Have you heard about the law in Atlanta, Georgia that makes it illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole, or the one in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina that prohibits landing an airplane on its streets? These laws illustrate just some of the ridiculous and absurdity that exists across states across America.
While some might argue that certain laws were put in place at one point for good reasons, others contend they are often outdated, unnecessary, and nonsensical for contemporary America.
Here are ten of the craziest laws across America that will leave you asking how they got onto our books in the first place.
- Washington Does Not Permit Equine Bathtubs:
Republican State Senator Maureen Walsh proposed legislation in 2019 which would permit individuals with disabilities to use miniature horses as service animals in public settings. To this proposed bill, State Rep. Vicki Kraft made an interesting observation stating it could legalize horses being cleaned in bathtubs!
Her statement failed to take into account an existing Washington law which prohibits placing horses in bathtubs without first receiving permission from their property owner. That law passed in 1949 prohibits anyone from placing animals into any bathtub without first seeking consent from its owner first.
- No mules allowed in Missouri hot air balloons:
Though seemingly absurd, Missouri law enforces it and can result in significant fines if broken. Due to its uniqueness, this statute gained remarkable attention – specifically that flying hot air balloons with mules tied onto them is illegal there – though whether this regulation ever saw enforcement is still unknown but exists nonetheless.
- No hunting from moving vehicles allowed in Tennessee:
While it seems reasonable that laws prohibiting hunting from automobiles include only drivers as potential violators, passengers are still legally allowed to shoot game from moving vehicles as passengers can sit back comfortably inside while firing.
- No whaling allowed in Oklahoma:
Oklahoma stands out as being home to one of the state laws with which its residents remain mystified, specifically its regulation on whale hunting despite not possessing offshore territories. Although this regulation exists, no enforcement action has ever taken place and its purpose still remains enigmatic.
- Vocal Disciplines in North Carolina: No singing off-key!
North Carolina law makes singing off-key in public an offense punishable as a misdemeanor; although not enforced actively, this law remains on the books and could potentially result in arrest warrants for poor singers.
- Do not sleep in a refrigerator in Florida:
Florida law forbids sleeping in refrigerators; though this practice is common sense for babies to avoid suffocation risks and thus active enforcement was in effect prior to 2005; anyone caught sleeping inside could face heavy fines or imprisonment for breaking this rule.
Nevada law strictly forbids walking your camel along a roadway:
Nevada is famed for its breathtaking vistas; however, bringing along your camel may be unwise as this practice is prohibited by state law and may result in legal complications if done on public highways without being leashed first. People traveling through Nevada with caravans composed solely of camels should first consult the law books to avoid legal problems caused by walking them off-leash on roadways or public areas.
- Shaking carpets in New York City is prohibited:
New York City went to great lengths to keep its streets tidy, which resulted in banning activities that would create clutter. One such law remains on the books today: an official ban against shaking carpets outside before 10 a.m. each day is still enforced – violators face severe fines for their filthy carpets!
- Alabama law does not permit carrying an ice cream cone:
Alabama lawmakers passed legislation prohibiting people from carrying ice cream cones in their back pockets for fear of setting an example for farmers utilizing this technique to lure horses. Alabama legislators, seeing this practice becoming increasingly harmful, passed laws prohibiting it altogether and passed laws outlawing such conduct by its inhabitants.
- California residents should refrain from feeding squirrels:
California law strictly forbids feeding squirrels. The 1990 law, passed to protect both themselves and others, serves as a protective measure, since feeding could encourage squirrels to get closer to humans than desired, increasing risks for spreading disease and increasing human exposure. California residents should avoid feeding squirrels as this practice will incur heavy fines imposed by law enforcement officials.
Conclusion
Despite their weird nature, laws exist, and it’s worth paying attention to them in order to avoid legal complications. While common sense should often guide our daily decisions when making choices regarding our everyday lives, checking state’s legal books for clues may prevent inadvertently breaking one of these bizarre statutes.
