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I’m Under Arrest for What? Fifty Bizarre U.S. Laws
By: Annie Tucker Morgan (View Profile)
I’ve never claimed to have extensive knowledge of U.S. legislation throughout history, but it’s 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 don’t comply. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Alabama It’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
Alaska Whispering in someone’s ear while he’s moose hunting is prohibited.
Arizona Cutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.
Arkansas It’s illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
California You may not eat an orange in your bathtub.
Colorado It’s unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor
(Denver).
Connecticut A pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.
Delaware It’s illegal to get married on a dare.
Washington, D.C. It’s against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.
Florida If you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
Georgia It’s illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.
Hawaii All residents may be fined for not owning a boat.
Idaho A man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.
Illinois It’s illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).
Indiana The value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.
Iowa One-armed piano players must perform for free.
Kentucky Every citizen is required to take a shower once a year.
Louisiana Biting someone with your natural teeth constitutes simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth classifies as aggravated assault.
Maine If you keep your Christmas decorations on display after January 14, you’ll be fined.
Maryland It’s against the law to wash or scrub a sink, no matter how dirty it is (Baltimore).
Massachusetts No gorilla is allowed in the backseat of any car.
Michigan A woman may not cut her own hair without her husband’s permission.
Minnesota It’s illegal to paint a sparrow with the intent of selling it as a parakeet (Harper Woods).
Mississippi Walking a dog without dressing it in diapers is forbidden (Temperance).
Missouri Children may buy shotguns in Kansas City, but not toy cap guns.
Montana It’s a felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail.
Nebraska Bar owners may not sell beer unless they brew a kettle of soup simultaneously.
Nevada It’s illegal for men with mustaches to kiss women.
New Hampshire It’s forbidden to sell the clothes you’re wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
New Jersey It’s against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
New Mexico Females may not appear unshaven in public.
New York While riding in an elevator, you must talk to no one, fold your hands, and look toward the door.
North Carolina It’s against the law to sing off-key.
North Dakota It’s illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
Ohio You must honk the horn whenever you pass another car, according to the state’s driver’s education manual.
Oklahoma It’s forbidden to take a bite out of another person’s hamburger.
Oregon State law requires dishes to be drip-dried.
Pennsylvania It’s illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
South Carolina If a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, he is required by law to keep his promise.
South Dakota It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.
Tennessee Selling hollow logs is strictly forbidden.
Texas You may not shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Utah It is illegal not to drink milk.
Vermont Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Virginia Tickling a woman is unlawful.
Washington It’s illegal to pretend that one’s parents are wealthy.
West Virginia If 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.
Wyoming Unless you have an official permit, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April.
By: Annie Tucker Morgan (View Profile)
I’ve never claimed to have extensive knowledge of U.S. legislation throughout history, but it’s 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 don’t comply. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Alabama It’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
Alaska Whispering in someone’s ear while he’s moose hunting is prohibited.
Arizona Cutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.
Arkansas It’s illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
California You may not eat an orange in your bathtub.
Colorado It’s unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor
(Denver).
Connecticut A pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.
Delaware It’s illegal to get married on a dare.
Washington, D.C. It’s against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.
Florida If you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
Georgia It’s illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.
Hawaii All residents may be fined for not owning a boat.
Idaho A man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.
Illinois It’s illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).
Indiana The value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.
Iowa One-armed piano players must perform for free.
Kentucky Every citizen is required to take a shower once a year.
Louisiana Biting someone with your natural teeth constitutes simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth classifies as aggravated assault.
Maine If you keep your Christmas decorations on display after January 14, you’ll be fined.
Maryland It’s against the law to wash or scrub a sink, no matter how dirty it is (Baltimore).
Massachusetts No gorilla is allowed in the backseat of any car.
Michigan A woman may not cut her own hair without her husband’s permission.
Minnesota It’s illegal to paint a sparrow with the intent of selling it as a parakeet (Harper Woods).
Mississippi Walking a dog without dressing it in diapers is forbidden (Temperance).
Missouri Children may buy shotguns in Kansas City, but not toy cap guns.
Montana It’s a felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail.
Nebraska Bar owners may not sell beer unless they brew a kettle of soup simultaneously.
Nevada It’s illegal for men with mustaches to kiss women.
New Hampshire It’s forbidden to sell the clothes you’re wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
New Jersey It’s against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
New Mexico Females may not appear unshaven in public.
New York While riding in an elevator, you must talk to no one, fold your hands, and look toward the door.
North Carolina It’s against the law to sing off-key.
North Dakota It’s illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
Ohio You must honk the horn whenever you pass another car, according to the state’s driver’s education manual.
Oklahoma It’s forbidden to take a bite out of another person’s hamburger.
Oregon State law requires dishes to be drip-dried.
Pennsylvania It’s illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
South Carolina If a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, he is required by law to keep his promise.
South Dakota It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.
Tennessee Selling hollow logs is strictly forbidden.
Texas You may not shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Utah It is illegal not to drink milk.
Vermont Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Virginia Tickling a woman is unlawful.
Washington It’s illegal to pretend that one’s parents are wealthy.
West Virginia If 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.
Wyoming Unless you have an official permit, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April.
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