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Im Under Arrest for What? Fifty Bizarre U.S. Laws
By: Annie Tucker Morgan (View Profile)
Ive never claimed to have extensive knowledge of U.S. legislation throughout history, but its safe to say that I and most people I associate with are law-abiding citizens or not. As it turns out, every state in this country has at least one wacky legal stipulation that could land residents in hot water if they dont comply. Dont say I didnt warn you.
AlabamaIts illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
AlaskaWhispering in someones ear while hes moose hunting is prohibited.
ArizonaCutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.
ArkansasIts illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
CaliforniaYou may not eat an orange in your bathtub.
ColoradoIts unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor (Denver).
ConnecticutA pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.
DelawareIts illegal to get married on a dare.
Washington, D.C.Its against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.
FloridaIf you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
Georgia
Its illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.
HawaiiAll residents may be fined for not owning a boat.
IdahoA man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.
IllinoisIts illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).
IndianaThe value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.
IowaOne-armed piano players must perform for free.
KansasIts illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits (Natoma).
KentuckyEvery citizen is required to take a shower once a year.
LouisianaBiting someone with your natural teeth constitutes simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth classifies as aggravated assault.
MaineIf you keep your Christmas decorations on display after January 14, youll be fined.
MarylandIts against the law to wash or scrub a sink, no matter how dirty it is (Baltimore).
MassachusettsNo gorilla is allowed in the backseat of any car.
MichiganA woman may not cut her own hair without her husbands permission.
MinnesotaIts illegal to paint a sparrow with the intent of selling it as a parakeet (Harper Woods).
MississippiWalking a dog without dressing it in diapers is forbidden (Temperance).
MissouriChildren may buy shotguns in Kansas City, but not toy cap guns.
MontanaIts a felony for a wife to open her husbands mail.
Nebraska
Bar owners may not sell beer unless they brew a kettle of soup simultaneously.
NevadaIts illegal for men with mustaches to kiss women.
New HampshireIts forbidden to sell the clothes youre wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
New JerseyIts against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
New MexicoFemales may not appear unshaven in public.
New YorkWhile riding in an elevator, you must talk to no one, fold your hands, and look toward the door.
North CarolinaIts against the law to sing off-key.
North Dakota
Its illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
OhioYou must honk the horn whenever you pass another car, according to the states drivers education manual.
OklahomaIts forbidden to take a bite out of another persons hamburger.
OregonState law requires dishes to be drip-dried.
PennsylvaniaIts illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
Rhode IslandYou may not bite off another persons leg.
South CarolinaIf a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, he is required by law to keep his promise.
South DakotaIt is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.
TennesseeSelling hollow logs is strictly forbidden.
TexasYou may not shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
UtahIt is illegal not to drink milk.
VermontWomen must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Virginia
Tickling a woman is unlawful.
WashingtonIts illegal to pretend that ones parents are wealthy.
West VirginiaIf you make fun of someone who does not accept a challenge, you risk a six-month prison sentence.
Wisconsin
Unless a customer specifically requests it, margarine may not be substituted for butter in a restaurant.
WyomingUnless you have an official permit, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April.
This Court Is Adjourned
Whew! With all this legislation, its a wonder were not all sharing a prison cell right now. Granted, something tells me the Los Angeles Police Department has bigger fish to fry than popping people who dare to eat oranges while bathing, and that most people who saw me catching some shut-eye on top of a fridge in Pennsylvania wouldnt call the cops on me, but you never know when you might come across that rare whistle-blower who wants you persecuted to the fullest extent of the law, so its probably better to be safe than sorry. The next time I tie up my elephant at a parking meter in Florida, Ill be sure to bring a pocket full of quarters.
First published June 2010
source: I?m Under Arrest for What? Fifty Bizarre U.S. Laws - Page 3 - DivineCaroline
By: Annie Tucker Morgan (View Profile)
Ive never claimed to have extensive knowledge of U.S. legislation throughout history, but its safe to say that I and most people I associate with are law-abiding citizens or not. As it turns out, every state in this country has at least one wacky legal stipulation that could land residents in hot water if they dont comply. Dont say I didnt warn you.
AlabamaIts illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
AlaskaWhispering in someones ear while hes moose hunting is prohibited.
ArizonaCutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.
ArkansasIts illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
CaliforniaYou may not eat an orange in your bathtub.
ColoradoIts unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor (Denver).
ConnecticutA pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.
DelawareIts illegal to get married on a dare.
Washington, D.C.Its against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.
FloridaIf you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
Georgia
Its illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.
HawaiiAll residents may be fined for not owning a boat.
IdahoA man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.
IllinoisIts illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).
IndianaThe value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.
IowaOne-armed piano players must perform for free.
KansasIts illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits (Natoma).
KentuckyEvery citizen is required to take a shower once a year.
LouisianaBiting someone with your natural teeth constitutes simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth classifies as aggravated assault.
MaineIf you keep your Christmas decorations on display after January 14, youll be fined.
MarylandIts against the law to wash or scrub a sink, no matter how dirty it is (Baltimore).
MassachusettsNo gorilla is allowed in the backseat of any car.
MichiganA woman may not cut her own hair without her husbands permission.
MinnesotaIts illegal to paint a sparrow with the intent of selling it as a parakeet (Harper Woods).
MississippiWalking a dog without dressing it in diapers is forbidden (Temperance).
MissouriChildren may buy shotguns in Kansas City, but not toy cap guns.
MontanaIts a felony for a wife to open her husbands mail.
Nebraska
Bar owners may not sell beer unless they brew a kettle of soup simultaneously.
NevadaIts illegal for men with mustaches to kiss women.
New HampshireIts forbidden to sell the clothes youre wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
New JerseyIts against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
New MexicoFemales may not appear unshaven in public.
New YorkWhile riding in an elevator, you must talk to no one, fold your hands, and look toward the door.
North CarolinaIts against the law to sing off-key.
North Dakota
Its illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
OhioYou must honk the horn whenever you pass another car, according to the states drivers education manual.
OklahomaIts forbidden to take a bite out of another persons hamburger.
OregonState law requires dishes to be drip-dried.
PennsylvaniaIts illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
Rhode IslandYou may not bite off another persons leg.
South CarolinaIf a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, he is required by law to keep his promise.
South DakotaIt is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.
TennesseeSelling hollow logs is strictly forbidden.
TexasYou may not shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
UtahIt is illegal not to drink milk.
VermontWomen must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Virginia
Tickling a woman is unlawful.
WashingtonIts illegal to pretend that ones parents are wealthy.
West VirginiaIf you make fun of someone who does not accept a challenge, you risk a six-month prison sentence.
Wisconsin
Unless a customer specifically requests it, margarine may not be substituted for butter in a restaurant.
WyomingUnless you have an official permit, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April.
This Court Is Adjourned
Whew! With all this legislation, its a wonder were not all sharing a prison cell right now. Granted, something tells me the Los Angeles Police Department has bigger fish to fry than popping people who dare to eat oranges while bathing, and that most people who saw me catching some shut-eye on top of a fridge in Pennsylvania wouldnt call the cops on me, but you never know when you might come across that rare whistle-blower who wants you persecuted to the fullest extent of the law, so its probably better to be safe than sorry. The next time I tie up my elephant at a parking meter in Florida, Ill be sure to bring a pocket full of quarters.
First published June 2010
source: I?m Under Arrest for What? Fifty Bizarre U.S. Laws - Page 3 - DivineCaroline