50 Dumb Laws From Across the United States
In the United States, there are both federal and state laws. The 50 states of the United States are allowed by the federal constitution to formulate and implement their own laws. Some of these laws are rarely implemented and are even considered weird, controversial and obnoxious. While some of these laws are outlandish and could rarely be broken nonchalantly by the average citizen, some laws refer to behavior so commonplace that many could be breaking the law without even noticing!
“Dumb Laws” Across the United States
It Is Prohibited To Harass Big Foot (Washington)
In the US state of Washington, it is a crime punishable by either a fine or a jail term to harass big foot, Sasquatch, or any other undiscovered species. Skamania County, Washington, was the first county to draft the law in 1964 which states that "any willful, wanton slaying of such creatures shall be deemed a felony". Whatcom County, Washington, also unanimously passed the law on 6/9/91 declaring the county a refuge for Sasquatch and Bigfoot. Any person violating this law is likely to be charged an amount not exceeding $100,000 or a jail term not exceeding two years, arguably a bit harsh for a character from urban legends.
It Is Illegal To Catch A Fish with Your Bare Hands (Kansas)
Hand-fishing without a license is illegal in is Kansas State. Anyone who plans to hand-fish must first obtain a hand-fishing license in addition to a fishing license for an extra charge of $27.50. Seems straightforward enough, right? However, it is legal to hand-fish flathead catfish from sunrise to sunset June 15 through August 31 along the Arkansas River, all federal reservoirs beyond 150 yards of a dam, and the whole stretch of the Kansas River. Anyone with a hand-fishing license is not allowed to use hooks, a scuba gear, and any man-made fishing gear except a stringer which is deployed only after a fish has been caught.
Illegal to Eat Fried Chicken (Except With Your Hands) (Gainesville, Georgia)
In Gainesville County, Georgia, it is against the law to eat fried chicken in any other way except with your bare hands. As much as the law might seem absurd, it is enforced. In 2009, a 91-year-old visitor from Louisiana was arrested and charged for eating fried chicken with a fork. The law has been in existence since 1965, and the art of eating fried chicken with your hands is considered “a culinary delicacy sacred to this municipality".
Drivers Must Not Pump Their Own Gas (Oregon and New Jersey)
It is illegal for drivers to pump their gas in the state of Oregon. The law was passed in 1951 and seeks to reduce fire accidents caused by mishandling of flammable material by untrained personnel, and anyone violating this law is liable for a $500 fine. The law states that only the owner, pump operator or employee is allowed to pump the gas. In 2015, a bill was enacted to law to allow citizens living in less populated areas with less than 40,000 people to pump their own gas. A similar law also exists in New Jersey.
Other controversial laws in the United States.
Some other strange laws include: it is prohibited to open an umbrella on the street in Alabama, denying someone a glass of water is prohibited in Arizona, and it is also Illegal to collect rainwater in Colorado.
50 "Dumb Laws" Across the United States
Rank | Law | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Prohibited to open an umbrealla on a street | Alabama |
2 | Dominoes may not be played on Sunday | Alabama |
3 | Illegal to throw confetti or spray silly string | Alabama (Mobile) |
4 | Flamingoes are not allowed in barber shops | Alaska (Juneau) |
5 | Denying someone a glass of water is prohibited | Arizona |
6 | Dogs are not to bark after 6PM | Arkansas (Little Rock) |
7 | Spitting is only permitted on baseball diamonds | California (Burlingame) |
8 | Illegal to collect rain water | Colorado |
9 | It is illegal for car dealers to show cars on Sundays | Colorado |
10 | A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces | Connecticut |
11 | One is not to walk backwards after sunset | Connecticut (Devon) |
12 | It is prohibited to fly over water without sufficient supplies | Delaware |
13 | The singing in public places while wearing a bathing suit is not allowed | Florida |
14 | Skateboarding without a license is prohbited | Florida |
15 | One is not to live on a boat for more than 30 days | Georgia |
16 | Illegal to eat fried chicken any way but with your hands | Georgia (Gainesville) |
17 | Chickens are not permitted to cross the road | Georgia (Quitman) |
18 | No billboards allowed | Hawaii |
19 | You cannot place a coin behind your ear | Hawaii |
20 | It is prohibited to gift a box of chocolates weighing more than 50 lbs | Idaho |
21 | No bicycles allowed in tennis courts | Idaho |
22 | The giving of whiskey to dogs is prohibited | Illinois (Chicago) |
23 | No kites allowed to be flown within city limits | Illinois (Chicago) |
24 | The value of pi is 4, not 3.1415... | Indiana |
25 | The reading of palms is prohibited | Iowa (Cedar Rapids) |
26 | It is illegal to catch a fish with bare hands | Kansas |
27 | No false promises allowed | Louisiana |
28 | Nobody is to step out of a plane mid-flight | Maine |
29 | Christmas decorations must not be up past January 14th | Maine |
30 | It is not permitted to take a lion to the movies | Maryland (Baltimore) |
31 | Beer is not to be given to hospital patients | Massachusetts |
32 | All putt-putt courses are to be closed no later than 1am. | Michigan (Detroit) |
33 | Nobody is to cross state lines with a duck atop their head | Minnestoa |
34 | Anyone disturbing church services is subject to a citizens arrest | Mississippi |
35 | It is prohibited to frighten a baby | Missouri (Mole) |
36 | The raising of pet rats is prohibited | Montana (Billings) |
37 | Doughnut holes are not to be sold | Nebraska (Lehigh) |
38 | No camels are allowed on highways | Nevada |
39 | Tapping feet, nodding head, or moving to music in any water is prohibited in restaurants | New Hampshire |
40 | It is required that a person lend a phone to another in need | New Jersey |
41 | No slippers before 10 pm | New York |
42 | It is illegal to sing off-key | North Carolina |
43 | No bingo games shall last more than 5 hours | North Carolina |
44 | The serving of beer and pretzels simutaneously is not allowed | North Dakota |
45 | Noone shall participate in a duel | Ohio |
46 | Drivers must not pump their own gas | Oregon |
47 | Professional sports are not to be played on Sundays | Rhode Island |
48 | it is prohibited to catch a fish using a lasso | Tennessee |
49 | Drinking of milk is mandatory | Utah |
50 | It is prohibited to harass Bigfoot | Washington |