What would make a law seem crazy to the casual observer? The oddity of its intent? The time at which it is was written? Or perhaps even the fact that despite the law appearing to be “crazy” to most people, there are instances of it having been enforced fairly recently?
To be fair, in researching the crazy laws within the United States, many of them could be up to a hundred years old, and quite frankly may have fallen through the cracks of review.
Be that as it may however, they still exist today and even when written, the question begs to be asked, “What were they thinking?”
The Craziest Laws in the United States: A-C
So, let’s start our trip around the country alphabetically, in the Crimson Tide state of Alabama where it’s still illegal to this day to wear a fake mustache in church with the intent of causing laughter. Hmmm, okay, I must admit, just reading this one made me giggle a bit, and I can only surmise that when it was written there were far fewer ways to illicit a chuckle from a friend.
Next up, the great state of Alaska. Alaska happens to be on my personal bucket list of places to visit, my preference being an Alaskan cruise. So, if my wife and I are ever able to make that happen, I found it good to know that it’s still illegal in Alaska to awaken a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking its photo. Call me crazy, but I would think that while it was sleeping would be the best, not to mention safest, time to snag that photo.
Not hooked yet? Let’s move to a much warmer climate in the southwest in Arizona. Arizona is one of many states that has a Latin motto, theirs being “Ditas Deus,” which translated from Latin to English means “God Enriches.” However, it is still illegal in the valley of sun to allow donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. That’s a head scratcher for sure.
One more with the letter “A” – quick what state is it? You are correct, Arkansas! Well done! Arkansas happens to be another state with a Latin state motto – “Regnas Populus,” or “The People Rule.” Okay, show of hands, how many of you out there have either on purpose or kiddingly mispronounced Arkansas as “Ar-kansas?” I thought so, I’ve pretty much done it all my life thinking it was hysterical, but now I know never to do it while actually in Arkansas, because it is illegal to intentionally mispronounce the state’s name.
Since there are no states that start with the letter B, we jump to the C’s and the Sunshine State itself, California. Now, if you pay even the least bit of attention to what many people consider one of the most beautiful states in the Union, you would realize that pretty much no law will seem too out of bounds to them. But I think this law will surprise even a lifelong California resident. I could give you a hundred guesses and you would never come close, so here goes.
While it is legal for any one person to own as many frogs as they would like, to enter into frog-jumping competitions, if one of said frogs expires during a race, it is illegal to consume it; it must be disposed of immediately. The question that comes to mind: How was this ever a big enough problem that required legal protection?
Colorado, nicknamed the Centennial State for becoming the 38th state in 1876, a hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was quite possibly the most unique state to research on this subject, mostly because I could not settle on just one “crazy” law, so I decided to share several – some statewide, some localized by county or city. Let’s start in Denver, shall we?
Did you know in Denver it’s still on the books as illegal to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor? No? Don’t feel bad, almost no one does, even in Denver. Here is one that makes perfect sense, but makes one wonder why it needed to written as a law in the first place. In Alamosa, it’s illegal to throw missiles at cars. Could this possibly have been a problem at some point?
Here are two statewide laws that I actually am on board with. It is illegal to “drive,” or ride your horse, while under the influence, and it is also illegal for car dealers to show cars on Sundays. I still remember when you were car shopping you purposely hit the lots after church to get a look without being surrounded like Custer at Little Big Horn with salespeople looking to be your best friend. One more, in Aspen – it’s on the books that catapults cannot fire boulders at buildings. Guess they’ll have to stick to firing missiles at cars because that’s only illegal in Alamosa after all.
Moving on to Connecticut, the Constitution State. Honestly, not much comes to mind when I think of Connecticut, and I don’t mean that as an insult, but it’s just sort of up there in the Northeast doing its own thing. That doesn’t exempt them from a crazy law of their own, though, so here goes. A pickle cannot legally be considered a true pickle unless it bounces. Is it possible that it’s someone’s job to test each and every pickle for bounce-ability, and what does it pay?
Crazy American Laws: D-I
We are just getting started, and still have over forty states to go, so let’s hit the road to Delaware, “the First State.”
Again, not every state has something humorous to look at from a law or legal perspective; sometimes it’s a law or statute that makes perfect sense, but probably exists because someone didn’t have the sense to enforce it themselves. So here goes: In Delaware, it is on the books as illegal to show R-rated movies at drive-in theaters. I get it, but if you’re being honest, is that really the greatest threat those under 18 face in today’s world?
Back to the humorous, and I guarantee this one will put a smile on your face. In Florida, known as “the Sunshine State,” if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the money required, or the fine if expired, must be paid. This probably won’t be too big an issue anymore as most circuses elephants have removed as performers, but you never know. Better safe than sorry to leave it on the books.
Can you possibly guess what’s illegal to have in your back pocket on Sundays in Georgia? I could give you a hundred guesses and am reasonably confident you wouldn’t even come close. Give up? Okay, well in the “Peach State” you cannot have an ice cream cone in your back pocket on Sundays. I did find a source that speculates that in the 1800s putting a cone with no ice cream in your pocket may have been a way to lure horses away to be stolen – could make sense, I guess.
Time to pack your bags for the long flight from Georgia to, yep you guessed it, the beautiful Hawaiian islands! When you think Hawaii, “the Aloha State,” you think beautiful views, gorgeous sunsets, colors and landscapes you’ve never seen before, right? Well, that much is certainly true, but from the “crazy or unusual” law perspective, did you know that it was illegal to have coins in one’s ears? I tend to think of things from a practical standpoint, so the questions begs, “how could this possibly have become something that a law was needed to address?”
Back on the plane, we’re headed to Idaho. Probably known best for potatoes, Idaho is nicknamed the Gem State because of its breathtaking landscapes and abundance of a variety of natural resources. But in this state, it is illegal to shower your love with a box of chocolates that weighs more than fifty pounds. First thing I think of: Give them two forty-pound boxes. Problem solved, right?
Moving on, we travel to the great state of Illinois, the Prairie State. Now, the unusual law we settled on for Illinois really was not much of a head-scratcher per se, but more like one that maybe just needs to be a bit more defined. In Illinois, it is legal for those under the age of twenty-one to consume alcohol as long as they are enrolled in a culinary program. The strange part is that the ability to consume extends beyond the culinary school’s walls, so that is what probably needs to be a bit better defined.
Okay, back to the silly as we head to the Hoosier State of Indiana. If you are someone you wears a really great mustache, but is also someone who prefers to greet people with a kiss, you may have a choice to make. Why, you ask? Well, because someone had the very good sense to make it illegal for someone to wear a mustache if they are also someone who is a habitual kisser. You just have to wonder how it was concluded that these two things had that much to do with one another.
As we had to the Hawkeye State of Iowa, their crazy law just seems a bit unfair if anything. In Iowa, for some reason, one-armed piano players must perform for free. One would think overcoming this particular disadvantage would merit perhaps a better pay scale, but sadly no.
The Craziest Laws in United States History: K-M
Back in the car, off to the Sunflower State of Kansas. Many think Kansas is the Jayhawk State, but the official nickname is Sunflower, which is also the state flower. Their quirky law is one more poorly worded than anything else; the weird part is that it has never been corrected. In Kansas, if two trains meet on the same track, neither is permitted to move on until one or the other has passed. Hmmm, so one has to pass until the other can move, but neither is allowed to move… so how can either pass… oh boy, I just got a little dizzy. Best to move on.
Show of hands! Who has sent a stack of pizzas to someone’s house, C.O.D. of course without the recipient’s knowledge? I thought so; pretty much all of us have used this time-tested gag right alongside the flaming bag of poop on the stoop, and don’t even get me started on ding-dong ditch. However, in the Pelican State of Louisiana, they take the sending of unwanted pizzas very seriously. How seriously, you ask? How does a fine of $500 sound for serious? Yikes! Stick to sending magazine subscriptions of questionable interests – so far, no law on the books about those.
The Bluegrass State of Kentucky has one that is going to be difficult to beat for sure. Ready? In Kentucky, it is illegal to dye a duckling blue if offering for sale, unless of course, and this just makes good sense, you are offering six or more of the dyed ducklings for sale at the same time. Only one word comes to mind: why?
Known as both the Old Line and the Free State, Maryland has a law on the books that predates no shirt, no shoes, no service a bit. Someone had the very good sense to make it illegal to be in a public park with a sleeveless shirt. How serious do they take this in Maryland? A $10 fine was settled upon as a sufficient deterrent for this heinous offense.
Maine, with the no-brainer nickname of the Pine Tree State, finally has a law I can get behind. As a person who takes the putting up of outside Christmas decorations very seriously – I mean Clark Griswold seriously – I am in complete agreement with this particular law. This is just good sense, as they have made it illegal for Christmas decorations to remain up after January 14. Is there anything worse than driving past that one house that still has icicle lights swaying in the spring breezes? I think not!
Ready to hop on Route 1 for the trip down to the Bay State of Massachusetts? Great, off we go then. Okay, many of the unusual laws we came across allowed for a whimsical interpretation, but the one for Massachusetts was, at least in our opinion, its own whimsy so to speak. We all know many take their golf games way too seriously, but can you ever think of a reason to own an exploding golf ball? Didn’t think so, and coincidentally, neither does the Bay State, as they have a law that makes it illegal to own one.
On to the state that has in my opinion one of the best vacation spots in the country – Mackinac Island, Michigan. No great surprise that Michigan’s nickname is the Wolverine State, but their crazy law is certainly a bit of a head-scratcher to say the least. Did you know that in the state of Michigan, it is illegal for a woman to cut her own hair without her husband’s permission? Oh, to be a fly on the wall for one of those conversations!
We are now heading right next door to “the Land of a Thousand Lakes” – Minnesota. What is considered their unusual law, honestly, I just found to be good common sense. I mean, how couldn’t it just be good sense to not be allowed to cross state lines with a duck atop your head? Best of all, they made sure to include that this does indeed go for both men and women. Great catch by someone.
From the cold, frozen tundra of the north, our next stop is in the sultry south, as we head to the Magnolia State of Mississippi. Being completely honest, with no tongue-in-cheek humor this time, I actually think what I found as their crazy law I can truly get behind. On the books, and still enforced periodically to this day, is a law that makes it an offense to use profane language in public places. What comes with such an offense is a fine of $100. I say “well done” Mississippi!
Missouri, the Show Me State, is certainly about to live up to that reputation when you hear what is still on the books for them. Think absurd, think why, think abstract or think even bizarre and I’m willing to bet you still wouldn’t come close to what is coming. Ready? Here goes! In Missouri, it is illegal to drive with an uncaged bear. How did it ever get to the point this law was needed? Hard to imagine.
We are heading north to the great state of Montana, otherwise known as “the Treasure State” for their abundance of rich mineral reserves. Montana also holds a special place in mind for the very special family trip we took west that gave us the opportunity to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield, site of Custer’s Last Stand. That aside, their quirky law didn’t catch my attention so much for the quirky aspect, but more for the serious and detailed way it is written. In Montana, it is illegal to guide sheep onto railroad tracks with the intent of harming the train. Doing so makes a person subject to a $50,000 fine and up to five years in prison. Okay, I get the penalties, really, but as with Missouri, how was this ever that big a problem?
The Craziest Laws in the United States: N-P
Onto Nevada, nicknamed “the Silver State,” dating back to the silver rush days of the 1800s. Best known probably for the lights, energy and excitement of Las Vegas, Nevada continues to evolve in a variety ways, seemingly able to reinvent itself when needed. That said, they take traffic on their roads very seriously – serious enough to leave this gem of a law on the books. In Nevada, it is still illegal to drive a camel, one hump or two, on a highway. So, if you like taking the backroads to work or to the store, apparently it is perfectly fine to exercise your camel that way.
Nebraska is one of those states you sometimes forget is there (sorry, guys). Referred to as “the Cornhusker State,” a nickname derived from University of Nebraska athletics, Nebraska just seems to fly under most people’s radar. However, they maintain a law on their books that seems to be seeking to avoid lighting the fuse between mother and daughter. Those of us with a mother and daughter in the same household know that when they reach those teenage years, daughters need very little help in being angry at mom. So the law stating that a mother cannot give her daughter a perm without a proper state license is definitely seeking to maintain peace in households all over the state.
We are hopping a plane again to head to New Jersey, the Garden State. How New Jersey garnered the nickname the Garden State seems to be a bit murky, as the quote attributed to the name may go back as far as Benjamin Franklin. Setting that aside for a moment, this law is sure to win you a bet in any bar, simply because there would be no good reason for someone to believe it to be true. In New Jersey, it is illegal for a man to knit during fishing season. Let that sink in… you good? Need an aspirin? Thought so.
Hopping across the Hudson into the bright lights of New York, forever known as “the Empire State” because of the state’s significant global importance. That, however, does not mean they are exempt from having a law or two still on the books that, well, just might need updating or omission altogether. This law certainly qualifies: Slippers, yes slippers, are not permitted to be worn after 10 p.m. I’ve got nothing – let’s move on.
Gorgeous landscapes and rich cultural history have earned New Mexico the right to be called “the Land of Enchantment.” I guess you wouldn’t at first glance think of New Mexico as a conservative state when it comes to literature, but at some point, someone, or a group of someones thought it prudent to do a little editing to Romeo and Juliet. So it became law to remove four hundred words of sexually explicit material from Shakespeare’s classic. Kind of makes you want to grab a copy outside of NM to see what they were, doesn’t it?
Wish I could tell you that North Carolina’s nickname, the Tar Heel State, was born of something exotic, but alas, I cannot. It simply came about as an obvious choice because of the state’s long history of tar production. However, its unusual law is a bit of a different story. Did you know that in North Carolina it was illegal to use an elephant to plow cotton fields? How this becomes so flagrant that it needs to be addressed is beyond me.
To “the Peace Garden” state of North Dakota. The name formally adopted in 1957 honors the non-profit International Peace Garden that represents the goal of a more peaceful world and is positioned on the international border between North Dakota and the Canadian Province of Manitoba. But enough of the down-to-earth stuff, we’re talking crazy laws, and in North Dakota, it remains illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on. Well, since most wives would snatch their husbands bald for such an offense, I guess you would have to consider yourself lucky the law got to you first.
My home state, the Buckeye State of Ohio, is up next. At one time, buckeye trees covered much of Ohio’s rolling landscape, so that is primarily where the nickname comes from. As for Ohio’s unusual law still on the books, it seems, as we’ve said in a few other instances, just good common sense. It is still, if you can believe it, illegal to get a fish drunk in the Buckeye State. I actually tried thinking this one through, and it gave me quite the headache, probably not unlike one of those fish that had one too many, I suppose.
When you think of “the Sooner State” of Oklahoma, you think football. But a little research told us the unassigned lands in the territory went open for claims on April 22, 1889. Literally thousands of potential settlers waited legally on the border for the go-ahead to race in and claim land of their own. Those that, shall we say, jumped the line a bit and went in early became known as “Sooners.” The negative connotation of the name gradually faded as the football team picked up on the term for its name. Oh yeah, almost forgot – it is also still illegal to wrestle a bear in Oklahoma. Any questions?
Next stop, the Beaver State of Oregon. Although never formally adopted by the state legislature, the name is the most common associated with Oregon because of the dramatic impact beavers have had over the years on the state’s ecosystem. As for their unusual law and the need for it, you be the judge. Honestly, when I thought about it logically, it made really good sense that it remains illegal to go hunting in a cemetery. At first glance, you might say, “Huh?” But I guess it would be out of respect for those resting there.
Did you know Pennsylvania got its nickname “the Keystone State” from being the middle colony of the original thirteen colonies? If not, now you do. So, as you can probably imagine, they take their fortune-telling very seriously in Pennsylvania (hey, who doesn’t?). But they go the extra mile by still making it illegal to tell a fortune teller where to dig for buried treasure. That’s just being thorough, don’t you think?
Crazy American Laws: R-W
Off we go to our nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island. Affectionately known as the Ocean State due to its direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, Rhode Island – all 1,045 square miles of itself – has sought to deter the biting off of someone’s limb with a jail sentence of 1-20 years. Hmmm, I’ll bite (no pun intended) – how would a judge ever see fit to not impose twenty years every time? For crying out loud, if you set out to gnaw off an extremity, seems to me you deserve the book and to be beat with it!
From the brisk winds of the Northeast, we now turn to the heat and humidity of the South, but also along the Atlantic Ocean, to the Palmetto State of South Carolina. A very simple choice of names for this beautiful state, as the sabal palmetto happens to be the state tree. Show of hands, who out there keeps their horse in their bathtub? Well, if that’s where you fancy keeping that magnificent animal, I would not consider moving to South Carolina, because keeping a horse in a bathtub is flat-out illegal.
From South Carolina, we’ve boarded a plane headed to the Mount Rushmore state of South Dakota. The original state nickname was “The Sunshine State” but it apparently was already taken, but in 1992 “The Mount Rushmore State” was formally adopted. What South Dakota has managed to keep quiet is their apparently widespread problem of catching up on sleep in a cheese factory. This at one time was such a widespread issue they saw fit to enact a law against it and then leave it on the books just in case.
Everyone knows Tennessee as “The Volunteer State”, but did you know the names derives from the enormous amount of volunteers willing to take up arms in the War of 1812? Well, now you do. But the law they have on the books seems to be a pretty recent one (and let’s hope not a harbinger of things to come). In Tennessee, don’t think about sharing your Netflix password with anyone, because it could land you in serious hot water. But here is a question: What if I, say, have it written on a piece of paper that I just happen to leave on a table and then leave a room? Did I share it, or am I just forgetful?
Texas is well known as “The Lone Star State,” but the exact origins of the enduring nickname are not really known. One theory is that it races back to 1819 when the first attempts at independence from Mexico began. Other theories exist, but we are here for some unusual legal discussions after all. When you think of Texas, the word “tough” comes to mind. Apparently so tough, in fact, that Texas sees fit to make it illegal to sell one’s own eye. If one state would need this law, my money would be on Texas for sure.
If I told you one state had the nickname “The Beehive State,” would Utah come to mind? Probably not, and I would agree, but the fun part of any journey is what you learn along the way, and Utah is known by that name as a tribute to the state’s hard work attitude and industry. But Utah wants us all to know they can let their hair down a bit and get crazy, so buckle up for this gem of a law. It is not, I repeat NOT, illegal to drink milk in Utah! Talk about going bat you-know-what crazy. Wow!
Back across the country we are heading to the upper Northeast to “The Green Mountain” State of Vermont. The name derives from a French translation given to the Vermont Mountains by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1647. That said, women may have the right to vote, work outside the home, drive a car, etc. in Vermont, but they haven’t fully arrived because they still need their husband’s permission to wear false teeth. Where is the outrage, I ask?
We are in the home stretch with just a few states to go, and we are headed south along the coast to “The Old Dominion State” of Virginia. Virginia is known by this moniker as it has the distinction of being known as England’s oldest colony in America. As far as a law to take a look at, we were left to wonder what Virginia seems to have against the good-old-fashioned fun of Halloween. Not at all sure what prompted it, but at some point it was agreed that it was a good idea to make it illegal for children to trick-or treat on Halloween. Do you suppose they get around this by trick-or-treating on, say, October 30th, perhaps? Worth looking into.
Across country again we go, all the way to the left coast and “The Evergreen State” of Washington. The name comes from the fact that Washington is rich and abundant with beautiful evergreens. So, with lots of trees, there are plenty of places for undiscovered species to hide, but should you find them, know that it is illegal to harass them. This includes Bigfoot, Sasquatch or any other undiscovered species. Fines and/or imprisonment awaits those that do. So, thinking logically, does this mean that Washington officially recognizes the existence of – wait a minute, the law says harassment of undiscovered species. So if they are undiscovered, who exactly has been harmed? A real mystery to say the least.
It will come as no surprise that West Virginia is known as “The Mountain State,” because most of the state is indeed mountains and rolling hills; it’s a truly beautiful state. But we all know West Virginia has had its share of jokes lobbed their way about a variety of things as well. Well, sometimes you bring things on yourself, and I have to say that if you need a law on the books that says it’s illegal to whistle underwater, well, maybe some of the jokes are warranted.
Well known as “The Badger State,” Wisconsin is our next stop. Not as well known is that that name actually comes from a reference to the unusual lodging of the state’s miners in the 1800s. Wisconsin is known as a hardworking, hard-nosed state, but they also believe in compassion. So much so that it’s against the law to serve butter substitutes in prison. Now that’s an approach to rehabilitation we can all get behind.
Last, but certainly not least, our final stop through the crazy, head-scratching and unusual laws of our great nation is “The Equality State” of Wyoming. Given that the name is a way to pay homage to the fact that women first received the right to vote in 1869, it is a fitting end to our journey. In addition, it could possibly also have just about the most goofy law still on the books. So you say you want to take a picture of a rabbit? Okay, fine, but you’d better not do it January through April without a permit or you just might have to explain yourself to a judge.
We hope you enjoyed this fun, and maybe even a bit informative, trip around what is truly the greatest country on earth despite all its current challenges. Stay well, friends!
