Laws that are dumb or weird
References
[01] Dumb laws website
[02] Just Something: The 22 Most Ridiculous U.S. Laws Still in Effect Today Website listing and YouTube video
[03] Planet Dolan: 15 Dumbest Laws in the World Website listing and YouTube video
[01] Dumb laws website
[02] Just Something: The 22 Most Ridiculous U.S. Laws Still in Effect Today Website listing and YouTube video
[03] Planet Dolan: 15 Dumbest Laws in the World Website listing and YouTube video
United States
Alabama
Bear wrestling matches are prohibited. [01; 02]
Boogers may not be flicked into the wind. [01]
Dominoes may not be played on Sunday. [01]
Incestuous marriages are legal. [01]
It is considered an offense to open an umbrella on a street, for fear of spooking horses. [01]
It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. [01]
It is illegal to impersonate a person of the clergy. [01]
It is illegal to maim oneself to escape duty. [01]
It is illegal to sell peanuts in Lee County after sundown on Wednesday. [01]
It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church. [01]
It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern attached to the front of your automobile. [01]
Masks may not be worn in public. [01]
Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death. [01]
Women are able to retain all property they owned prior to marriage in the case of divorce. However, this provision does not apply to men. [01]
You must have windshield wipers on your car. [01]
You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time. [01]
Alaska
Moose may not be viewed from an airplane. [01]
While it is legal to shoot bears, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited. [01]
It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane. [01]
Anchorage: No one may tie their pet dog to the roof of a car. [01]
Anchorage: It is illegal to string a wire across any road. [01]
Anchorage: Persons may not live in a trailer as it is being hauled across the city. [01]
Anchorage: Clowns beware! [01]
Fairbanks: It is considered an offense to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose. [01]
Haines: A person may only carry a concealed slingshot if that person has received the appropriate license. [01]
Haines: It is against the law to attempt to break any law in title 9 of the code (public peace, morals, and welfare). [01]
Haines: Employers of bars may not let their bartenders serve while they are drunk themselves. [01]
Juneau: Owners of flamingos may not let their pet into barber shops. [01]
Juneau: Buildings that preserve scenic vistas are awarded "bonus points" by the government. [01]
Nome: One may not roam the city with a bow and arrows. [01]
Soldotna: Persons may not allow “attractive nuisances” to exist. [01]
Arizona
If you cut down a cactus, you could be sentenced to 25 years in prison. [01; 02]
Hunting camels is prohibited. [01]
Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony. [01]
Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs. [01]
A class 2 misdemeanor occurs if one places a mark upon a flag which is “likely to provoke physical retaliation”. [01]
It is illegal to manufacture imitation cocaine. [01]
When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person posseses. [01]
It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water. [01]
You may not have more than two dildos in a house. [01]
Globe: Cards may not be played in the street with a Native American. [01]
Hayden: If you bother the cottontails or bullfrogs, you will be fined. [01]
Maricopa County: No more than six girls may live in any house. [01]
Mesa: It is illegal to smoke cigarettes within 15 feet of a public place unless you have a Class 12 liqueur license. [01]
Mohave County: If you are found stealing soap, you must wash yourself until the bar of soap has been completely used up. [01; 02]
Nogales: An ordinance prohibits the wearing of suspenders. [01]
Prescott: No one is permitted to ride their horse up the stairs of the county court house. [01]
Tempe: One must be 18 years old to buy spray paint. [01]
Tombstone: It is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have less than one missing tooth visible when smiling. [01]
Tucson: Women may not wear pants. [01]
Arkansas
It’s strictly prohibited to pronounce “Arkansas” incorrectly. [01]
Alligators may not be kept in bathtubs. [01]
The Arkansas River can rise no higher than to the Main Street bridge in Little Rock. [01]
A law provides that school teachers who bob their hair will not get a raise. [01]
A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month. [01]
Oral sex is considered to be sodomy. [01]
Fayetteville: It is illegal to kill “any living creature”. [01]
Little Rock: Honking one's car horn at a sandwich shop after 9PM is against the law. [01]
Little Rock: No one may "suddenly start or stop" their car at a McDonald's. [01]
Little Rock: Dogs may not bark after 6PM. [01]
Little Rock: Flirtation between men and women on the streets of Little Rock may result in a 30-day jail term. [01]
Little Rock: It is unlawful to walk one’s cow down Main Street after 1PM on Sunday. [01]
California
1
Colorado
1
Connecticut
Southington: Silly string is banned. [03]
Delaware
1
Florida
Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner. [03]
Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. [03]
Georgia
Gainesville: You are not allowed to eat fried chicken any other way than using your hands. [02]
Quitman: Chickens are not allowed to cross the road. [02]
Hawaii
All residents may be fined as a result of not owning a boat. [03]
Idaho
It’s illegal for a man to give his fiancé a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds. [01; 02]
Illinois
1
Indiana
It’s illegal to attend a public event or use public transport within four hours of eating an onion or garlic. [02]
Iowa
1
Kansas
1
Kentucky
1
Louisiana
1
Maine
1
Maryland
1
Massachusetts
1
Michigan
1
Minnesota
Minneapolis: Red cars may not drive down Lake Street. [01; 02]
Mississippi
1
Missouri
1
Montana
1
Nebraska
1
Nevada
Eureka: If you have mustaches, it’s illegal for you to kiss a woman. [02]
New Hampshire
1
New Jersey
It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest while committing a murder. [03]
You cannot pump your own gas. [03]
New Mexico
Carrizozo: It’s forbidden for a female to appear unshaven in public. [01; 02]
New York
1
North Carolina
Bingo games cannot last more than five hours. [01; 02]
It’s against the law to sing off-key. [01; 02]
North Dakota
1
Ohio
Paulding: Policemen are allowed to bite a dog if they think it will calm the dog down. [02]
Oklahoma
1
Oregon
1
Pennsylvania
1
Rhode Island
Providence: You may not sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday. [01; 02]
South Carolina
1
South Dakota
1
Tennessee
1
Texas
It’s illegal to sell your eyeballs. [01; 02]
San Antonio: Flirting is against the law. [02]
Utah
Marriage between cousins is against the law only if they are younger than 65. [02]
Vermont
1
Virginia
Waynesboro: It’s against the law for a woman to drive a car in Main Street unless her husband is walking in front of the car waving a red flag. [02]
Washington
You cannot buy meat of any kind on Sunday. [01; 02]
A motorist with criminal intentions must stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town. [01; 02]
You can be arrested or fined for harassing Bigfoot. [01; 02]
West Virginia
Roadkill may be taken home for supper. [03]
Wisconsin
1
Wyoming
You may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April without an official permit. [01; 02]
Bear wrestling matches are prohibited. [01; 02]
Boogers may not be flicked into the wind. [01]
Dominoes may not be played on Sunday. [01]
Incestuous marriages are legal. [01]
It is considered an offense to open an umbrella on a street, for fear of spooking horses. [01]
It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. [01]
It is illegal to impersonate a person of the clergy. [01]
It is illegal to maim oneself to escape duty. [01]
It is illegal to sell peanuts in Lee County after sundown on Wednesday. [01]
It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church. [01]
It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern attached to the front of your automobile. [01]
Masks may not be worn in public. [01]
Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death. [01]
Women are able to retain all property they owned prior to marriage in the case of divorce. However, this provision does not apply to men. [01]
You must have windshield wipers on your car. [01]
You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time. [01]
Alaska
Moose may not be viewed from an airplane. [01]
While it is legal to shoot bears, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited. [01]
It is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane. [01]
Anchorage: No one may tie their pet dog to the roof of a car. [01]
Anchorage: It is illegal to string a wire across any road. [01]
Anchorage: Persons may not live in a trailer as it is being hauled across the city. [01]
Anchorage: Clowns beware! [01]
Fairbanks: It is considered an offense to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose. [01]
Haines: A person may only carry a concealed slingshot if that person has received the appropriate license. [01]
Haines: It is against the law to attempt to break any law in title 9 of the code (public peace, morals, and welfare). [01]
Haines: Employers of bars may not let their bartenders serve while they are drunk themselves. [01]
Juneau: Owners of flamingos may not let their pet into barber shops. [01]
Juneau: Buildings that preserve scenic vistas are awarded "bonus points" by the government. [01]
Nome: One may not roam the city with a bow and arrows. [01]
Soldotna: Persons may not allow “attractive nuisances” to exist. [01]
Arizona
If you cut down a cactus, you could be sentenced to 25 years in prison. [01; 02]
Hunting camels is prohibited. [01]
Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony. [01]
Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs. [01]
A class 2 misdemeanor occurs if one places a mark upon a flag which is “likely to provoke physical retaliation”. [01]
It is illegal to manufacture imitation cocaine. [01]
When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person posseses. [01]
It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water. [01]
You may not have more than two dildos in a house. [01]
Globe: Cards may not be played in the street with a Native American. [01]
Hayden: If you bother the cottontails or bullfrogs, you will be fined. [01]
Maricopa County: No more than six girls may live in any house. [01]
Mesa: It is illegal to smoke cigarettes within 15 feet of a public place unless you have a Class 12 liqueur license. [01]
Mohave County: If you are found stealing soap, you must wash yourself until the bar of soap has been completely used up. [01; 02]
Nogales: An ordinance prohibits the wearing of suspenders. [01]
Prescott: No one is permitted to ride their horse up the stairs of the county court house. [01]
Tempe: One must be 18 years old to buy spray paint. [01]
Tombstone: It is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have less than one missing tooth visible when smiling. [01]
Tucson: Women may not wear pants. [01]
Arkansas
It’s strictly prohibited to pronounce “Arkansas” incorrectly. [01]
Alligators may not be kept in bathtubs. [01]
The Arkansas River can rise no higher than to the Main Street bridge in Little Rock. [01]
A law provides that school teachers who bob their hair will not get a raise. [01]
A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month. [01]
Oral sex is considered to be sodomy. [01]
Fayetteville: It is illegal to kill “any living creature”. [01]
Little Rock: Honking one's car horn at a sandwich shop after 9PM is against the law. [01]
Little Rock: No one may "suddenly start or stop" their car at a McDonald's. [01]
Little Rock: Dogs may not bark after 6PM. [01]
Little Rock: Flirtation between men and women on the streets of Little Rock may result in a 30-day jail term. [01]
Little Rock: It is unlawful to walk one’s cow down Main Street after 1PM on Sunday. [01]
California
1
Colorado
1
Connecticut
Southington: Silly string is banned. [03]
Delaware
1
Florida
Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner. [03]
Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. [03]
Georgia
Gainesville: You are not allowed to eat fried chicken any other way than using your hands. [02]
Quitman: Chickens are not allowed to cross the road. [02]
Hawaii
All residents may be fined as a result of not owning a boat. [03]
Idaho
It’s illegal for a man to give his fiancé a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds. [01; 02]
Illinois
1
Indiana
It’s illegal to attend a public event or use public transport within four hours of eating an onion or garlic. [02]
Iowa
1
Kansas
1
Kentucky
1
Louisiana
1
Maine
1
Maryland
1
Massachusetts
1
Michigan
1
Minnesota
Minneapolis: Red cars may not drive down Lake Street. [01; 02]
Mississippi
1
Missouri
1
Montana
1
Nebraska
1
Nevada
Eureka: If you have mustaches, it’s illegal for you to kiss a woman. [02]
New Hampshire
1
New Jersey
It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest while committing a murder. [03]
You cannot pump your own gas. [03]
New Mexico
Carrizozo: It’s forbidden for a female to appear unshaven in public. [01; 02]
New York
1
North Carolina
Bingo games cannot last more than five hours. [01; 02]
It’s against the law to sing off-key. [01; 02]
North Dakota
1
Ohio
Paulding: Policemen are allowed to bite a dog if they think it will calm the dog down. [02]
Oklahoma
1
Oregon
1
Pennsylvania
1
Rhode Island
Providence: You may not sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday. [01; 02]
South Carolina
1
South Dakota
1
Tennessee
1
Texas
It’s illegal to sell your eyeballs. [01; 02]
San Antonio: Flirting is against the law. [02]
Utah
Marriage between cousins is against the law only if they are younger than 65. [02]
Vermont
1
Virginia
Waynesboro: It’s against the law for a woman to drive a car in Main Street unless her husband is walking in front of the car waving a red flag. [02]
Washington
You cannot buy meat of any kind on Sunday. [01; 02]
A motorist with criminal intentions must stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town. [01; 02]
You can be arrested or fined for harassing Bigfoot. [01; 02]
West Virginia
Roadkill may be taken home for supper. [03]
Wisconsin
1
Wyoming
You may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April without an official permit. [01; 02]
Other countries
Canada
In Nova Scotia, you’re not allowed to water the grass when it’s raining. [03]
France
In Sarpourenx, a village has legally forbid someone from dying if they don't have a burial plot bought and paid for. [03]
Greece
All electronic games are banned. [03]
Italy
It’s against the law to eat or drink near any landmark in Rome. [03]
Norway
In the town of Longyearbyen, you can’t die unless you’ve made plans to get your corpse transported out of town. [03]
Swaziland
Any woman who wears pants faces a possible punishment of having the pants ripped off her and torn to pieces by soldiers. [03]
Thailand
No one may step on any of the nation’s currency. [03]
United Kingdom
Since 1313, MPs are not allowed to don armor in Parliament. [03]
In Nova Scotia, you’re not allowed to water the grass when it’s raining. [03]
France
In Sarpourenx, a village has legally forbid someone from dying if they don't have a burial plot bought and paid for. [03]
Greece
All electronic games are banned. [03]
Italy
It’s against the law to eat or drink near any landmark in Rome. [03]
Norway
In the town of Longyearbyen, you can’t die unless you’ve made plans to get your corpse transported out of town. [03]
Swaziland
Any woman who wears pants faces a possible punishment of having the pants ripped off her and torn to pieces by soldiers. [03]
Thailand
No one may step on any of the nation’s currency. [03]
United Kingdom
Since 1313, MPs are not allowed to don armor in Parliament. [03]