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50 Weird Laws in the US You Won’t Believe Are Real

50 Weird Laws in the US You Won’t Believe Are Real

  • Next Luxury / Interesting
  • by — Tobias Handke

The good old US of A is a strange place at the best of times. It’s full of weird and wonderful people from all walks of life and there is never a dull moment in the country that bleeds red, white, and blue. The United States also has some head-scratching laws that are still in place today. These weird laws in the US are often bizarre and downright insane and it’s hard to believe they are still in existence. 

As anyone familiar with American politics knows, getting laws changed is nearly impossible. Just look at the Constitution. There is no way anyone is going to touch that, even though it is completely out of touch with modern society. But let’s not focus on that and bring our attention back to these crazy laws found throughout America. 

Many of them are unbelievable and make no sense. It’s hard to fathom how these dumb laws were ever created in the first place. Did you know that culinary students in Illinois can drink wine under the age of 21 as long as they spit it out? Or that it is illegal to wear a fake mustache when attending church in Alabama? 

We have scoured the internet and found the weirdest laws from all 50 states in America. So read on and discover more about the strangest laws in the United States of America.  

50 Weird Laws in the US You Won’t Believe Are Real

1. Alabama – It’s Illegal To Drive Blindfolded

man driving on the road

Why you would be driving blindfolded in the first place is anyone’s guess, but just to make sure, Alabama created a law making it illegal. Lawmakers in the Heart of Dixie have another rule whereby you can not drive your car if you can’t see out of the front windscreen or the side windows, which to be fair, makes much more sense than the blindfold law. 

Other strange laws from Alabama include not being able to wear a mustache to church (in case you make people laugh), the banning of bear wrestling, and the fact that you can’t put ice cream in your back pocket. 

2. Alaska – It’s Illegal To  Wake a Sleeping Bear for a Photo

Bear sleeping on top of a hill in the woods

You shouldn’t be getting anywhere near a bear whether it is sleeping or not. This weird law in Alaska states that waking a bear while it is sleeping to get a selfie is a no-no. Despite being a strange law, it makes a lot of sense. 

3. Arizona – It’s Illegal for a Donkey To Sleep in a Bathtub

donkey in a tub

This dumb law dates all the way back to the 1920s. A local dam burst and flooded a rancher’s home. Now, this rancher owned a donkey who would often sleep in the bathtub. When the house flooded, it took the tub and the donkey with it. The retrieval of the donkey was a costly experience, so the local government decided to pass a law whereby donkeys could no longer sleep in bathtubs to stop this from ever happening again. 

4. Arkansas – It’s Illegal To Pronounce Arkansas the Wrong Way

Welcome to Arkansas Sign

The people of Arkansas really don’t like it when people pronounce the name of their state wrong. So they made a law that states saying Arkansas wrong is a criminal offense. Another weird law from Arkansas is that you can’t honk your horn in the vicinity of a sandwich shop after 9 pm. 

5. California – It’s Illegal To Eat a Frog That Has Died During a Frog Jumping Competition

Man chopping frog for cooking

This bizarre law states that “Any person may possess any number of live frogs to use in frog-jumping contests, but if such a frog dies or is killed, it must be destroyed as soon as possible, and may not be eaten or otherwise used for any purpose.” To be fair, this is another weird law that does make sense. 

6. Colorado – It’s Illegal To Ride a Horse Drunk

drunk man with a bottle of champagne

If you’ve had a few too many in Colorado it’s best to hand over your keys, or the reins to your horse. Riding under the influence is not on. You also can’t keep a couch on your front porch. This law was introduced after kids at the University of Colorado started burning them. 

7. Connecticut – A Pickle Must Be Able To Bounce

Pickles in a wooden bowl

After two fellas were arrested in 1948 for selling pickles unfit for human consumption, Connecticut passed a law that says only pickles that bounce can be sold. At least you know the pickle on your burger is always fresh in Connecticut. 

8. Delaware – It’s Illegal for Drive-In Theatres To Show R-Rated Movies

Drive-In Theatre

This law was passed in 1974 to make sure people passing by didn’t catch a glimpse of anything that shouldn’t. Other strange Delaware laws include no whispering in church and the fact that you can’t sell dog hair. 

9. Florida – Animals Left in Parking Spaces Must Pay Fee

cow elk grazing in the grass next to a parking area

This Florida law is believed to have been put in place during the 1920s when the Ringling Bros. Circus moved to Florida. 

10. Georgia – It’s Illegal To Eat Fried Chicken With a Knife and Fork

Fried chicken for lunch with fork and knife

They love their chicken down South and this law prevents anyone from eating the delightful food with a knife and fork. The law was passed in 1961 and in 2009 a 91-year-old woman was arrested for not eating chicken with her hands, but it turned out to be just a bit of fun.

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11. Hawaii – It’s Illegal for Police To Have Sex With Prostitutes During Work

police officer and a woman

This isn’t really that weird of a law. Stopping police from getting the booty while working makes total sense. Hawaii is full of weird rules, with it against the law to have two alcoholic drinks sitting in front of you, get a tattoo behind your ear, and eat your second wife. 

12. Idaho – It’s Illegal To Gift Someone a Box of Chocolates Weighing More Than 50 Pounds

chocolates in box

Nobody should be eating that much chocolate. This law is a good thing and one that no doubt saves a few lives. 

13. Illinois – It’s Legal for Underage Culinary Students To Drink Alcohol

cook teaches the student a culinary

The “Sip and Spit” law means that those under 21 who attend culinary school are allowed to drink alcohol as long as they spit it out as a way to taste it for their course. It was passed in 2012. 

14. Indiana – It’s Illegal To Kiss Somone If You Have a Mustache

portrait of man and woman together

Men with a caterpillar above their lips cannot kiss women in public. Also, no kiss can last for more than five minutes. 

15. Iowa – It’s Illegal To Throw a Brick Onto the Freeway

waved his hand with a brick

This sensible law is only applicable to residents of Mount Vernon. Another law also says that one-armed piano players must play for free. 

16. Kansas – If Two Trains Meet on a Track Neither Shall Pass Until the Other Has

Train tracks leading into the sunset

This law makes no sense and is actually just poorly worded so it seems like neither train can go anywhere. 

17. Kentucky – It’s Illegal for a Woman To Marry the Same Man Four Times

If three times isn’t a charm then you can forget about the fourth time in Kentucky. You also can’t dye a duckling blue and sell it unless you have six or more ducklings painted blue up for grabs. 

18. Louisiana – It’s Illegal To Send Someone a Surprise Pizza 

delivery man delivering boxes with food to female client

You can receive a fine of up to $500 if you want to surprise someone with a pizza. 

19. Maine – It’s Illegal To Park in Front of a Dunkin’ Donuts

car parking in dunkin donuts

This law only applies to Dunkin Donuts in South Berwick where the parking lot can turn into a traffic jam if not kept clear. 

20. Maryland – It’s Illegal To Wear Sleeveless T-Shirts in Public

man exercise outdoor

Happy with this one. Nobody needs to see your skinny arms as you’re out jogging. 

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21. Massachusetts – It’s Illegal To Tell Fortunes Without Certification.

woman predict future by cards

At least you know they are qualified. It’s also illegal to own exploding golf balls. 

22. Michigan – It’s Illegal for a Woman To Cut Her Own Hair Without Her Husband’s Permission

woman in a salon doing haircut

This archaic rule makes absolutely no sense and should be abolished. 

23. Minnesota – It’s Illegal To Drive With Dirty Tyres

dirty front wheel of the off-road car

They are considered a public nuisance so make sure they are nice and clean before cruising into town. 

24. Mississippi – It’s Illegal To Swear in Public

Hand to pinky swear

Keep the profanities to a minimum when in Mississippi or you might end up with a $100 fine or behind bars. 

25. Missouri – It’s Illegal To Wrestle a Bear

brown bear near unsuspecting man

Again, why would you want to get this close to a bear? It’s also illegal to drive with an uncaged bear in your car. 

26. Montana – It’s Illegal To Usher Sheep Onto a Railway With the Intent To Kill

sheep roaming over railroad tracks

This one is super weird. If you guide sheep onto a railway line in the hope they will be run over you could be fined up to $50,000 and get locked up for five years. 

27. Nebraska – It’s Illegal To Marry If You Have an STI

wedding

Considering millions of people in the US have had or currently have an STI, there are probably not a lot of weddings happening in Nebraska these days. 

28. Nevada – It’s Illegal To Drive a Camel on the Highway

people driving camel

Shepps / Shutterstock.com

This law is weird but understandable. 

29. New Hampshire – It’s Illegal To Take Seaweed From the Beach at Night

basket of orange seaweed

This law came into effect in 1973 and was most likely created to stop farmers from stealing large amounts of seaweed and using it as fertilizer. 

30. New Jersey – It’s Illegal To Wear a Bullet Proof Vest When Committing a Crime

man in a bullet proof vest

Not sure whether this has decreased crime in New Jersey or not but it’s sure to make criminals think twice. 

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31. New Mexico – Idiots Are Banned From Voting

filling in ballots and casting votes in booths at polling station

This law isn’t being policed enough considering Donald Trump got elected in 2016.

32. New York – It’s Illegal To Wear Slippers After 10 PM

man walks to a bathroom at the night wearing slippers

Considering nobody really knows what you are doing in the comfort of your own home at night, it’s unlikely you will be caught if you decide to wear your slippers after 10 pm.

33. North Carolina – It’s Illegal To Use Elephants To Plow Cotton Fields

Farmers use elephants to plow their fields

ThaiPix / Shutterstock.com

This came about after elephants destroyed fields while the Barnum & Bailey Circus was in town demonstrating their show. You’re also not allowed to drink alcohol while playing bingo. 

34. North Dakota – It’s Illegal To Lie Down and Fall Asleep With Your Shoes On

man sleeping on a bench

Sleeping with your shoes on is never ideal, but to think you can be fined for doing so is preposterous. 

35. Ohio – It’s Illegal To Get Fish Drunk

goldfish in aquarium on table

Putting a dish in a bowl of alcohol is not a good idea. 

36. Oklahoma – It’s Illegal To Trip a Horse

man riding horse

Why would you want to trip a horse in the first place? That’s just cruel. 

37. Oregon – It’s Illegal To Go Hunting in a Cemetery

hunter with a gun in his hands

Established in 1972, this law is meant to keep cemeteries safe from people trampling through the grounds hunting animals. 

38. Pennslyvania – It’s Illegal To Go See a Fortune Teller

Fortune Teller Reading Palm

Psychics and the like find it hard to make a living in Pennslyvania.

39. Rhode Island – It’s Illegal To Bite Off Someone’s Limb

man bite man's ear

The penalty for putting out an eye, slitting the nose, ear, or lip, or cutting off, biting off, or disabling any limb or member of another is a minimum of 20 years. 

40. South Carolina – It’s Illegal To Play Pinball If Under Age

Little girl playing pinball game

How many childhoods were ruined by this silly rule?

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41. South Dakota – It’s Illegal To Sleep in a Cheese Factory

cheese factory with a plastic cheese molds

This law was believed to have been introduced to stop people from falling asleep while operating and driving heavy machinery. Dozing off while using heavy machinery in a cheese factory isn’t smart, so it’s not as strange of a law as it sounds.  

42. Tennesse – It’s Illegal To Share You Netflix Password

This is a rather recent law introduced in 2011 that is meant to stop hackers from stealing passwords and selling them, but we all know it’s just Netflix’s way of making you pay for your own subscription. 

43. Texas – It’s Illegal To Sell an Eye

man wearing eyeglass

The black market human organ trade doesn’t do so well down in Texas. 

44. Utah – It’s Illegal To Drink Milk

woman drinking a glass of milk

Too bad if you are lactose intolerant. You also can’t bite during a boxing match. 

45. Vermont – It’s Illegal for Women To Wear False Teeth Without Their Husbands Consent

young woman stretching mouth in fake smile with her fingers

I’m sure most husbands would be fine with their wife wearing false teeth if they had too. 

46. Virginia – It’s Illegal To Trick or Treat if You Are Over 14

women smiling traditional trick and treat party at night

Can’t really see a problem with this strange law. Trick or Treating should be for the kids anyway. 

47. Washington – It’s Illegal To Harass Bigfoot

mysterious bigfoot figure

As more sightings of Bigfoot occurred, Washington decided to implement this crazy rule to protect the creatures, even though they don’t exist. 

48. West Virginia – It’s Illegal To Whistle Under Water

woman swimming undewater in the swimming pool

How would anyone know you are disobeying this law? You also can’t wear hats at the movies in case they obstruct someone else’s view of the screen. 

49. Wisconsin – It’s Illegal To Serve a Butter Substitute in Prison

butter and a butter knife

Everyone should be afforded the right to real butter. 

50. Wyoming – It’s Illegal To Take Photographs of Rabbits From January Until April

two white rabbits in the garden

This wacky law was put in place in 1921 and means people have to apply for a pass to photograph a rabbit during this time. 

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Tobias Handke

Writer

Tobias is a content specialist with over a decade of experience writing about men's lifestyles for a variety of publications around the world. When not on his computer he enjoys traveling, eating pizza, and watching 80s action films.

Tobias is a content specialist with over a decade of experience writing about men's lifestyles for a variety of publications around the world. When not on his computer he enjoys traveling, eating pizza, and watching 80s action films.

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