We decided to undertake some legal legwork and identify the strangest statute still on the books in every state. It is a class a misdemeanor to wave a burning torch around in the air. From highlyregulated cheese to roadside camping, these laws dont make a lot of sense but theyre still on the books in wisconsin. When reading these laws, you have to wonder what happened to get them instated. Pizza police, illicit fishbowls, and other anomalies of the law that make us all unsuspecting criminals. We didnt have room for every weird sex law we found, and some of them we had to shorten a bit to make them fit.
Dumb wisconsin laws, clean, updated often, and filtered for the best quality. Heres the absolute dumbest law from each of the 50 states. As people used to smuggle it in from illinois, all yellow butter substitute is. In canada, its now legal to engage in oral sex with your pet. Here are some funny, dumb state laws from nebraska to wyoming. The most ridiculous law in every state business insider. Like, im not too sure why lollipops are banned in washington state. In blythe, california, it is illegal to wear cowboy boots unless you own two or more cows. In alaska, a child is not allowed to build a snowman taller than him or herself at school.
Of course, state laws carry all sorts of standard prohibitions against murder, theft. The legal highway may lead by pointing towards the direction of justice, but the road is definitely littered with outdated laws and statutes that serve no use other than to confound and confuse. A popular weird law for hawaii was that you could only have one drink in front of you at a time. For example, theres a jurisdiction in wisconsin where its illegal to eat ice cream on sundays. While the total oleo ban was finally lifted in the late 60s, some restrictions on margarine sale and use remain on the books today.
The good news is that most of these laws are not actively enforced, but they are still on the books. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to odd california laws. 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. Thousands of web sites list dumb laws or stupid laws for cities and states around the u. Below is a list of real funny, silly, stupid, and dumb laws in the united states. Those under 21 can drink legally, but they must be enrolled in a culinary program to do so. Here are the most ridiculous laws from all 50 states you may be breaking quite a few of them. 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. This collection includes a selection of both past and current laws. In cottage grove as an emergency water saving measure, your street number dictates when you can use your sprinklers and water your plants. But as i recall, it was determined it would take several years and a number of special sessions to do it, so theyre mostly still theoretically enforceable. If you allow it while youre in arizona, youre a criminal. In prince william county, virginia, it is illegal for a motorist to park their vehicle on a set of railroad tracks.
Dumb utah laws and humor, relating to many aspects of the state, its weather, and its people. It is illegal to use briefs like these to clean your car in san francisco. A list of the craziest laws that still exist in the united states. One wrong step could easily place somebody on the wrong side of us law with these odd particulars. However, these weird or outlandish laws are actually on the books, whether theyre enforced or not. The most notorious margarinerelated laws still in effect in 2018 are part of wisconsin statute 97. In the united states, there are both federal and state laws. Your home state could have the nations stupidest law.
The owner of every hotel in hastings, nebraska, is required to provide each guest with a clean and pressed nightshirt. The 50 states of the united states are allowed by the federal constitution to formulate and implement their own laws. Wisconsins weird laws portray states wacky history. And other times these crazy laws exist without logical explaination. This includes the states of illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, north dakota, ohio, south dakota and wisconsin. Weird state laws from every state in america thrillist. Find out what other laws you may be breaking with our roundup of the strangest new york city and state laws.
So they linger like old family photos in the books. Deval patrick d signed a bill that made such privacy violations illegal. Almost every community has an ordinance covering something minor that has happened in the distant past. Stupid laws from wisconsin one may not camp in a wagon on any public highway or risk a fine of up to ten dollars. No bicycle shall be allowed to proceed in any street in the city by inertia or momentum with the feet of the rider. In wauwatosa if a person shall fail to return books heshe has checked out from the library, that person should return their library card. Its not the only wackadoodle law that still exists in the states. If you are aware of some weird laws still in effect in your country or state feel free to tell us in the comments. If you are aware of some weird laws still in effect in your country or.
The one thing that all 50 states in the united states have in common is that all of them have very strange laws. 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. These bizarre laws on education are somehow still on the books. There are no laws on the books which prohibit bestiality. Some of these old laws have been on the books for centuries, many times they are outdated and not current for todays society. Weve spent time researching some of the weirder minnesota laws mentioned and have found that for the most part they are fictitious. Wisconsin is home to some fairly odd and unusual laws. Over on io9, we posted a map of all the weirdest sex laws in the u. Son mark moved to tucson, arizona over a decade ago. It is illegal in new york state to transport an ice cream cone in ones pocket on.
That ones actually been repealed, but the law prohibiting you from drinking on the beach still. If a child burps during church, his parent may be arrested. The internet was made for lists of the weirdest laws you never knew existed in your state theyre quirky, theyre fun, and after auditing them, i can tell you theyre about 95% bogus. Enjoy this collection of funny, stupid and often bizarre laws from the midwest. In fairbanks, alaska, it is illegal to serve alcohol to a moose. Sometimes legislators in the united states get a little carried away, as evidenced by these silly laws that are still on the books. Believe it or not these are all still on the books.
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. The good folks over at olivet nazarene university put. Its still illegal for restaurants to serve margarine unless the customer specifically orders it. Illinois has some absurd state and city laws still on the books. Constitution, all the way down to the 27th amendment. Some of them have misogynistic origins, like wives not being able to do certain things without their husbands permission, while some are just weird. Most ridiculous laws in every state business insider. Its illegal to throw slops or soapsuds in the street. Thanks to a precocious 9yearold boy, its finally legal to throw snow balls in a colorado town known for its snow. Wauwatosa if a person fails to return books to the library, that person shall. Kuby called new yorks penal code an archaeology of the eras of new york littered with rules that would be unconstitutional today.
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. Whether you want to learn how to start a business or you want to know the difference between living trust vs. After the states highest court declared it admissible under thencurrent regulations to sneak unsolicited, partially nude pictures of ladies on public transit, lawmakers reacted with breakneck speed. In long beach, california, it is illegal to curse on a minigolf course.
How is it possible that some dumb laws like these are still in effect today, remains a mystery. Many municipalities in minnesota including anoka county still have a vagrancy law on the books that makes it misdemeanor for a person, with ability to work, who is without lawful means of support, and does not seek. According to a law made in 1924, it is illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. Williams, identifies and explains the state laws and regulations for lenders engaging in making and brokering second mortgages and home equity loans in the states of illinois, indiana, iowa, michigan, minnesota, nebraska, north. That said, there still are some weird laws, usually from an earlier day and age, that remain on the books at. When it comes to auto insurance, all you need to know is that youre. When someone sells a reptile they are legally required to give the. Each year, the mayor must appoint three intelligent housekeepers to the board of tax supervisors. This one isnt technically still on the books, but it juuuuuuuuust got changed. However, these weird or outlandish laws are actually on the books, whether. An examination of wisconsins weird laws, still on the books today. 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. State law requires that cheese labeled as wisconsin certified premium grade aa meet a certain standard. Its hard to believe that until just this year, carrying condoms in new.
In athens, ga, it is illegal to read a book to your friends after 2. 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. Sometimes the law changes quickly, as in the case of massachusetts upskirting case last week. Horses are not allowed out on the streets and highways at night unless. The craziest laws that still exist in the united states. If you allow your donkey to sleep in a bathtub, youre an ass. Dumb wisconsin laws and humor, relating to many aspects of the state, its weather, and its people. Two we turned to for 31 strange but true laws that are still on the books.
If you think any of the laws on this page are not accurate or do not remain active in. Many of these silly, outdated laws are still on the books. In california, community leaders passed an ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water. A law that began in the 80s as a serious antinuke statement has taken on a second life as an internet joke, mainly due to the purported consequences. Stupid laws the worlds best collection of stupid laws. Return books to the library or return your library card. Its our personal top list, therefore youll find the most stupid laws, at least in our opinion, at the end of the list. They may have made sense when they were written, but today they seem a little questionable, weird or just plain dumb.
You can probably think of a few laws off the top of your head. If they didnt bring back the books, why would they bring in their card. In west virginia, children may not attend school if their breath smells of wild onions. Every state has their share of funny laws and minnesota is no different. These and laws similar to those above were presented to the legislature, and they were asked to clean the books. To right this wrong, officials declared that a pickle is legitimate only if it. List of stupid laws of america and around the world.