Dumb Laws
still on the books.

"It is illegal to flick boogers into the wind."

This regulation is cited as a long-standing, albeit unusual, rule regarding public hygiene in Alabama.

"It is illegal to wake a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph."

This law was enacted in Alaska to prevent dangerous interactions between tourists and wildlife.

"No pinball machine in the state is permitted to give more than 25 free games to winners."

This Arkansas statute was originally put in place to discourage gambling through arcade games.

"It is unlawful to place any hypnotized person in a display window."

This city ordinance in Oklahoma was created to regulate public displays and street performances.

"It is illegal to sell pickles on a Sunday."

This specific municipal restriction exists in Trenton, New Jersey, as a remnant of historical blue laws.

"It is strictly prohibited to use explosives or dynamite to catch fish."

This Virginia law is still actively enforced to protect aquatic ecosystems and ensure ethical fishing practices.

"It is illegal for any person to fail to smile in public."

The city of Pocatello enacted this ordinance in 1948 to boost morale during a particularly harsh winter.

"It is prohibited to play miniature golf after 1:00 a.m."

This municipal ordinance remains on the books in the city of Long Beach.

"It is illegal to purchase or sell a motor vehicle on a Sunday."

This is a lingering example of a 'Blue Law' that originally restricted commerce on the Sabbath.

"It is illegal to engage in trick-or-treating on a Sunday."

This specific restriction on holiday activities is still found in the town of Rehoboth Beach.

"It is illegal to sell handcuffs to anyone under the age of 18."

This statute classifies the sale of such items to minors as a disorderly persons offense.

"It is illegal to keep miniature pigs and ferrets in the same household."

The city of DISH, Texas, explicitly bans these two specific animals in its municipal animal control code.

"It is illegal to pronounce the name of the state incorrectly."

State code specifies the exact pronunciation of Arkansas as three syllables with the final 's' silent.

"It is illegal to tie an alligator to a fire hydrant."

This local ordinance likely originated during an era when traveling circuses and exotic animal shows were common.

"It is illegal to whisper in someone's ear while they are moose hunting."

This regulation is a commonly cited example of Alaska's unusual hunting-related statutes.

"It is illegal to play Scrabble while waiting for a politician to speak."

This specific local ordinance applies to the town of Atwoodville.

"It is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket."

This regulation dates back to the 1800s when it was allegedly used to prevent horse thieves from luring horses away.

"It is illegal to make ugly faces at a dog."

Violators of this municipal ordinance can be fined or even jailed for taunting a canine.

"All bachelors must be addressed as 'master' rather than 'mister' by their female counterparts."

This state law dictates formal social etiquette for how unmarried men should be addressed.

"It is illegal to carry wire cutters in your pocket."

This ordinance in Austin originated from historical disputes between ranchers regarding open ranges and fencing.

"It is illegal for a man to give his sweetheart a box of candy that weighs less than fifty pounds."

This specific state law is frequently cited as one of the most absurd romantic requirements in the country.

"It is illegal for any person to pretend to be a member of the clergy, such as a minister, priest, nun, or Rabbi."

This state law makes it a criminal offense to impersonate a religious figure.

"It is illegal to release 25 or more balloons into the air within a 24-hour period."

This environmental regulation is intended to prevent littering and protect wildlife from balloon debris.

"The sale and production of oleo margarine, whether yellow or white, is strictly forbidden."

This state-level prohibition remains on the books as a relic of historical dairy industry protections.

"It is unlawful to feed garbage to pigs without first obtaining a specific state permit."

Arizona state statutes regulate feeding swine non-treated food waste to prevent the spread of infectious livestock diseases.

"It is a municipal offense to throw or cast snowballs at persons, public ways, or buildings."

The town of Aspen maintains this local ordinance categorizing snowballs alongside rocks as prohibited missiles.

"It is against the law to eat fried chicken using a knife and fork rather than your bare hands."

Gainesville, Georgia passed this lighthearted 1961 ordinance to cement its reputation as the Poultry Capital of the World.

"It is illegal for any person to lie down and fall asleep inside a cheese factory."

A long-standing industrial hygiene and sanitary regulation specific to South Dakota dairy facilities.

"It is illegal to hunt or catch moths underneath public street lamps."

This quirky municipal code remains on the books in the resort city of Palm Springs.

"It is strictly unlawful to bring or transport any live skunk into the state."

Enacted as a statewide wildlife and public health measure to reduce rabies transmission risks.

"It is illegal for any person to hunt, chase, or kill rabbits while aboard a motorboat."

Kansas Administrative Regulations under wildlife and hunting statutes restrict hunting game birds and animals from motorized watercraft.

"It is strictly unlawful for commercial recreational establishments licensed to serve alcohol to host or permit any contest involving dwarf tossing."

Florida Statute 561.665 explicitly bans liquor-licensed venues from promoting or engaging in the practice of dwarf-tossing contests.

"It is a misdemeanor offense to board or ride any railway train while in an intoxicated condition."

Michigan Compiled Laws Section 436.201 makes public drunkenness specifically aboard train carriages a punishable misdemeanor.

"It is illegal to willfully frighten, shoot, capture, or disturb homing pigeons or common pigeons in public spaces."

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266 Section 132 penalizes anyone who unlawfully detains, scares, or kills homing pigeons.

"Motorists are legally prohibited from sounding their car horn near any drive-in restaurant or sandwich shop after 9:00 p.m."

Little Rock City Code Section 18-54 bars unnecessary horn-honking around late-night food and beverage establishments.

"Every head of household residing in the city limits is required by law to maintain an operable firearm and ammunition."

Passed in 1982, Section 34-1 of the Kennesaw Code of Ordinances mandates civil firearm ownership for heads of households.

"It is a specific felony offense to steal more than $1,000 worth of used restaurant grease or waste kitchen grease."

North Carolina General Statutes explicitly created targeted property crime classifications to crack down on biofuel black markets targeting commercial grease bins.

"It is illegal for any zoning ordinance, deed restriction, or lease to forbid residents from putting up an outdoor clothesline to dry their laundry."

Vermont codified this official 'right to dry' statute to safeguard energy conservation against restrictive homeowner associations.

"It is strictly unlawful for anyone to hunt wildlife or carry out hunting activities inside a cemetery."

Oregon wildlife and cemetery statutes explicitly bar hunting on burial grounds to maintain public solemnity and safety.

"Convenience stores and grocery stores are legally prohibited from selling cold, refrigerated beer for carryout."

Under Indiana's long-standing alcohol statutes, package liquor stores maintain an exclusive legal monopoly on retailing pre-chilled beer.

"It is a misdemeanor to operate, organize, or participate in any contest where a pig is greased or oiled to be recaptured, as well as any turkey scrambles."

Minnesota enacted this animal welfare prohibition in 1971 to ban traditional county fair greased-pig chases.

"It is illegal for any licensed bar or restaurant to serve beer and pretzels at the same time."

This archaic North Dakota blue-law restriction was originally intended to curb tavern socializing and remains an unrepealed oddity.

"Ministers and clergymen are legally prohibited from eating garlic or onions before delivering a religious sermon."

Passed in Marion County as a local hygiene measure to spare congregations foul-smelling preaching.

"It is illegal to collect or carry away seaweed from public seashores between sunset and sunrise."

Enacted under New Hampshire Revised Statutes RSA 207:48 to conserve coastal resources and prevent nighttime fertilizer hoarding.

"It is illegal for any person to lie down or fall asleep directly on a public sidewalk."

Codified under Reno Municipal Code Section 11.20.080 to keep commercial pedestrian pathways clear.

"If a bull or ram over one year of age wanders loose for more than three days, local residents are legally authorized to castrate the animal."

Codified in state livestock statutes provided three residents attest in writing that the wandering animal was not reclaimed.

"It is illegal to whisper or cause quiet disturbances in church during a place of worship service."

Enacted as a statewide decorum statute intended to preserve reverence and silence during religious gatherings.

"Motorists are legally permitted to take home and eat roadkill animals they accidentally strike with their vehicle."

Codified under the state's Roadkill Removal Law to allow non-wasteful meat salvage after obtaining a free state permit.

"It is illegal for any person to willfully throw pickle juice onto a street railway car or trolley."

Enacted in local municipal transit codes to prevent streetcars and their electrical mechanisms from being vandalized.

"It is illegal for anyone to engage in or promote a bear wrestling match."

Codified under Alabama Code Title 13A to completely eliminate the historical carnival practice of bear fighting.

"It is illegal to drive a red motor vehicle down Lake Street."

A long-standing local Minneapolis traffic ordinance that was never formally repealed from city records.

"It is illegal to permit a donkey to sleep inside a bathtub."

Passed in the 1920s after a local dam broke and flooded a town, washing away a sleeping donkey in a tub.

"It is illegal to eat a donut while walking backward on any city street or highway."

A quirky pedestrian traffic ordinance originally enacted in the town of Marion to reduce street collisions.

"It is illegal to bring a lion with you into a movie theater."

Maintained in Baltimore as an arcane public safety and nuisance restriction on exotic animals in public entertainment venues.

"It is illegal to push a live moose out of an airplane or moving aircraft."

Passed to curb absurd publicity stunts and protect wildlife from aerial drops.

"It is illegal to ride a horse faster than 10 miles per hour on any public street or highway."

An antique traffic safety statute designed to discourage dangerous carriage and horseback racing through town centers.

"It is illegal to wear a fake mustache in church if it causes laughter among the congregation."

Originated as a local blue law intended to prevent irreverence and disorderly conduct during religious services.

"It is illegal for restaurants to serve margarine or butter substitutes in place of real butter unless the patron explicitly requests it."

Part of longstanding state statutes enacted to protect the dairy industry of America's Dairyland.

"It is illegal to throw a ball directly at someone's head purely for fun or amusement."

Originally passed in the early 20th century to outlaw popular but dangerous carnival side-show games.

"It is illegal for any chicken owner to allow their chickens to cross a public street or road unattended."

Enacted as a municipal livestock ordinance in Quitman to prevent wandering fowl from disrupting traffic.