Wacky and Outdated U.S. Laws

Dumb Laws ^ | 9/11/09 | Stupid Lawmakers

[OneVike]

Jefferson Davis, yes that Jefferson Davis, was the mastermind of importing camels as beasts of burdens. I read that in Winston Broom’s latest book Vicksburg .

Thanks, I love it when I learn something new. And that I did not until now.

[jocon307]

LOL, literally, very amusing stuff.

“Or maybe it has something to do with that old saying about “thumbing your nose” — meaning you reject something.”

My understanding as a native of NYC is that this gesture is very old and of Dutch origins and means “kiss my *ss”.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

The NJ law against pumping your own...I always thought that was because the gas jockey had a wad of cash in his pocket and was afraid of getting mugged. When I was a kid I noticed they always looked very nervous if a driver exited his vehicle.
We don’t live there anymore but to this day I’ve never pumped gas.

[OneVike]

Roe vs. Wade?

Are you suggesting that it should be on the list?

Because Roe vs Wade was not a law put in place by any states, it was by fiat of the Supreme Court.

But you do give me an idea for a list of the 25 cruelest and worst laws in the country. Rose vs Wade would be #1 by a very long margin.

[sionnsar]

these rules were actually written down on a piece of paper for a legislature to agree on and pass.

An EXTREMELY low standard to clear, is my observation from watching our state legislature's activities for many years now.

It goes way beyond voting without reading, or even sponsoring without reading, it goes down to the level of writing without thinking.

I've gotten many a bill killed simply by explaining its real effects. In one case the author killed his own bill in his own committee (was was chair) after understanding its rel effects.

[sionnsar]

it seems the Reno is a little weary of self stimulation.

"Weary", hmmm...

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

U.S. Camel Corps remembered in Quartzsite, Arizona

http://www.outwestnewspaper.com/camels.html

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

There are self-serve and full-serve both in PA. Otherwise I’d never drive. (I’m actually the second generation in my family that never pumped gas. But the first that “wouldn’t know how.”)

[BlueNgold]

I like the AZ law that started th discussion - the rest are just amusing.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Re the camels in Arizona, they were originally govt property. In 1856 or so, a shipment of camels was brought to America to see if they’d be useful in the southwest. Another shipment followed, the year after, IIRC. But then came the Civil War and the beasts never were popular with the indigenous creatures, so they got sold off and eventually disappeared.

[Little Pig]

#24: Maybe to protect the brothel industry?

#22: To stop those darned kids from doing smoky burnouts in ratty Camaros to impress the chicks hanging out there, presumably.

#16: Gang signs maybe?

#11: Because Pinball used to be a form of gambling, IIRC

#7: They wouldn’t have made a law if someone hadn’t done it.

[Publius Valerius]

I have lived in CA, TX, VA, MD and IN. I have driven between them all.

Speedy brand stations in Indiana are semi-full serve. They will pump your gas for $.01 more per gallon. They do not wash windows or check fluids.

In Bloomington, Ind., the Marathon service station on 45/46 near Walnut Street is true full serve. Costs $.50 extra per gallon.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

A person may be jailed in Fargo, North Dakota for wearing a hat while dancing or wearing a hat to an event where dancing is taking place.

Whoa! Gotta stay away from there. Mama often told me NEVER to dance (alone) without one.

[kaylar]

An anti-crime law in Texas requires criminals to give their victims notice, oral or written, 24 hours in advance of the the crime they're planning to commit and the nature of that crime. It seems unlikely that someone who is already planning to break one law would follow this law and actually put pen to paper: "Dear Karen, I'm planning to break into your house and steal your Wii in 24 hours."

Sounds like one of Discworld's thieves' or assassins' guild regulations.

[Publius Valerius]

Swifty. Not Speedy.

[Clemenza]

Ditto New Jersey’s arcane law banning self-serve gas.

[GreenHornet]

It is illegal in 17 states to mistake Helen Thomas for Ernest Borgnine.

[OneVike]

Sounds like one of Discworld's thieves' or assassins' guild regulations.

I love it, unions for thieves.

Only question is who would they picket and where would they plant their butts when they go in strike?

[Tenacious 1]

When I was a kid, I actually pumped gas at Renold’s Amoco for a summer job. I patched tires, changed lightbulbes, replaced wipers, changed oil, etc. back when they were actually service station. I have some great stories from those days.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Couple of decades ago, some stations in New Mexico began to offer the choice. I remember my aunt there saying she hoped her car wouldn’t feel insulted when I pumped its gas for her so she could save a few pennies.

I know of no modern automobile that has the filler neck located behind a tilting license plate, a place where gas attendants could not easily damage something. Probably considered an unacceptable fire hazard now.