Laws in the US
In Breton, Alabama, there is a law on the town's
books against riding down the street in a motorboat.
It is illegal to hunt camels in the state of Arizona.
In Atlanta, Georgia, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp
Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote.
In the 1940s, California law made it illegal to serve alcohol
to a homosexual or to dress as a member of the opposite sex. Drag queens avoided
the latter restriction by attaching pieces of paper to their dresses which
read "I'm a boy." The courts accepted the argument that anyone wearing
such a notice was technically dressed as a man, not a woman.
Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine are the four
states in the U.S. that do not allow billboards.
The state of New York instituted the nation's
first mandatory seat-belt law on July 12, 1984.
In Massachusetts, snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom
windows are closed and securely locked and it is illegal to go to bed without
first having a full bath.
In Idaho, a citizen is forbidden by law to give another
citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds.
In Florida, women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
Federal law forbids recycling used eyeglasses in the United States.
Every citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath once a year.
In Clarendon, Texas, there is reportedly a law on the books
that lawyers
must accept eggs, chickens, or other produce, as well as money, as payment
of legal fees.
It is against the law to remove your shoes if your feet
smell bad while you're in a theater in Winnetka, Illinois
It is against the law to yell out "Snake!" within the city limits of Flowery Branch, Georgia.
In some smaller towns in the state of Arizona, it is illegal to wear suspenders.
In Riverside, California, there is an old law on the city's books which makes it illegal to kiss unless both people wipe their lips with rose water.
The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled that the prosecution
must throw its files wide open to the defense if the accused is suffering
from amnesia.
In Kentucky, it is against the law to throw eggs at a public speaker.
In Alaska, it is illegal to look at a moose from the window of an airplane or any other flying vehicle.
Connecticut and Rhode Island never ratified the 18th Amendment: Prohibition
A local ordinance in Atwoodville, Connecticut prohibits people
from playing Scrabble while waiting for a politician to speak.
The California Board of Equalization has ruled that bartenders cannot be held responsible for misjudging the age of midgets
In New York State, it is still illegal to shoot a rabbit from a moving trolley car.
In Pennsylvania, Ministers are forbidden from performing
marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.
The Eisenhower Interstate System requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.
In Hazelton, Pennsylvania, there is a law on the books that prohibits a person from sipping a carbonated drink while lecturing students in a school auditorium.
In 1996, Christmas caroling was banned at two major malls in Pensacola, Florida. Apparently, shoppers and merchants complained the carolers were too loud and took up too much space.
The U.S. Congress passed a law in 1832 requiring all American citizens to spend one day each year fasting and praying. For the most part, people ignored the law, and no effort was made to enforce the legislation.
Surprisingly, electronic or "cyberspace" harassment
is not
yet a Federal crime, nor is it illegal in most states.
According to law, no store is allowed to sell a toothbrush on the Sabbath in Providence, Rhode Island. Yet, these same stores are allowed to sell toothpaste and mouthwash on Sundays.
In 1838, the city of Los Angeles passed an ordinance
requiring that a man obtain a license before serenading a woman.
FBI agents were first allowed to carry guns in 1934, 26 years after the agency was established.
Candy made from pieces of barrel cactus was outlawed in the U.S. in 1952 to protect the species
Sidewalk acrobatics that might frighten horses are outlawed in Denver, Colorado
Before the enactment of the 1978 law that made it mandatory for dog owners in New York City to clean up after their pets, approximately 40 million pounds of dog excrement were deposited on the streets every year.
