rules which either directly or indirectly prohibit the use of manual flushing devices for urinals. The department shall take steps to encourage the use of manual flushing devices for urinals.

   
  
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  (#50) Wyoming

  • 1890-06-10

  It's illegal to sell junk to a drunk.

  33-18-105. Purchase from intoxicated persons. No person, firm or corporation engaged in the buying or selling of junk metals, rubber, rags or paper, shall purchase any articles from any person appearing to be intoxicated.
  

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