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Ludicrous Laws
KAPLAN ^ | September 13, 2002

Posted on 09/13/2002 3:14:15 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist

Ludicrous Laws

LAW: One must not drive a car while wearing a blindfold.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Alabama

CITATION: Section 32-5A-53

ACTUAL: Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism.

(a) No person shall drive a vehicle when it is loaded, or when there are in the front seat such a number of persons as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle.

(b) No passenger in a vehicle shall ride in such position as to interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the sides, or to interfere with his control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §11-104.)

LAW: It is illegal to taunt someone for refusing to participate in a duel.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: West Virginia

CITATION: §61-2-24. Taunting for nonparticipation in duel; penalty.

ACTUAL: If any person post another, or in writing or in print use any reproachful or contemptuous language to or concerning another, for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a challenge, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than six months, or fined not exceeding one hundred dollars.

LAW: There is a one-dollar fine for every instance of public drunkenness and/or swearing.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: West Virginia

CITATION: §61-8-15. Profane swearing and drunkenness; penalty.

ACTUAL: If any person arrived at the age of discretion profanely curse or swear or get drunk in public, he shall be fined by a justice one dollar for each offense

LAW: It is against the law to play the flute or tambourine to draw attention to an auction.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Utah / CITY: Salt Lake County

CITATION: 5.54.310 Unlawful activities designated.

ACTUAL: All auctioneers are forbidden to conduct their sales in such manner as to cause people to gather in crowds on the sidewalks so as to obstruct the same; nor shall they use immoral or indecent language in crying their sales, or make or cause to be made noisy acclamations such as ringing of bells, blowing of whistles, or otherwise, though not enumerated here, through the streets in advertising their sales; and no bellman or crier, drum or fife or other musical instrument or noisemaking means of attracting the attention of passersby, except the customary auctioneer's flags, shall be employed or suffered to be used at or near any place of sale or at or near any auction room, or near any auction whatsoever.

LAW: It is required by law that you make a loud noise when passing a car on the left.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Rhode Island

CITATION: §31-15-4 Overtaking on left.

ACTUAL: The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules stated in this section:

(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give a timely, audible signal and shall pass to the left at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.

(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of the front vehicle on the audible signal of the overtaking vehicle shall give way to the right, and shall not increase speed until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.

LAW: It is illegal for a bingo game to last longer than five hours, unless the bingo is being played at a fair.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: North Carolina

CITATION: §14-309.8. Limit on sessions.

ACTUAL: The number of sessions of bingo conducted or sponsored by an exempt organization shall be limited to two sessions per week and such sessions must not exceed a period of five hours each per session. No two sessions of bingo shall be held within a 48-hour period of time. No more than two sessions of bingo shall be operated or conducted in any one building, hall or structure during any one calendar week and if two sessions are held, they must be held by the same exempt organization. This section shall not apply to bingo games conducted at a fair or other exhibition conducted pursuant to Article 45 of Chapter 106 of the General Statutes

LAW: It is illegal to fly a kite higher than 10 feet above the ground.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: California /CITY: Walnut

CITATION: 17-1 Kite flying restricted.

ACTUAL: It shall be unlawful for any person to fly, above an altitude of ten feet above the ground, or near any electrical conductive public utility wires or facilities, any kite or balloon which has a body or any parts, tail, string or ribbon made of any metallic or electrical conductive material.

LAW: It is illegal not to clean up after your pets-even in your own backyard.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: California / CITY: Cerritos

CITATION: 6.24.015 Removal of materials between January 15th through May 15th.

ACTUAL: (a) During the period from January 15th to May 15th of each and every year, it shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal or fowl manure, excrement or other fly breeding material to remain on or at his premises for a period in excess of seven days.

(b) During the period from January 15th to May 15th of each and every year, all animal or fowl manure, excrement, and all other fly breeding materials, shall be removed at least once a week from all premises, including but not limited to, poultry ranches, poultry yards, dairies, cattle yards, barns, sheds, feeding platforms, coops, and mangers. Every person maintaining or operating a poultry ranch, dairy, or cattle yard shall file with the code enforcement officer a notice specifying the day of each and every week during the period of January 15th to May 15th that he will remove or cause to be removed from his premises all animal and fowl manure, excrement and all other fly breeding materials.

LAW: Riding a bicycle without your hands on the handlebars is illegal.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Wisconsin / CITY: Sun Prairie

CITATION: Section 10.32.020 Manner of operation restricted.

ACTUAL: No bicycle shall be allowed to proceed in any street in the city by inertia or momentum with the feet of the rider removed from the bicycle pedals. No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handlebars or practice any trick or fancy riding in any street in the city nor shall any bicycle rider carry or ride any other person so that two persons are on the bicycle at one time, unless a seat is provided for a second person.

LAW: Unless a customer orders it specifically, it's against the law to serve margarine instead of butter at a restaurant.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Wisconsin

CITATION: 97.18(4)

ACTUAL: (4) The serving of colored oleomargarine or margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter is prohibited unless it is ordered by the customer.

LAW: It is against the law to attach yourself to a moving car while on in-line skates.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Tennessee / CITY: Nashville

CITATION:

ACTUAL: A person operating a scooter, in-line skates or roller skates shall not attach the same or himself to any moving vehicle upon the roadway.

LAW: One must not collect seaweed.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: New Hampshire

CITATION: TITLE XVIII FISH AND GAME CHAPTER 207 GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO FISH AND GAME Collecting Seaweed Section 207:48

ACTUAL: In Night. - If any person shall carry away or collect for the purpose of carrying away any seaweed or rockweed from the seashore below high-water mark, between daylight in the evening and daylight in the morning, he shall be guilty of a violation.

LAW: It is illegal to wear a Halloween costume without permission from the sheriff.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: California / CITY: Walnut

CITATION: 17-32 Mask or disguise--Wearing.

ACTUAL: No person shall wear a mask or disguise on a public street without a permit from the sheriff.

LAW: "Screech"-ing your tires can be punished by imprisonment.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Kansas / CITY: Derby

CITATION: 10.12.010 Tire screeching unlawful.

ACTUAL: (a) It is unlawful for any person or persons, while operating a motor vehicle on the streets or highways of the city, to accelerate or speed the vehicle in such a manner or to turn a corner in such a manner as to cause the tires to screech.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, imprisonment for a period not to exceed thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

LAW: One must not possess a smelly hide.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: California / CITY: Chico

CITATION: 9.24.010 Hides

ACTUAL: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, store, or have in his possession, any green hide or any hide giving off an offensive odor.

LAW: It is illegal to play street hockey.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: California / CITY: Chico

CITATION: 9.26.010 Prohibited.

ACTUAL: It shall be unlawful for any person in the city, to play baseball or any other game upon any street, sidewalk, lane or alley.

LAW: It is illegal to sing out of turn in church.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Delaware / CITY: Rehoboth Beach

CITATION: §198-23. Disturbing religious worship and lawful assemblies.

ACTUAL: (a) No person shall disrupt or disturb any congregation or assembly met for religious worship by noise, talking or whispering, or by rude or indecent behavior, or by profane language within their place of worship, or within 300 feet of the place of worship. (

b) No person shall disturb any lawful assembly or gathering of people in any public place.

LAW: It is illegal to distribute poison—without a license.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Georgia / CITY: Dublin

CITATION: Sec. 5-2. Putting out poison.

ACTUAL: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to scatter or put out or otherwise distribute on his premises within the city any poison in any form or manner whatsoever which is or may likely be sufficiently lethal or of such strength as to cause death to any animal or fowl, without first obtaining a permit to do so from the chief of police.

(b) The chief of police may, in his discretion, issue or refuse to issue such permit. If issued, no charge shall be made for the same. If refused, the person seeking such permit may appeal to the mayor and city council. The chief of police shall in no event issue such permit for any area which is not enclosed by a fence. Provided, that nothing in this section shall apply to poisons which are made for the sole purpose of killing and destroying insect pests and rats and other rodents, if such poisons are not dangerous or injurious to chickens, turkeys, other domestic fowls, dogs, cats, cattle, hogs and other domestic animals, and if such poisons are not dangerous or injurious to human beings. Provided further, that this section shall not apply to such poisons as are distributed only in vapor or gaseous form by means of a spray gun or other similar means, but only to such poisons as are distributed in liquid form or in such form as may be eaten.

LAW: It is against the law to shoot a fish.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Wyoming

CITATION: 23-3-201. Fishing tackle; designation of waters for setline fishing; taking fish with firearm prohibited; snagging; penalties.

ACTUAL: (a) Except as otherwise provided, fish may only be taken or fished for with a maximum of two (2) rods or poles, with lines and hooks attached, and with the user in attendance.

(b) No line shall have more than three (3) single or treble hooks, flies or lures. As used in this section:

(i) "Hook"means a single device regardless of the number of prongs; and

(ii) "Lure" means a single device regardless of the number of hooks.

(c) The commission may designate specified waters as being open to setline fishing and the number of setlines to be used. In those waters subsection (a) does not apply. The commission may also designate specified waters in which otherwise permissible tackle or bait may not be used.

(d) No person shall take, wound or destroy any fish of Wyoming with a firearm of any kind or nature.

(e) No person shall snag any fish of Wyoming except as specifically authorized by the commission. For purposes of this subsection, "snag" means attempting to take a fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth.

(f) Violation of subsection (a), (b), (c) or (e) of this section constitutes a 9th degree misdemeanor. Violation of subsection (d) of this section constitutes an 8th degree misdemeanor.

LAW: It is illegal to stage a protest at someone's funeral.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Kansas / CITY: Overland Park

CITATION: 11.28.064 Funeral Picketing

ACTUAL: 1. Definitions

a. As used in this section, "funeral" means the ceremonies, processions and memorial services held in connection with the burial or cremation of the dead, as well as memorial services held in connection with the death of any person.

b. As used in this section, "picketing" means protest activities engaged in by a person or persons stationed before or about a cemetery, mortuary, church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or other place for religious observances, or other places for funeral services, during the period from 60 minutes before to 60 minutes after any funeral.

2. It is unlawful for any person to engage in picketing during the period from 60 minutes before to 60 minutes after any funeral at any cemetery, mortuary, church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or other place for religious observances, or other places for funeral services.

3. Each day on which a violation of this section occurs shall constitute a separate offense. (History: Ord. POC-1792 '1, 93)

LAW: It is illegal to keep a rat as a pet.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Montana / CITY: Billings

CITATION: Sec. 4-304. Raising rats.

ACTUAL: It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, harbor, raise or give away rats as pets, toys, premiums, novelties, or for any other purpose except as feed for reptiles or birds of prey or both, or as hereinafter set forth; or to bring or transport the same into the city. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the keeping of rats in proper facilities by people engaged in a legitimate scientific research project or educational programs.

LAW: It is against the law to be in someone's way.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Illinois / CITY: Galesburg

CITATION: Sec. 15-108. Jostling and crowding.

ACTUAL: No person shall jostle or willfully crowd any member of the public in any public or private place, or otherwise interfere intentionally with the peaceful pursuit of their affairs. ,p>(Ord. No. 63-695, § .013, 1-21-63)

LAW: It is illegal to transport a skunk across state lines.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Tennessee

CITATION: 70-4-208. Unlawful importation of skunks - Penalty.

ACTUAL: (a) It is unlawful for any person to import, possess, or cause to be imported into this state any type of live skunk, or to sell, barter, exchange or otherwise transfer any live skunk, except that the prohibitions of this section shall not apply to bona fide zoological parks and research institutions.

(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

[Acts 1974, ch. 622, § 1; 1982, ch. 738, § 31; T.C.A., § 51-514; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]

LAW: It is illegal to persistently flirt with someone of the opposite sex.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: New Jersey / CITY: Haddon

CITATION: § 175-12. Offending or annoying persons in public places.

ACTUAL: Whoever accosts or approaches any person of the opposite sex unknown to such person and by word, sign or gesture attempts to speak to or to become acquainted with such person against his will, on a public street or other public place in the Township, except in the transaction of legitimate business, or whoever attempts to entice or procure a person of the opposite sex to commit an unlawful act, or whoever accosts or approaches any person and by word, sign or gesture suggests or invites the doing of any indecent or unnatural act, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in this chapter.

LAW: Palm-reading is illegal.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Louisiana / CITY: Port Allen

CITATION: Sec. 54-8. Fortunetelling prohibited.

ACTUAL: It shall be unlawful to practice or engage in fortunetelling, palmistry, reading futures and the like. (Ord. No. 9-1974, § 7(art. 78), 11-13-1974; Code 1982, § 17-22)

LAW: It is a misdemeanor to go out in public if you're sick.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Washington

CITATION: RCW 70.54.050 Exposing contagious disease -- Penalty.

ACTUAL: Every person who shall wilfully expose himself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health; and every person so affected who shall expose any other person thereto without his knowledge, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

LAW: One must not spit on the sidewalk.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Wisconsin / CITY: Wauwatosa

CITATION: 8.08.130 Spitting in public places prohibited.

ACTUAL: A. No person shall spit, expectorate, or deposit any sputum, spittle, saliva, phlegm, mucous, tobacco juice, or wads of tobacco upon the floor or stairways of any public hall or building or upon the floor or any part of any railroad car or any streetcar or any other public conveyance in the city of Wauwatosa, or upon any sidewalk abutting on any public street or alley of said city.

(Prior code § 5.02)

LAW: You must remove your hat at the opera.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: West Virginia

CITATION: § 61-6-16. Wearing hats in theaters and places of amusement; penalty.

ACTUAL: No person attending any performance at any theater, hall or opera house, or any such building where theatrical or other performances are given, when an admission fee is charged, shall wear upon his or her head any hat, bonnet or covering for the head which may obstruct the view of any person or persons during the performance in such theater, hall, opera house or other building where such performance is given; and if any person wear upon his or her head any hat, bonnet or other covering for the head which may obstruct the view of any person or persons, and refuse or fail to remove the same at the request of any person or persons whose view may be obstructed, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than two nor more than ten dollars.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: law
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1 posted on 09/13/2002 3:14:15 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Scholastic; Sir Gawain; Fred Mertz; Registered; A.J.Armitage; Keyes For President; realpatriot71; ..
Ping!
2 posted on 09/13/2002 3:17:15 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
I can hear the outraged masses engaged in spontaneous protest- and their anguished cries demanding justice ring in my ears. "When keeping a rat as a pet is illegal, only outlaws will keep rats as pets!" Or something like that...

3 posted on 09/13/2002 3:22:39 PM PDT by Slainte
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March; enrg; LoneGreenEyeshade; It'salmosttolate; Revel; Uncle Bill; Askel5; ...
PING!
4 posted on 09/13/2002 3:24:40 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Slainte
LoL.
5 posted on 09/13/2002 3:25:39 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Slainte
You're just saying that because you're grandfathered under the Rat laws. ;^)
6 posted on 09/13/2002 3:30:58 PM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
"LAW: It is against the law to shoot a fish." I'd like to amend this law to: "It is against the law to shoot a fish in a toilet bowl." Whenever the state legislature is in session, we are in trouble. Perhaps state legislatures could meet once every two or three years, instead of in most cases, every year. I would also like to propose that state legislators purge laws from their books that are just silly, redundant, unconstitutional, or irrelevant -- say every other year.
7 posted on 09/13/2002 3:34:57 PM PDT by ladylib
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
I was flying a kite in the Seattle area once - using fishing line - and the police told me I had to bring it down.

'Course, I was at a park about 200 yards (laterally) from an airport and with fishing line, that kite went almost straight up about 300 yards.
\
It made sense, although I wasn't in the flight path. It gave the pilots something to look at, though.
8 posted on 09/13/2002 3:39:23 PM PDT by RobRoy
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
Didja notice how many of these laws (a) cover really stupid behavior and (b) are in the South?
9 posted on 09/13/2002 3:41:05 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, store, or have in his possession, any green hide or any hide giving off an offensive odor.

Does that include the one keeping your insides from leaking out?

a.cricket

10 posted on 09/13/2002 3:42:33 PM PDT by another cricket
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
LAW: It is illegal to taunt someone for refusing to participate in a duel.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: West Virginia

CITATION: §61-2-24. Taunting for nonparticipation in duel; penalty.

ACTUAL: If any person post another, or in writing or in print use any reproachful or contemptuous language to or concerning another, for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a challenge, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than six months, or fined not exceeding one hundred dollars.

This might be a more civilized society if people faced the threat of having to fight duels. I can imagine if Bill Clinton lived in the 19th century, he would have had to be an excellent shot considering the kinds of provocation he would have engaged in.

11 posted on 09/13/2002 3:48:31 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
I protest, there is not one stupid law from Florida! Based on current news I'm going to have to propose that my local reps try to pass the following;

It shall be illegal to have an unchallengable election in the State of Florida ...

12 posted on 09/13/2002 3:59:15 PM PDT by SES1066
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
In Grass Valley, it is illegal to ride an elephant faster than 5 miles an hour on main street.
13 posted on 09/13/2002 4:10:55 PM PDT by farmfriend
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To: Poohbah
"Didja notice how many of these laws (a) cover really stupid behavior and (b) are in the South?"

LOL, I wonder why...

In all fairness, many of these laws also came from A. California and B. Wisconsin (Yankee Territory).

I think I only saw one from Illinois.

14 posted on 09/13/2002 4:21:56 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: SES1066
Well, for a while, many people were calling it Floriduh.
15 posted on 09/13/2002 4:22:40 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: Paleo Conservative
Correct, the likes of Bill Clinton wouldn't survive long if he was left to fend for himself.
16 posted on 09/13/2002 4:23:29 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: farmfriend
Nice to hear from you again.
17 posted on 09/13/2002 4:23:47 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: ladylib
I am pretty sure that out of all 50 states, the Texas legislature wins for convening the least amount of times per year.

Texas didn't make the list here.

18 posted on 09/13/2002 4:26:16 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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To: FreedominJesusChrist
LAW: It is illegal to stage a protest at someone's funeral.

COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Kansas / CITY: Overland Park

I have a funny feeling that Fred Phelps is the reason for this law. He has a tendency to picket the funerals of homosexuals and AIDS victims. His most notable picketing was of Matthew Shepard's funeral.

19 posted on 09/13/2002 4:27:38 PM PDT by Conagher
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To: RobRoy
Seattle is a wacky town. In Wisconsin (where I go to school), our "Seattle" is a town called Madison. UW Madison is a very liberal university and is a haven for all sorts of wacky peaceniks and tree-huggers.
20 posted on 09/13/2002 4:29:01 PM PDT by FreedominJesusChrist
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