Silly Laws That Are Still on the Books

Exactly! It shows how weird some people are. Some because of the wild things they do, and some because they took the time to put some of these crazy laws in place. According to the Tennessee Constitution, it is illegal to hold public office if a person does any of the following: «fight a duel or knowingly be a bearer of a challenge to fight for a duel, or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an assistant or instigator in the struggle for a duel.» We decided to do some legal detail and identify the strangest law still in force in each state. You could find yourself guilty of one or two violations. Next time you`re in Grand Rapids, Ohio, watch out for your strange pet. The law states that the «owner or custodian of a member of an animal species that is beyond the care or control of the owner or custodian and who is not native to that state or poses a risk of serious bodily harm to persons or property» must report the theft to the authorities within one hour. If you are a live artist in Billings, Montana, you need perseverance: you are required by law to remain on stage for the duration of your performance. The law states that «no artist or artist, male or female, may leave this platform or area while entertaining or performing.» The United States prides itself on being a nation of laws, and it is almost universally accepted that laws are essential to creating the structure, order, security, and protection of society. In Vermont, it is illegal to ban clotheslines. The law prohibits regulations that prohibit «clotheslines or other energy devices based on renewable resources.» In 2017, New Hampshire passed an anti-homicide law that defined a 20-week-old fetus as a person and clarified that the law did not apply to pregnant women who might need an abortion. However, lawmakers quickly changed the law after it became clear that its vague language could have allowed pregnant women to commit murder without consequences. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn`t have to be difficult. SmartAsset`s free tool connects you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes.

Each advisor has been approved by SmartAsset and is required by a fiduciary standard to act in your best interest. If you`re ready to work with local advisors who can help you reach your financial goals, start now. In Indiana, you are not allowed to sniff toxic fumes of any kind (including glue) with the intention of «causing a state of intoxication, euphoria, excitement, euphoria, euphoria, numbness, or dulling of the senses.» So if you`re doing it for other reasons, that`s fine. LOL I totally agree. of all the laws on the list above – I really wish this one was applied more often. Keep moving, folks! Does this seem implausible to you? In fact, this absurd Pennsylvania law is technically still in effect. In fact, Pennsylvania is not alone. If you search carefully enough, each state has its own collection of outdated and stupid laws. And although these laws are never enforced, they are still legally valid because no one bothered to repeal them. Most of these laws are so old that legislators themselves don`t even know there are many. Federal law states that anyone who «issues or publishes a false weather report and claims to be from the weather bureau shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety days.» However, just being bad at your meteorology work doesn`t count as «bad.» (18 U.S.C.

Section 2074). For more information on these strange laws, watch the full video below. You cannot get a driver`s license without knowing that it is unacceptable to drive faster than the specified speed limit. While police may allow five to 10 miles, anything beyond that will likely receive a warning or ticket. That said, most motorists – even those who have been driving for a very long time – don`t seem to know that you can also exceed the speed limit by driving too slowly. In comments to CNN, Pete Kim of the California Highway Patrol admitted that it`s not a common thing, but that it`s possible to get a ticket if «you block traffic or create a road hazard on the highway.» (So a little more pedaling, slow strokes!) Although technically illegal, Arkansas has passed laws that «discourage» mispronunciation of its name. Better not to try to pronounce phonetically Arkansas – the provision explicitly states that «pronunciation with the stress on the second syllable with the sound of `a` in `man` and the sound of the terminal `s` is an innovation that should be discouraged.» In reality, it is illegal under Illinois law to possess a variety of aquatic creatures that have been captured or killed in violation of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, or valued at more than $600, according to the Illinois General Assembly. Most of us assume that eating other human beings does not fly. But in Idaho, it`s clearly stated in the law — though the law also states that it is a legitimate defense of committing cannibalism «under extremely lethal conditions as the only apparent means of survival.» The law states that a person can help players by playing their cards while taking a bathroom break, according to the Maine state legislature. This allowance does not apply to high-stakes beano, which is apparently one thing as well. Speaking of false identities, in public places in Alabama, you can`t pretend to be a pastor, nun, priest, or rabbi if you`re one, making The Sound of Music`s productions technically illegal.

Unless nuns are played by nuns. Want to learn more about funny, obscure and crazy laws in the United States? Put your knowledge to work with a degree in criminal justice from Olivet Nazarene University. This bill is still technically in the Vermont state legislature. «Fornication» or sex is prohibited, except for married couples. It is still technically punishable as a misdemeanor, according to the Virginia state legislature. When they chanted, «Texas` eyes are on you,» they said the state already had a pair and didn`t need to buy yours. It`s not just the eyes either. It is illegal to sell any of your body organs. As a longtime resident of Massachusetts, it`s safe to say that being thrown into the tap is the least strange law I`ve come across or heard about for using a boombox with headphones.

In Boston, it is apparently illegal to bathe without a doctor`s prescription, but it is also illegal to go to bed without washing. The strange atmosphere is maintained by the law that no gorillas are allowed in the back seat of cars. Yes, it is a real law that is committed on paper. It`s amazing what laws are still in the books that must have made sense back then, but are absolutely hilarious today! Great article! While our neighbors to the north do not prohibit the use of pennies, Belofsky notes that they have restrictions on accepted use. That is, if Indiana citizen James Sanders had tried to pay his $702 fine with more than 70,000 cents — as mentioned in this JC Online article — he would have been flatly rejected. Canada allows a person to pay with a maximum of 25 cents. If you need more, you need to move on to something bigger. Blasphemy laws were very common in the United States, but there are still some, even in Michigan, where cursing God is an offense. 25. Rhode Island`s «Mayhem» laws will give you one to 20 years in prison if you decide to cut off or bite another person`s limb or limb. However, it must be intentional (Article 11-29-1).

(Belofsky) Two and a half centuries is a long time to make laws. It is natural that in the history of our country, some of the craziest fall through the cracks and remain in the books in the 21st century. In most cases, it is quite possible that the legislator does not even know that these are the laws that he should still apply. Since some of them don`t need much work, we`ve done a quick summary with hat tips for Morrow and Belofsky.