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Dumb Laws In the USA
Why?
I was reading daveearly's article, 200 More Odd Facts For You, and I started to wonder what other useless laws still were in existence in the USA. I did some research and I found out that there are too many funny laws to list in one article! I had to limit myself to just a few topics. Here are some of the laws I found.
This party was NOT held in Massachusetts!
Hard Halloween Laws
Some states make it hard on kids during Halloween by banning masks. What would Halloween be without masks?! What fun is it to dress up in a Halloween costume and still look like yourself?
In Alabama wearing masks in public is illegal. In Walnut, CA, the kiddies need a special permit from the sheriff to wear a mask. Spiderman masks could be dangerous in Arizona, what if your children accidentally jay walked in their excitement. According to Arizona law, wearing a red mask turns a misdemeanor into a felony.
Do you think you are allowed to dress up as witches or pilgrims in Massachusetts? The reason I ask is because witches and quakers are banned from Massachusetts.
If you want to go as a cowboy in Rhode Island, you better get a water gun, cap guns are illegal! I know, it's not the same...who ever heard of a cowboy pulling out his gun, aiming and firing a loud SPLASH. It's just not right.
In Delaware children under the age of 14 can trick or treat between 6pm and 8pm, unless Halloween is on a Sunday. If Halloween falls on a Sunday they must trick or treat on Saturday the 30th during the given time frame. If I read this law correctly, children above the age of 14 are not allowed on the streets for Halloween. Delaware really knows how to spell things out!
The worst state for trick or treating is Virginia, hand down! Trick or treating on Halloween is not allowed in Virginia. I wonder if they went another day?...
Free Willy-A Great Movie
Foolish Fishing Laws
Do you like whales? Remember the movie, "Free Willy"? That whale was wonderful! The whale in Pinocchio was not so nice, I was glad when they built the fire inside it. Well, whether you like whales or hate them, here are some whale fishing laws to remember.
You may not go whale fishing in Nebraska, Utah or Oklahoma. In Ohio, you must refrain from whale fishing on Sundays. Why shouldn't whales get a day of rest also, right? Whales are not so safe in Tennessee. In Tennessee the only game you can shoot from a moving automobile is a whale.
Now before you sigh a breath of relief for the whales...or get upset about how cruel Tennessee is, take into consideration that none of these states border an ocean! Do you think whales are living in the Great Salt Lake in Utah? I didn't realize whales lived in the Lake Erie bordering Ohio.
Other than Ohio, each of these states are land-locked! Why are they writing laws about whale fishing?! And why do they call it whale "fishing" and not just "whaling"? Those lawmakers had way too much time on their hands.
Numerous devices are illegal to use for fishing. Consider the hands, you may not catch fish with your hands in either Kansas or Pennsylvania. In fact, in Pennsylvania you may not catch a fish with any body part other than your mouth. They have a favorite party game called dunking for fish! (or maybe that was apples?)
Make sure you don't use dynamite to go fishing in Pennsylvania, a lasso if you are in Tennessee, or a firearm in Wyoming. These are all forbidden fishing techniques.
Nebraska, Utah, Tennessee and Oklahoma are all land-locked!
Breaking the Law
Asinine Animal Laws
Let's start with domesticated animals, such as cats and dogs. The dogs in Arkansas must be very well trained. They are not allowed to bark after 6pm. The citizens of Oklahoma and Illinois respect their dogs and demand you do the same. That is why it is illegal in these states to make faces at dogs.
Did you know that dogs can read in Denver, Colorado? They must be able to because the dog catchers have to post notice of their intent to impound a dog. The notice must be posted for three consecutive days on a tree in the city park or along a public road. Silly people, don't they know the dog can leave town after reading the notice?
I now know that the Omen was not filmed in Wisconsin. Dogs may not enter a cemetery in Wisconsin. For that matter, neither can cats. I guess they wanted to keep it fair.
What state do cats hate to live in most? The state of New Jersey, of course! There is a town in New Jersey that requires all cats to wear three bells to warn the birds of their whereabouts. Poor, poor puddy tat!
Birds have many rights in these United State of America! Utah so loved it's birds that they gave birds the right of way on all highways. I can see the signs, "Yield--Bird Crossing". Do not spit on a sea gull! Wait, spit on a sea gull...why would anyone want to? Seems it was a problem in Virginia, it is now banned.
Virginians love all animals and birds, except raccoons. Dirty raccoons, running around dumping garbage cans! In Virginia all animals and birds share Sunday with humans as the day of rest...except raccoons, no rest for these critters! You may not hunt or kill any animal or bird in Virginia on Sunday, except for raccoons which may be hunted until 2am. Wait, isn't it already Monday at 2am?
I guess raccoons are considered OK in Tennessee, but not skunks! It is illegal to bring a skunk across state lines into Tennessee. We don't need no stinking skunks in Tennessee!
Why in the world would Montana have a law that makes it illegal to have a sheep in the cab of you truck without a chaperon? Actually, I think I would rather not know why!
How about toads and frogs? Frogs must cease and desist croaking at 11pm in Tennessee. I want to know who is out there policing this law? "Hello, this is 911, what seems to be the problem?" "Officer, it is past midnight and there are frogs croaking in my backyard!"
Finally, did you know it is illegal to lick a toad in Los Angeles, California? Do you think, "Yuck, who would want to!", like I did? It seems that there are toads that excrete a hallucinogenic substance onto their skin and people in LA were licking them...thus the need for a law!
Three Minute Warning
Silly Sex Laws
You should always make sure that you can be proud of who you are with and what you are doing. This is very true in Oklahoma where anyone caught soliciting a prostitute gets their name and photo shown on television. Imagine...Look Mom, Dad's on TV!!
Never lie, this is something your mother taught you. She had her reasons in North Carolina. If a man and woman who aren't married go into a hotel and register as a married couple then according to North Carolina law they are legally married.
Remember those embarrassing times when you were younger? You and your latest love, in the car, windows all steamy...when knock, knock is heard on the window. You look out as the officer looks in...Well you wouldn't have these memories if you had grown up in Illinois. There if a police officer suspects the occupants of a vehicle are up to something more than a chat, he must flash his lights or honk the horn and wait 3 minutes before approaching the car.
Then there are the laws that almost make you wonder, why...was this a problem of large proportion...what really goes on in Oklahoma? I ask because you may not molest a car in Oklahoma...neither can a bar owner allow someone to pretend to have sex with a buffalo in that state. You're probably right, I don't really want to know.
How do You Carry Ice Cream in your Back Pocket!?
Flaky Fashion Laws
What is it about ice cream cones and carrying them in your back pocket. Shouldn't it be my business where I carry my cone? Obviously not, here is a list of states that prohibit carrying an ice cream cone in you back pocket:
- Georgia (on Sundays only)
- Alabama (every day)
- Tennessee (every day)
- Kentucky (every day)
- New York (on Sundays only)
Maybe we should look into instituting a federal law banning this! Seems to be a very large problem.
Here's a couple from Oklahoma to beware of. Do not, I repeat, do not go to Oklahoma if you are a New York Jets fan. You may be put in jail for wearing clothing advertising the New York Jets. Never, ever, ever wear your boots to bed as this is illegal.
In Kentucky a female may not be in a bathing suit on a highway unless she is with at least 2 police officers or she is armed with a club. I guess in Kentucky a club in the hand is as good as 2 officers on foot.
New York is a fun town! Women may go topless in public...as long as it is not a business. However, they may not wear "body hugging" clothing in public. Nor may you wear your slippers after 10 pm.
Yes, only true cowboys can wear cowboy boots in California. You must own at least 2 cows before you are permitted to wear cowboy boots. No wanna-be's here!
Wanna be a Cowboy?
Read Part 2--More Dumb Laws In the USA
- More Dumb Laws In the USA
There are so many absolutely ridiculous laws still around in these United States of America. Here are a few that should make you laugh.
Leave a Comment
Leave me a comment and tell me about the strange, useless laws of your town.
Comments
I really enjoyed these two articles :) lol
Not sure where you got your information about Trick or Treating in Virginia. I grew up and live in Virginia. At 38 years old, I did my fair share of trick or treating as a child, and kids do so every year. The local news even celebrates Trick or Treating events. If this is truly some law in Va, I can tell you that know one abides by it, even the police.
Hilarious hub! I've been a resident of Oklahoma off and on for twenty years! Didn't realize I lived in the boring parts! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, ha ha this was brilliant! I am sure that when they made these rules they were so serious! can you imagine it now? I always smile at dogs, there you go, I am arrested! lol cheers nell
I think most of these are funny, but totally bogus, because I have NEVER seen anyone actually post one of the laws or a link to the actual law.
Funny hub! Good thing I live in Washington because I've got to go hump my stuffed buffalo before the ice cream melts and gets my back pockets sticky too!
LOL, I'll have to work on that!
Good one, Kari! My fav was, dogs are not allowed to bark after 6p.m. LOL
I am in IL, and I never heard of the honking and flashing lights from the police officer, however, an officer did tell me once that they are not allowed to pursue in a high speed chase because it endangers lives.
BTW, thanks for the link!
Wow, and ignorance of the law is no defense or excuse....are we expected to know these things? Hilarious!
Hi K@ri, this one is really stupid one.
Arizona, A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.
Hi K@ri, yes a very sweet & nice person named K@ri said you are sooo nice! Really. Thanks K@ri for your beautiful thoughts I really appreciate. I found lots of blue laws for you send me an email through contact on my hubs & I will send you by email. Sorry I don't want to list my email here & I am not asking you to do so because I don't want spam & you too.
~ California, In Riverside Kissing on the lips, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water, is against the local health ordinance. ~
~ New Jersey, In Bergen County, Blue laws still in effect. The only retail outlets permitted to be open on Sundays are grocery stores and liquor stores. ~
It was the Vagrancy Act 1824.
Good grief we went through Oklahoma and I am certainly glad that I smiled at the dog, instead of looked at it wrong, I didn't know there was such a law. Who would carry an ince-cream in their back pocket? How hilarious!!!Lol:)
it's pretty date language here, but the Act is from 1824 (-:
Hi K@ri,
Sorry I can't find that book & really don't remember but there were lots funny laws in that book. If I ever come across the book I will share with you.
"his person". Something one should not flash in public, as a man....
This is one I've defended and prosecuted several times - under the Vagrancy Act 1824:
It is said against you that you did wilfully openly, lewdly, and obscenely expose your person with intent to insult any female
otherwise known as "flashing" or "indecent exposure".
Legal language doesn't always keep up with the times - if I were to draft an indictment for GBH, it would be something like:
"It is said against you that you did, on the 6th February 2009, assault Arthur Smith, thereby occasioning him grevious bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, section 20."
It's the consequences which matter more than the action - so a slap on its own is neither automatically assault or ABH. If I slap someone, and there's no real injury, that's common assualt. If I slap him and he falls over and breaks his arm, that's GBH. If I slap him, he falls over and cracks his head open and dies, that's manslaughter.
a slap is only ABH if it causes some injury, such as a cut or bad bruise.
"Common assault, sounds like a little more than a misdemeanor! Let's add...don't spit in the UK! Thanks LondonGirl!"
No, it's the lowest level of assault - no lasting injury. Next up the scale is Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) and the Assault Occasioning Grevious Bodily Harm (GBH)
If anyone ever wondered what takes up our congressmen and women's time in governing the rest of us.......now we know.
LOL these are some of the craziest laws I've ever heard! thanks for sharing! and though i know it would mean extensive research...we want more! :D
What fun--I warmed up from chortling on this c-c-cold day in Florida!! I agree with Elena---MORE!!!
I can't help it, I had to come back to say I was still laughing, when I read Teresa's comment about the ice cream cone, and I'm undone again!
I'm still laughing. It's the ice cream cones that got me -- the law is an ass, indeed. Thanks -- a lovely way to start a Monday morning.
Oh my!!! This is hysterical, I was about peeing my pants when I got to the ice cone law and that did it!!! I've read the rest through my tears, all the way down to the cowboy boots law. Jesus on a rafter, it's all unbelievable! What a riot!! I'm already looking forward to the next installment!! I hope there'll be a next installment!!
Oh! This hub is hilarious! The things I didn't know... Thanks for the laugh!
Nice hub!
Spitting here in the UK counts as common assault, so better not (-:
As I remember they call them blue laws & I had this small book of these laws but can't find it now.
These are always fun, but you did pick some gems. And you comments made them even better.
OK -- now I'm out to make some citizens arrests here in California for the cowboy boots thing, though here in the foothills you have to be careful, some of them really do have a couple of cows. I'm waiting for the next time my hubby slips his on-- chickens don't count, do they?
Heee Heeee. I was going to make a comment about the voting thing in NM, but figured I didn't want to offend anyone, so I'll leave it at this. :-))
OMG!!! I was laughing, LOL!!!! This one made me chuckle out loud: "cowboy in Rhode Island, you better get a water gun, cap guns are illegal! I know, it's not the same...who ever heard of a cowboy pulling out his gun, aiming and firing a loud SPLASH. It's just not right.", and the one about not making faces at a dog. hehe. The visuals are funny. To think these are not jokes but actual laws!
Fun hub!
Oh, Lordy! I've seen some laws like this and I think they're hysterical!
Thanks for the chuckles....and the wonderment!
PM, that's crazy, hucking filarious too! Hey I love this hub. It's funny k@ri, thanks
Yes! And they not only publish their name, but their address, as well!!!
You might be relieved (or disappointed depending on how you look at it) to find out that it's a fancy word for vandalism.
Once, a guy got busted for putting "bodily fluids on a police officer". I was just dying to know which fluid this was!!!!!
We are a strange lot here in OK, so some of these laws might be warranted!!!
This is so interesting!!!! I'm finding that Oklahoma is a questionable state to live in.....
A couple of years ago, I saw in our local paper (They list all the arrests for the week), that someone was busted for "molesting a vehicle". I had to call down to the station to find out exactly what that meant, as I needed to know if I needed to protect my poor trucks exhaust pipe or not!!
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