I’m Under Arrest for What? Fifty Bizarre U.S. Laws

I’ve never claimed to have extensive knowledge of U.S. legislation throughout history, but it’s safe to say that I and most people I associate with are law-abiding citizens … or not. As it turns out, every state in this country has at least one wacky legal stipulation that could land residents in hot water if they don’t comply. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Alabama
It’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

Alaska
Whispering in someone’s ear while he’s moose hunting is prohibited.

Arizona
Cutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.

Arkansas
It’s illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.

California
You may not eat an orange in your bathtub.

Colorado
It’s unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor (Denver).

Connecticut
A pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.

Delaware
It’s illegal to get married on a dare.

Washington, D.C.
It’s against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.

Florida
If you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.

Georgia
It’s illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.

Hawaii
All residents may be fined for not owning a boat.

Idaho
A man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.

Illinois
It’s illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).

Indiana
The value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.

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04.09.2012
Bev James
Some of these laws make sense, for example, not cutting down cacti in Arizona. I well remember visiting the outskirts of Phoenix in 1966 to see Taliesen West, the famous Frank Loyd Wright building. It was in the desert, surrounded by cacti, but apparently it is now part of suburban Phoenix. America and Canada allow too much urban sprawl. I believe this comes from the mistaken notion that they can never run out of open country. They should revisit the story of the passenger pigeon to understand how abundance can become scarcity and then extinction through profligacy. The law about keeping a promise to marry was one which existed in British society until relatively recently, so this society cannot mock that one. I always think of this with regard to head coverings in Islam. How many people remember when a respectable woman in our society was not seen with an uncovered head? In the 50s the Queen on informal occasions always wore a headscarf.
03.13.2012
Heather
Wow..it's supposed to be funny. I read a book about all of these several years ago. We got a chuckle out of it. Believe me, I haven't gone to jail for cutting my hair and I'm sure if someone had a goat in a bathtub, they wouldn't either. It's funny. Get over yourselves and learn to laugh. There's more than enough to complain about these days.
after reading some of the comments i have to agree. you people are to uptight, relax and just enjoy a good laugh. yes they may be untrue and even silly but its still funny. bet the ones complaining would gripe if hung with a new rope. i live in arkansas and have heard them all before along with all the hill billy jokes and even tell the best ones. if we cant laught at ourselves who can we laugh at. the world is becoming to serious, will all the media outlets. if you dont like what you read here go else where for the serious stuff.
02.23.2012
D Langhorne
I have to add another comment, I kept reading earlier comments and came across one from Jeze Beth, who says among other things " Who cares if they're even true?". I care, yes this article is whimsy, but what if this author submitted another article on a more serious topic and did no fact checking, she could be making egregious errors. This author has written 127 other articles on this site, given her treatment of this article I would say her entire body of work is now suspect. There is an assumption when you write an article that factually at least it is accurate, Reporters have lost their jobs and carreers over things like this as well they should because it erodes trust.
02.23.2012
D Langhorne
i checked 2 of these, The Indiana "law" and the Ohio "rule". With regard to Ohio, I checked the Ohio drivers education manual and there is no mention of what is posted here. With the indiana one, it was a bill that was submitted, but it did not pass so it is in fact not a law and never was, there is a wikipedia article on that in fact. So, you should get your facts straight before you print untruths, which you have. A little bit of journalistic integrity would be nice. I can only assume all of these are suspect.
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