However, ive found that there are laws on the books that are either amazingly specific or things that should be common sense. Over time, many of those laws become anachronisms, even if theyre still on the books. In prince william county, virginia, it is illegal for a motorist to park their vehicle on a set of railroad tracks. No bicycle shall be allowed to proceed in any street in the city by inertia or momentum with the feet of the rider. List of strange state laws on the books in wisconsin. The owner of every hotel in hastings, nebraska, is required to provide each guest with a clean and pressed nightshirt. In the town of goodyear, arizona, it is unlawful to spit in or on any public building, park, sidewalk, or road. Article center whether you want to learn how to start a business or you want to know the difference between living trust vs. If a child burps during church, his parent may be arrested. I wonder why some of these things even became laws in the first place. Some of these old laws have been on the books for centuries, many times they are outdated and not current for todays society. It is illegal to use briefs like these to clean your car in san francisco. Still, the laws against alcohol are still in the books, as they were passed, but they do not have effect, as later laws changed their impact. Loony laws outrageous ordinances and silly statutes.
While the total oleo ban was finally lifted in the late 60s, some restrictions on margarine sale and use remain on the books today. Some laws may be still be on the books, but they have been rendered invalid by later laws. Jul 16, 2018 illinois has some absurd state and city laws still on the books. For every law that is on the books, there were weeks or months of law writing, arguing and convincing for the law to actually get put on the books. If you allow it while youre in arizona, youre a criminal. Granted, this is rarely prosecuted these days, but watch out as it is technically on the books. According to a law made in 1924, it is illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. Believe it or not these are all still on the books. The laws listed here are for entertainment purposes only. Apr 11, 20 this one isnt technically still on the books, but it juuuuuuuuust got changed.
Bingo sessions must not last longer than five hours. Jun 19, 2016 kuby called new yorks penal code an archaeology of the eras of new york littered with rules that would be unconstitutional today. Its not the only wackadoodle law that still exists in the states. This one isnt technically still on the books, but it juuuuuuuuust got changed. Many of these silly, outdated laws are still on the books. Every state has their share of funny laws and minnesota is no different. These 11 crazy laws in minnesota will leave you scratching your head in wonder. The law library staff has put together a wellness collection located on the new book shelf, as well as, a brand. All across the internet, you will be able to find lists and lists of strange laws that either once existed or still exist depending on whos doing the reporting. Colorado water laws prohibit the use of rain barrels or any methods to catch rain for use. Dec 01, 2014 in the 227 years since becoming a state, new jersey lawmakers have passed a lot of laws.
Thousands of web sites list dumb laws or stupid laws for cities and states around the u. Most of these laws below are written to be so complicated and subject to interpretation that even the most honest person could be breaking the law take a look at this statebystate list of 728 of the most ridiculous laws that are still on the books. However, these weird or outlandish laws are actually on the books, whether. One must get a permit from the city if they wish to take dirt from the airport. Wisconsin legislators must really love their butter. Mar 28, 2015 these bizarre laws on education are somehow still on the books. We have tried to cite specific references when available but, we make no guarantees on the validity of these laws and as such. In glendale, arizona, it is illegal to drive a car in reverse, so. Weird state laws from every state in america thrillist. Its our personal top list, therefore youll find the most stupid laws, at least in our opinion, at the end of the list. We scoured the law books in every state to find the weirdest law thats been passed in each one some have been repealed, but some are shockingly still on the books.
Here are the most ridiculous laws from all 50 states you may be breaking quite a few of them. If they might be enforced how bizarre would we be living under these loony laws. The story of weird laws is always interesting because there are as many false stories about what is and isnt illegal as there are true ones. A popular weird law for hawaii was that you could only have one drink in front of you at a time. Constitution, all the way down to the 27th amendment. California often gets a bad rap for having too many regulations. The most notorious margarinerelated laws still in effect in 2018 are part of wisconsin statute 97. Many states still have antifornication laws on the books, despite our living in a postsex and the city universe where any samantha or charlotte can sleep or not sleep with whomever shed like, because she will not be judged by you or society so long as she can breathe and kneel. An examination of wisconsins weird laws, still on the books today.
The single largest collection of dumb laws and stupid laws. Over on io9, we posted a map of all the weirdest sex laws in the u. In waynesboro, virginia, it is illegal for a female motorist to drive her car along main street unless her husband is walking in front of the vehicle waving a red flag in his hands. And other times these crazy laws exist without logical explaination. Apr 15, 2019 wisconsin is home to some fairly odd and unusual laws. Dec 15, 2016 according to our friends at country living, in the 1800s, a group of men wrongfully sold cucumbers marked as pickles. You might want to lawyer up after reading this by ali eaves. Wdsu reporter siemny chhuon reveals some of the ridiculous louisiana laws still on the books. Wisconsins weird laws portray states wacky history. The most ridiculous law in every state business insider. Sometimes legislators in the united states get a little carried away, as evidenced by these silly laws that are still on the books. One of the questions we get frequently is whether it is illegal to cross the minnesota wisconsin border with a duck on your head.
Nov 03, 2011 some may be breaking the law and not even know it. Aug 09, 2010 theres a fairly lengthy list of odd laws still on the books in towns across the state. If you are aware of some weird laws still in effect in your country or state feel free to tell us in the comments. The craziest laws that still exist in the united states. We decided to undertake some legal legwork and identify the strangest statute still on the books in every state. No silly string in southington unless its in the privacy of your home. Read on, youll be amazed at some of the laws still in existence. Believe it or not, there are hundreds of silly laws still on the books. Any person caught using or carrying bean snappers or the like shall upon conviction, be fined. As people used to smuggle it in from illinois, all yellow butter substitute is. Wisconsin is home to some fairly odd and unusual laws. Jan 04, 2016 in 2011, there was an effort to remove some of these provisions, but that was defeated. Alcohol was prohibited in the early twentieth century. Chickens are not allowed to cross the road quitman, georgia.
Though they are rarely enforced, they are still presentmaking them enforce able. That said, there still are some weird laws, usually from an earlier day and age, that remain on the books at. It was apparently quite some journey to get this on the books back in the day, so respect the law even if you probably. To right this wrong, officials declared that a pickle is legitimate only if it. Thanks to a precocious 9yearold boy, its finally legal to throw snow balls in a colorado town known for its snow. In alaska, a child is not allowed to build a snowman taller than him or herself at school. The good folks over at olivet nazarene university put together an infographic of some of the most outrageous, confusing and downright weird legislation instilled around our great nation. Those under 21 can drink legally, but they must be enrolled in a culinary program to do so. Web sites and books love to collect, for our entertainment, what are often. Fornication between unmarried folks is a class 4 misdemeanor in virginia. In athens, ga, it is illegal to read a book to your friends after 2. Sep 05, 2017 if you allow your donkey to sleep in a bathtub, youre an ass. In wauwatosa if a person shall fail to return books he she has checked out from the library, that person should return their library card.
But what we found when looking at these examples, is that many either never existed or cannot be proven to have existed without searching through old, dusty print archives and records offices around the world. An old milwaukee law that was meant to cut down on vagabonds still exists. Oregon dumb state laws it is illegal to whisper dirty things in your lovers ear during sex. Its still illegal for restaurants to serve margarine unless the customer specifically orders it. In west virginia, children may not attend school if their breath smells of wild onions. You can probably think of a few laws off the top of your head. Of course, state laws carry all sorts of standard prohibitions against murder, theft, and so on, so forth. But as far as we know, the following laws are real statutes that came straight from the wisconsin state legislature.
They claim the rain has already been legally allocated to the state and individual may not capture and use water to which heshe does not have a right. Bingo games cannot last more than 5 hours north carolina 21. The good folks over at olivet nazarene university put. Its hard to believe that until just this year, carrying condoms in new. So they linger like old family photos in the books.
Weve spent time researching some of the weirder minnesota laws mentioned and have found that for the most part they are fictitious. For every law that is on the books, there were weeks or months of law. State law requires that cheese labeled as wisconsin certified premium grade. That ones actually been repealed, but the law prohibiting you from drinking on the beach still. While some are just silly, others have caught the eyes of activists who say they need to be stricken from the books for good. However, these weird or outlandish laws are actually on the books, whether theyre enforced or not.
For the most part, though, these laws make life easier and safer for everyone. In fairbanks, alaska, it is illegal to serve alcohol to a moose. Blasphemy laws used to be very common in the united states, but there are still some in existence, including in michigan, where cursing god is a gd misdemeanor. Most ridiculous laws in every state business insider. Odd michigan laws rarely enforced but still on the books. Oct 27, 2015 its also a felony in wisconsin and a crime in illinois, alabama, minnesota and even new york. Wauwatosa if a person fails to return books to the library, that person shall. How is it possible that some dumb laws like these are still in effect today, remains a mystery. Your home state could have the nations stupidest law.
New jersey just took a bunch of old laws off its books the. Apr 27, 2018 no silly string in southington unless its in the privacy of your home. Here are some funny, dumb state laws from nebraska to wyoming. The most notorious margarine related laws still in effect in 2018 are part of wisconsin statute.
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