Explore 25 absurd laws from the list of useless state laws that are strangely still in effect. Discover these quirky regulations!
Have you ever sat and pondered the reasons behind certain laws? Perhaps you have come across some quirky, out-of-date rule that made you scratch your head and go, “Why is this still a thing? ” Well, you are not alone. Throughout the US, there are heaps of laws that are little more than useless, yet simultaneously out-and-out bizarre. These are, of course, laws that most have forgotten about but are still technically in the books, waiting for that determined officer who has had enough with the Sunday walking of ducks.
This is the list of useless state laws that will keep you in stitches, head shaking, and question the sanity of long-ago lawmakers. I’ve always been fascinated by the strange and quirky side of the law, and in my journey through researching these, I found myself constantly asking: Who thought this was necessary?
Why Do These Laws Still Exist?
Before we get into the list, let’s talk a little about why these exist in the first place. Back in the day, many of these were created for valid reasons well, sort of. Maybe banning ice cream cones in your back pocket made sense in the 1800s. But as time went by, society changed, and technology advanced, these laws started becoming relics of a bygone era.
Since usually it takes a long time to update the set of laws and can be tediously tiresome, many of these rules have just been forgotten. And so, they sit there, waiting quietly for someone to break them.
Let’s look into some of the most ridiculous and worthless state laws that, for every intention, are valid today.
Table of Contents
1. Alabama: Don’t carry ice cream in your back pockets.
It is illegal in Alabama to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket-a really weird law, which originally tried to prevent horse theft. What the felons would do is put ice cream in their pockets; this would tempt horses to follow them with no need for stealing. While it’s unlikely anyone will end up in handcuffs for this today, it’s a funny reminder of how laws can reflect the unique challenges of their time.
Thus, while it remains technically on the books, operationally, it’s more a humorous relic rather than an actual legal concern in modern Alabama.
2. Georgia: No Fried Chicken Eating with a Fork
Although the claim of a statewide law against eating fried chicken with a fork in Georgia may be a myth, there is a playful local ordinance in Gainesville that encourages diners to use their hands. This was meant to keep the traditions of Southern dining alive. In one light-hearted incident in 2009, even a tourist was “arrested” for breaking this law, but that again was just for fun.
And so, while having fried chicken in Gainesville, remember the tradition and dig in with your fingers: it is all part of the fun and culture that makes it all so great.
3. California: No Nukes in Chico
Chico, California, for example, has made it illegal to manufacture, test, maintain, and store nuclear weapons within the city limits. The fine for the offense is $500, which can be said to be meager compared to the gravity of the crime of owning a nuclear weapon. However, this shows that the City is taking an extremely keen interest in attempting to block anything related to nuclear.
This not only makes the law a commitment to safety and peace by Chico but also a pledge that nuclear weapons do not deserve a place in the community.
4. Connecticut: Pickles Should Bounce
In Connecticut, a pickle shall not be officially a pickle unless it bounces, established in 1948 to counteract a group of pickle packers who had tried to sell off some unfit products. In this quirkier regulation, a good pickle should indeed bounce; if it doesn’t, then it defrauds the customer.
While this humorous standard shows the seriousness the state takes in observing food safety, one thing is necessary to note: the myth associated with the bouncing pickle does not imply any legal enforcement on its bounce.
So, although bouncing pickles may be a fun activity you might try on your next visit to Connecticut, there are no legal consequences if your pickle does not bounce!
5. Kentucky: No coloring ducks blue
Dyeing of Fowl and Rabbits In Kentucky, there are statutes relating to the dyeing of fowl and rabbits. It is unlawful to dye or artificially color any baby chicks, ducklings, other fowl, and rabbits. In addition, it is also prohibited to sell, exchange, or give away any baby chicks ducklings, or other fowl under two months old without a minimum quantity of six.
Specifically, it is unlawful to dye a duck any color unless he sells more than six at any one time. This law probably came into being to make a ban on the sale of dyed animals as novelty pets.
While it doesn’t say who was dyeing ducks blue and then selling them singly, it was enough of a problem to call for legislation. Dyeing baby fowl and rabbits is, therefore, illegal in Kentucky, while their sales have certain restrictions.
6. Texas: Must give oral or written warning before robbing a person
This just goes to show the literal ridiculousness of some legal ideas; for example, the one stating that anyone who intends to commit armed robbery in Texas has to give victims 24 hours’ notice, either orally or in writing. That’s an example that assumes that criminals would have to warn their victims, but that certainly goes against all reason and the understood nature of the crime.
While this is a humorous satire on the legal system, let’s make clear that robbery in and of itself is the crime, and there is no such Texas or other law that requires notification.
Therefore, though it can be quite amusing to think of some thief writing formally with words to the effect of, “Dear Sir or Madam, I regret to inform you that tomorrow I will rob you. Sincerely, Some Thief,” the truth is it remains illegal to commit a crime without giving notice, much less any legal requirement for a criminal to give notice to his victim beforehand.
7. New York: It’s Against the Law to Wear Slippers After 10 PM
In New York, they have taken comfort in the night to a new level. The wearing of slippers is illegal after 10 PM. This was set up to keep down foot odor in public spaces, but who in the world keeps track of your shoes at bedtime?
8. Oklahoma: No Making Ugly Faces at Dogs
Those of you who live in Oklahoma may want to think twice next time the urge takes you over to make a funny face at a dog. It is against the law in this state to make “ugly faces” at canines. I am not sure whether this was due to preventing dog bullying in general or based on some incident, but it is in the book all the same.
9. Minnesota: No Greasing Pigs for Fun
Minnesota has officially banned the act of greasing pigs for contests or fun. I cannot say that I have ever had the urge to grease a pig, but if this is your thing, you will have to take it outside of Minnesota’s borders.
10. Louisiana: No surprise pizza deliveries
It is against the law in Louisiana to send someone a surprise pizza delivery. This was essentially enacted to prevent pranksters from sending random pizzas to people’s houses. And as much as I like pizza, as does every other person, it’s believable how this could get annoying, especially when you are the one who ends up stuck with the bill.
11. Missouri: It is illegal to drive while there is an uncaged bear in the car
It is illegal to drive a car with an uncaged bear in Missouri. I am not sure how big of a problem that was, but Missouri lawmakers thought it big enough to step in and lay some clarity on how one should go about transporting their bear safely.
12. Ohio: You Can’t Get a Fish Drunk
Nick it, Ohio has a law against giving alcohol to fish. That’s probably because some very bored fishermen were doing it, but it’s nice to know Ohio cares about its aquatic citizens.
13. Virginia: Spitting on a Seagull Will Give You a Fine
In Norfolk, Virginia, it is illegal to spit on a seagull. Although I have never had the urge to spit on a bird, it’s anyway good to know that Norfolk’s seagulls are safe from such indignities.
14. Wyoming: It is forbidden to take a picture of a rabbit between January and April
It is illegal to take a picture of a rabbit from January to April in Wyoming without a permit. The law was set up to protect the rabbits during the time of year when they were mating, but still-who would have thought you needed a permit to snap a photo of a bunny.
15. Arkansas: You Can Legally Beat Your Wife, But Only Once a Month
Though this is an outdated and offensive law, it remains in the books in Arkansas. It states that beating one’s wife is legal but only once a month. Thankfully, that is not applied; moreover, domestic violence laws have gone a long, long way from this one.
16. Nevada: No Camels on Highways
It is illegal in Nevada to drive a camel on a highway. This dates back to the early 1800s as one mode of transport across the desert. Not that the threat is huge these days, but the law remains.
17. South Dakota: Falling Asleep in a Cheese Factory is Against the Law
You may also find these strange rules, not necessarily ambiguous, weird, unwritten, or unspoken laws and regulations within various cultures of interest: One will get in trouble with the law if one sleeps in a cheese factory in South Dakota. As if someone would sleep in the middle of a busy factory; at least the workers remain alert!
18. North Carolina: It’s Against the Law to Use Elephants to Plow Fields
It is illegal to plow a cotton field with an elephant in North Carolina. I would imagine that this was done to prevent cruelty to animals, but I question if this happened somewhere in history.
19. Indiana: You Can’t Catch Fish with Your Bare Hands
It is against the law to catch fish with one’s bare hands in Indiana. Now, you might think it’s kind of fun and a rather challenging way to fish, but the Indiana lawmakers took a firm stand on this catching method.
20. Montana: Driving Animals onto Railroad Tracks is Against the Law
It is illegal in Montana: “To drive any animal onto a railroad track with intent to stop a train.” This was put in place to indeed prevent any accidents on the roads with the operation of trains; however, it is rather odd that anyone would lead animals onto tracks.
21. Florida: You Can’t Sing While Wearing a Swimsuit
It is against the law in the Sunshine State to sing while in public and donning a swimsuit. I am not sure if it was designed to preserve public decency or save people’s ears from impromptu beach karaoke sessions. The case may be, but it is certainly one of the stranger laws on the books.
22. Massachusetts: No Gorillas in the Backseat
It shall be unlawful in Massachusetts to drive an automobile with a gorilla in the back seat. Having never had the opportunity to drive an automobile with a gorilla in the back seat, it is clearly for protection reasons that this law is created.
23. Tennessee: You can’t hold public office if you’ve been in a duel
Not being able to hold any office is the case with a resident of Tennessee if they have ever engaged in a duel. This does sound like an unusual law; however, the rule was enacted many years ago when dueling was somewhat frequent to solve disputes.
24. Rhode Island: There is a License Needed for Clothes on a Clothesline
In Rhode Island, for one to air clothes on a clothesline, he or she must have a license for such activity. This may have been created to hold homeowners to neighborhood standards, but still flagrantly strange would be the need for permission to be granted for a person to hang-dry his laundry.
25. Washington: It’s Illegal to Kill Bigfoot
It’s illegal to kill Bigfoot in Washington State, where there have been reported sightings. I haven’t personally seen the big guy, but it’s good to know that if I do someday encounter the shy creature, the law prohibits me from harming him.
FAQs
Q1: Pizzas are forbidden to be delivered as a surprise in which state?
Louisiana law prohibits delivering pizzas as a surprise because that’s how they make sure pranksters do not send pizzas to people’s houses. Saves the pranksters therefore from ordering unwanted pizzas to be delivered to people’s homes since most people have to work to make the money needed to buy what they ordered.
Q2: Do you think there is any reason why the use of elephants to plow fields in North Carolina is prohibited?
The prohibition against taking elephants for fieldwork in North Carolina probably emerged because of concerns about cruelty to animals. This statute ensures that no elephants – neither indigenous nor usual work animals in the region – are subjected to some burdens or tasks that have been ruled unfitting for the animal.
Q3: For what, if any, reason did legislation get drafted banning the killing of Bigfoot in Washington?
The ban on killing Bigfoot was done for the protection of the legendary creature and to make beliefs about Bigfoot conserved. Washington state embraced the Bigfoot lore since there were numerous sightings reported, and is assuring that no harm will come to any creature that might be mistaken for Bigfoot.
Q4: Why do residents of Rhode Island have to get a license to hang clothes on a clothesline?
Licensing in Rhode Island to hang clothes on a clothesline is probably a regulation within neighborhoods about maintaining aesthetic value and uniformity. It means this law is kept in place to ensure communities can maintain the look of public and semi-public spaces in regards to what at least that community feels is important-uniform and visually pleasing environments.
Closing Thoughts
There you have it! A list of useless state laws that are technically still in effect across the U.S. While most of these are outdated and outlandish, they at least offer a treasure of fascinating insight into the past and a whole lot of laughs in the present.
Next time you are driving across state lines, remember to keep these weird and wacky regulations in mind, or you just may find yourself behind bars for bouncing an unworthy pickle or driving your bear sans cage.
