Strange Laws

[Jack_Bauer]

So my friend and I used to watch the LCD monitor on the wall of the sushi bar that we used to go to. Once in a while, they will feature laws that are still in effect but they are rather dumb in today's standards. So Im gonna start a list, feel free to add if you know of any, it can be an obsolete law from the past or the ones that are still in effect but not practiced.

1) Jacksonville NC: On Sundays, you may beat your wife in the steps of the courthouse.
2) California: 17-31 Male dressing as female. No man or boy shall dress as a girl or woman without a permit from the sheriff, except for the purpose of amusement, show or drama.(Code 1959, � 4237.1)
3) 17-1 Kite flying restricted.It shall be unlawful for any person to fly, above an altitude of ten feet above the ground, or near any electrical conductive public utility wires or facilities, any kite or balloon which has a body or any parts, tail, string or ribbon made of any metallic or electrical conductive material.

[Ken-Ohki]

I read one somewhere that when crossing the town square in Boston or something you need to carry a gun to protect yourself from bears. I'll look it up.

[Jack_Bauer]

http://tjshome.com/dumblaws.php

More funny and dumb laws can be found on the above site.

This one is awesome
Illinois

■A state law requires that a man's female companion shall call him "master" while out on a date. The law does not apply to married couples.

WTF?.......

Maryland

■In Baltimore, It is illegal to take a lion to the movies.


This one, kinda makes sense to me...somehow.
Nebraska

■It is not legal for a tavern owner to serve beer unless a nice kettle of soup is also brewing.

[Soluzar]

They should start pretending to enforce some of these laws just for giggles.

In Riverside CA, Kissing on the lips, unless both parties wipe their lips with carbonized rose water, is against the local health ordinance.

"Excuse me sir, maam?"

"Mmwphhhh.... yes officer?"

"I could write you up a ticket for that, but instead I'm just going to warn you and let you be on your way."

"Wha...?????? "

"For what, exactly?"

"Unsanitary courting practices, sir! You should know better, but this one time I'm going to let you off, since you're both young folk with a long future ahead of you."

"Tha....ank you... officer?" :unsure:

Hell, even cops get bored.

Another golden opprtunity for police hilarity.

In Ottumwa IA, It is illegal for any man, within the corporate city limits, to wink at any female with whom he is "unacquainted

"I'd like to ask you about what you were just doing, sir."

"Haha... what?" :unsure:

"How exactly do you know that young lady?"

"Well... she's just a... that is, I just... I mean... WHAT?"

"We don't allow degenerate behaviour in this town, sir. Don't let me catch you again!"

"Are you ******** ME?"

"It's not wise to use foul language to an officer of the law, son."

[seba_boi]

Nobody should take a lion to the movies... But are two okay?...

[CrossboneGundam]

3) 17-1 Kite flying restricted.It shall be unlawful for any person to fly, above an altitude of ten feet above the ground, or near any electrical conductive public utility wires or facilities, any kite or balloon which has a body or any parts, tail, string or ribbon made of any metallic or electrical conductive material.

It says you can't fly kites with metal or electrically conductive parts more than 10 feet off the ground or near power lines. What exactly is strange about that?

[Soluzar]

It says you can't fly kites with metal or electrically conductive parts more than 10 feet off the ground or near power lines. What exactly is strange about that?
Honestly I say anyone who can't figure out not to fly kites with metal parts near power lines should be not necessarily be discouraged from doing so, but your point is somewhat valid.

[KatayokuのTenshi]

I can never remember any examples of really silly laws for some reason, but purportedly sensible laws that are slightly off...

Take s.57 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (Repealed) can anyone see the problem with this?

Bigamy
Whosoever, being married, shall marry any other Person during the Life of the former Husband or Wife, whether the Second Marriage shall have taken place in England or Ireland or elsewhere shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Seven Years and not less than Three Years,-or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour;
...
nothing in this Section contained shall extend to any Second Marriage contracted elsewhere than in England and Ireland by any other than a Subject of Her Majesty, or to any Person marrying a Second Time whose Husband or Wife shall have been continually absent from such Person for the Space of Seven Years then last past, and shall not have been known by such Person to be living within that Time, or shall extend to any Person who at the Time of such Second Marriage, shall have been divorced from the Bond of the First Marriage, or to any Person whose former Marriage shall have been declared void by the Sentence of any Court of competent Jurisdiction.

There are also some wonderfully specific sections to that act as well:

s.17 Impeding a Person endeavouring to save himself from Shipwreck.
s.29 Causing Gunpowder to explode...
s.36 Obstructing or assaulting a Clergyman or other Minister in the Discharge of his Duties.
s.39 Assaults with Intent to obstruct the Sale of Grain, or its free Passage.

[willag]

On the Indy Channel 6 News, we have a segment called, "Are You Kidding Me?" that covers some of Indiana's strangest laws.

In Beech Grove, it is illegal to eat watermelon in parks. Parks board member Ed Marks told 6News' Dan Spehler by phone that the ordinance was enacted after watermelon rinds punctured garbage bags in the park, making for a sticky mess.
Beech Grove also has a law dealing with "entering the bedroom of a member of the opposite sex," an ordinance which relates to hotels and motels. The law states: "It shall be unlawful for any guest registered at a motel, hotel, lodging, or rooming house in this city to permit a person of the opposite sex to enter the bedroom of said guest; or for any person of the opposite sex over six years of age to enter the bedroom of any guest in any such motel, hotel, lodging, or rooming house, unless that person is the wife, husband, mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, or aunt of that person, or is accompanied by one thereof..."
It is illegal to eat garlic before going into a theater in Gary.
In Elkhart, barbers can't joke about cutting off people's ears.
Indianapolis law requires people not to ride horses down streets any faster than 10 mph.
Another Indianapolis law makes it illegal to throw a stone at a bird, unless in self-defense. Specifically, the law deems it "unlawful for any person to throw any stone or other missile at any bird or any animal, except in self-defense."
Also, it's illegal to catch a fish with your bare hands in Indiana.

[Arnold]

New Jersey:

You may not slurp your soup.

New York:

Citizens may not greet each other by “putting one’s thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers”.

A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting.

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket.

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 PM.

[fujyoshi]

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

thats the only one thats true /heh

[Old Ape Face]

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

What if it's a short building? you know like a small shed or if you're just trying to feel what it's like to jump off a low ledge roof?

[Bernard_Monsha]

WTF?.......



That is an old term for a young single man instead of calling him Mister or sir you referred to him as master AKA Young Master Jimmy grooms his handlebar mustache before riding his penny-farthing bicycle for a tonic at the local pharmacy.


I still like the whaling prohibition in Kansas, Pennsylvania's prohibition of riding in a car with a gorilla in the back seat, and the "Do not bring donkeys in the bathtub on the second floor of a hotel" in Texas.

[Caster13]

3) 17-1 Kite flying restricted.It shall be unlawful for any person to fly, above an altitude of ten feet above the ground, or near any electrical conductive public utility wires or facilities, any kite or balloon which has a body or any parts, tail, string or ribbon made of any metallic or electrical conductive material.

California = Afghanistan then?

inb4animeotakurant <_<

Illinois

■A state law requires that a man's female companion shall call him "master" while out on a date. The law does not apply to married couples.

Wow. Any rabid otaku living in Illinois will instantly love their state upon finding out about this. However it's still the Midwest so that doesn't change much.

[Old Ape Face]

In Connecticut it is illegal to walk on your hands after 8:00 Pm. across an intersection in downtown Hartford.

[Carhill22]

I do believe in Chico, CA it is illegal to play baseball (as in catch) in the street...

[fujyoshi]

In Connecticut it is illegal to walk on your hands after 8:00 Pm. across an intersection in downtown Hartford.

wow I feel dumb /heh I was about ta say "how do you walk on your hands?" but then I figured out what they mean. First of all why would someone be walking on there hands o_O

[Aragami]

There are some pretty weird laws regarding chickens, how many chickens you can have, etc.

[KatayokuのTenshi]

You know, despite having posted in this thread I still just read the title as "Sturgeon's Law" -_-;

That's "90% of everything is crap"

Oh and since no-one answered my question:

Take s.57 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 ... can anyone see the problem with this?

The problem is that, with the law as it was written there, it was impossible to commit bigamy. Since it is impossible to legally be married to two people at the same time you cannot have married the second person.

[Jon]

Great laws here in the great state of Ohio (more like...boring land)::thumbsup:

It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday.

It is illegal to get a fish drunk.

Participating or conducting a duel is prohibited.

The Ohio driver’s education manual states that you must honk the horn whenever you pass another car.

If one loses their pet tiger, they must notify the authorities within one hour.

[Jack_Bauer]

^ Come to think of it, I think I poured sme liquor on the fishtank before.

Aww no dueling? How are we suppose to settle the score without a sundown shootout?

Ohio has some awesome laws!

[old hat]

There are some oddities in the FCC regulations governing the amateur service. For example, it's a violation to have any music audible in the background while talking on the radio. The rules for compensation are odd as well as beng an anachronism. The amateur service in general is an anachronism though.

[Jon]

^ Come to think of it, I think I poured sme liquor on the fishtank before.

Time to go to jail, mister!

Aww no dueling? How are we suppose to settle the score without a sundown shootout?I dunno, but I'm gonna miss epic battles like these with my friends:

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/01/27/google-map-battle.jpg

(Caught on google street view :lol:)


Here's one from Cleveland:

It’s illegal to catch mice without a hunting license!

I kinda like this one:

Cross-dressing is against the law.

Think about the children!

It is against the law to roller skate without notifying the police.

But officer, I was bored!

It is illegal to drive around the town square more than 100 times in a single session.

I swear he wasn't real!

It’s illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man’s picture.

Fair enough

Items left on a tree lawn become city property.
lol

Throwing a snake at anyone is illegal.

[old hat]

Lot of jurisdictions have no-cruising ordinances

[Arnold]

The strangest "real" law that is actually enforced and I have to deal with on a regular basis:

In New Jersey it's illegal to pump your own gas.

Never really understood that one.

[Jatz]

Also, it's illegal to catch a fish with your bare hands in Indiana.

In PA:
You may not catch a fish with your hands.

You may not catch a fish by any body part except the mouth.

Any motorist who sights a team of horses coming toward him must pull well off the road, cover his car with a blanket or canvas that blends with the countryside, and let the horses pass.

Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.

In Ohio:
If you ignore an orator (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/orator) on Decoration day to such an extent as to publicly play croquet or pitch horseshoes within one mile of the speaker’s stand, you can be fined $25.

No one may be arrested on Sunday or on the Fourth of July.

In Florida:
The state constitution allows for freedom of speech, a trial by jury, and pregnant pigs to not be confined in cages.

Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.

(Fortunately you're free to have sex with cars, bikes, and raccoons.)

When having sex, only the missionary position is legal.

(But officer, I was only planning to 69 the porcupine, honest!)

You may not fart in a public place after 6 P.

It is considered an offense to shower naked.

The strangest "real" law that is actually enforced and I have to deal with on a regular basis:

In New Jersey it's illegal to pump your own gas.

Never really understood that one.

Probably has something to do with people spilling it.

[Old Ape Face]

llinois

■A state law requires that a man's female companion shall call him "master" while out on a date. The law does not apply to married couples.

I asked this chick from Illinois if this was true, she asked me if I was sniffing glue.

[Rem+]

2) California: 17-31 Male dressing as female. No man or boy shall dress as a girl or woman without a permit from the sheriff, except for the purpose of amusement, show or drama.(Code 1959, � 4237.1)

Yeah I know that one, so lame!

[Caster13]

Duels have been against the law in the whole country since the 1800s.

[Old Ape Face]

2) California: 17-31 Male dressing as female. No man or boy shall dress as a girl or woman without a permit from the sheriff, except for the purpose of amusement, show or drama.(Code 1959, � 4237.1)

Yeah I know that one, so lame!

good thing you're doing it right then :P

[Rem+]

good thing you're doing it right then :P

haha its not me doing those stuff but the people who do, do those stuff, its what they like and want :]:naughty:

[Old Ape Face]

haha its not me doing those stuff but the people who do, do those stuff, its what they like and want :]:naughty:

Well if you go for guys like that I should do the drag more often :P

Just not anywhere in California.

[Rem+]

Well if you go for guys like that I should do the drag more often :P

Just not anywhere in California.

Haha I would love that!

pweeeasee do it! lawlz.^_^

[Old Ape Face]

Haha I would love that!

pweeeasee do it! lawlz.^_^

So I grow my hair out, get a few tattoos, buy a few Dawn of the Dead shirts, some bell bottom pants, yeah that's my style :P

[Rem+]

So I grow my hair out, get a few tattoos, buy a few Dawn of the Dead shirts, some bell bottom pants, yeah that's my style :P

Haha amazing style I must say ;)

You got me at long hair/tattoos/ and dawn of the dead shirt, and lost me at bell bottom pants heheh:P

[Old Ape Face]

Haha amazing style I must say ;)

You got me at long hair/tattoos/ and dawn of the dead shirt, and lost me at bell bottom pants heheh:P

yeah it'll be back one of these days :P

More like the denim boot cut jeans with patches all over it :P

[Rem+]

yeah it'll be back one of these days :P

More like the denim boot cut jeans with patches all over it :P

Haha not if I have anything to say about it :P

My style different ehehe:P:P

[Old Ape Face]

Your style is your style :P

[Caster13]

BACK TO TOPIC YOU TWO.

caps

[Rem+]

Your style is your style :P

BACK TO TOPIC YOU TWO.

caps

Yes it is,and my styles awesome, sorry Kenpachi...back to the topic...strange laws are lame and need to be ruled out :]]

[Caster13]

What about the law in Arizona that women are not allowed to wear pants? Or was that just on a Sunday?

[Old Ape Face]

Most strange laws are ignored if not never even put into practice because they involve scenarios that practically do not happen very often.

^I'd evolve that rule to saying Woman are only allowed to where short skirts if they are planning on wearing skirts at all.

[fujyoshi]

Your style is your style :P

my style is also pro /no1

[Jack_Bauer]

Well a lot of these laws are either arent practiced anymore, never been removed or just so out dated that they just ignored it or forgot about it.

[Old Ape Face]

Well a lot of these laws are either arent practiced anymore, never been removed or just so out dated that they just ignored it or forgot about it.

Or so out of the ordinary it's difficult to actually break that particular law if not imposable.

[Jack_Bauer]

^ Very true my friend. I still like the one in NC where you can beat your wife on the steps of city hall on Sundays. Not that I'll put it into practice or anything. Though they should revise it and make it vice versa so that they wife can beat their husband.

[Caster13]

Most strange laws are ignored if not never even put into practice because they involve scenarios that practically do not happen very often.

^I'd evolve that rule to saying Woman are only allowed to where short skirts if they are planning on wearing skirts at all.

And then feminists would try to kill you.

[Old Ape Face]

And then feminists would try to kill you.

So what? I'm a guy, what do you expect?

[Rem+]

What about the law in Arizona that women are not allowed to wear pants? Or was that just on a Sunday?

I think so because of the whole going to church thing? I don't recall..

Most strange laws are ignored if not never even put into practice because they involve scenarios that practically do not happen very often.

^I'd evolve that rule to saying Woman are only allowed to where short skirts if they are planning on wearing skirts at all.

I agree short skirts on teh ladies:naughty: jk lawlz...but no really that law offends me, skirts all the time or just on stupid sunday? Come on thats so lame..

my style is also pro /no1

I'd like to see this "pro" style you speak of :]]

[Old Ape Face]

I agree short skirts on teh ladies:naughty: jk lawlz...but no really that law offends me, skirts all the time or just on stupid sunday? Come on that's so lame..


You know you're absolutly right, Tight jeans are much more sexier on woman.

[Caster13]

You know you're absolutly right, Tight jeans are much more sexier on woman.

What about a tight skirt?



....moving on.

[Rem+]

You know you're absolutely right, Tight jeans are much more sexier on woman.

Hmm I don't know, yeah I think so to ^_^ Agreed with tight jeans, but they have to be dark or black.

What about a tight skirt?



....moving on.

Mhmm...thinking about it..no..lol...yeah moving on hehe

[Old Ape Face]

Hmm I don't know, yeah I think so to ^_^ Agreed with tight jeans, but they have to be dark or black.

Black is hot...

[Rem+]

Black is hot...

Yeah especially tight pants being black ^_^

[Old Ape Face]

Yeah especially tight pants being black ^_^

Well of course.

[Rem+]

Well of course.

Hmmm..yeah now what about the top? Black tight or colored? hmmmm, so many decisions.. :P

[Old Ape Face]

Hmmm..yeah now what about the top? Black tight or colored? hmmmm, so many decisions.. :P

how about an open sleeveless black tank top with some crazy design on it?

All woman must wear this by law.

[Rem+]

how about an open sleeveless black tank top with some crazy design on it?

All woman must wear this by law.

Yeah a black tank with a wicked band logo, with a stud or bullet belt and black tight pants..mhm..awesomeness ^_^

[Old Ape Face]

Yeah a black tank with a wicked band logo, with a stud or bullet belt and black tight pants..mhm..awesomeness ^_^

you read my mind :P

I saw a bullet belt guitar strap at Guitar Center once. I was tempted to buy it but it was 50 bucks so I thought, nah, it's not worth it.

[Rem+]

you read my mind :P

I saw a bullet belt guitar strap at Guitar Center once. I was tempted to buy it but it was 50 bucks so I thought, nah, it's not worth it.

I was about to buy a bullet belt at Hollywood Blvd. But, didnt have teh moneys which sucked because it was a great price...about 40 dollars. You so should have bought it. Lawlz.