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Hi Dakka!

Had a little free time at work, and I've always been interested in silly, unenforceable laws. Found these gems on a solicitors website! If you fancy adding anymore, please feel free!

I've also noticed that the OT forum is getting a little heavy recently and thought we could all use a little cheering up!


RIDICULOUS LAWS!
 

v     It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the queens head upside down

v     In Ohio it is against the law to get a fish drunk

v     It is illegal to die in the House of Parliament

v     In France it is forbidden to call your pig Napoleon

v     It is illegal to flag down a cab in London if you have the plague

v     In Florida, unmarried women can be put in jail for parachuting on a Sunday

v     Throughout the UK it is illegal for a lady to eat chocolates on public transport

v     It is legal to shoot a Welsh person in Chester with a bow and arrow inside the city walls

v     It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament dressed in a suit of armour

v     In Los Angeles it is an offence to lick a toad

v     In New York, citizens are prohibited from greeting each other by putting ones thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers

v     It is illegal to be drunk on licensed premises

v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

v     A bed may not be hung out of a window

Prostitution?

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:Hi Dakka!

Had a little free time at work, and I've always been interested in silly, unenforceable laws. Found these gems on a solicitors website! If you fancy adding anymore, please feel free!

I've also noticed that the OT forum is getting a little heavy recently and thought we could all use a little cheering up!


RIDICULOUS LAWS!
 

v     It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the queens head upside down

v     In Ohio it is against the law to get a fish drunk

v     It is illegal to die in the House of Parliament

v     In France it is forbidden to call your pig Napoleon

v     It is illegal to flag down a cab in London if you have the plague

v     In Florida, unmarried women can be put in jail for parachuting on a Sunday

v     Throughout the UK it is illegal for a lady to eat chocolates on public transport

v     It is legal to shoot a Welsh person in Chester with a bow and arrow inside the city walls

v     It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament dressed in a suit of armour

v     In Los Angeles it is an offence to lick a toad

v     In New York, citizens are prohibited from greeting each other by putting ones thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers

v     It is illegal to be drunk on licensed premises

v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

v     A bed may not be hung out of a window

"It is Illegal to die in Parliament"

UNDER PUNISHMENT OF DEATH

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

Dammit!

I believe that stealing a sheep still carries the death penalty in Scotland!

Castiel wrote:

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

Dammit!

I believe that stealing a sheep still carries the death penalty in Scotland!

I thought that was covered under the adultary laws in Wales?

BTW Prostitution is not illegal in the UK but it is illegal to request payment for sex. Accepting payment for sex is not illegal otherwise professional porn would be illegal.

A few of these got me chuckling, nice find.

Sonophos wrote:

Castiel wrote:

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

Dammit!

I believe that stealing a sheep still carries the death penalty in Scotland!

I thought that was covered under the adultary laws in Wales?

There is tea everywhere!

A couple that rumour has it are from Texas State Law (may have long since changed, what with being from the internet and all that):

If two trains travelling on the same length of track should meet head-on, both shall come to a complete halt, and neither shall move until the other has gone.

It is illegal to possess, or promote the use of, more than 4 realistic dildos.

I would question the need for more than three.

Oh dear this thread is going places.

Alexzandvar wrote:"It is Illegal to die in Parliament"

UNDER PUNISHMENT OF DEATH

Not exactly... last time it happened they didn't declare him dead until the body was off the premises. You can't be declared dead in Parliament rather than be prevented.

This is just a hang over from George the thirds entropy tax.

It isn't a law now, but at one time apparently Indiana tried to pass a law making Pi 3.2.

Sauce

It may have since been changed, but last I saw, in Montana, it is completely legal, and actually "requested" that if one sees a group of Native American Indians driving in the state on a covered wagon, that they are to be shot on sight.

In Nebraska, it was required that one possess a hunting license to operate a mouse trap within their residence.

Heres a few...
You may be arrested for vagrancy if you do not have at least one dollar bill on your person.
You must contact the police before entering the city in an automobile.
The English language is not to be spoken.

Carbondale
No one may stand on the sidewalk on the 500 block of Illinois Avenue. (Retracted)
Champaign
One may not pee in his neighbor’s mouth.
Chicago
Citizens can be hit with a $120 ticket for having an improperly displayed and outdated city sticker on their car.
All businesses entering into contracts with the city must sift through their records and report any business they had dealing with slaves during the era of slavery.
Law forbids eating in a place that is on fire.
It is illegal to give a dog whiskey.
It is forbidden to fish while sitting on a giraffe’s neck.
Kites may not be flown within the city limits.
In the Pullman area, it is illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while sitting on the curb.
It is legal to protest naked in front of city hall as long as you are under seventeen years of age and have legal permits.

Cicero
Humming on public streets is prohibited on Sundays.
Collinsville
It is illegal to wear sagging pants.

Crete
It is considered an offense to attempt to have sex with one’s dog.
Cars may not be driven through the town.
Crystal Lake
If one wishes to plant new sod in his or her yard in the summer months, that person may not use the city’s water to water it.

Des Plaines
Wheelbarrows with For-Sale signs may not be chained to trees.
Evanston
Bowling is forbidden.
It is unlawful to change clothes in an automobile with the curtains drawn, except in case of fire.

Galesburg
No person may keep a smelly dog.
It is illegal to burn bird feathers.Jostling others is illegal.No bicyclist may practice “fancy riding” on any city street.There is a $1,000 dollar fine for beating rats with baseball bats.

Horner
It is against the law to use a slingshot unless your are a law enforcement officer.
Joliet
Town fathers, reflecting the pet peeve of hearing their town’s name mispronounced ‘Jolly-ETTE’ when all local folk know it’s pronounced ‘Joe-lee-ETTE’, made pronouncing it Jolly-ette a misdemeanor, punishable by a $5 fine.
Kenilworth
A rooster must step back three hundred feet from any residence if he wishes to crow.
Kirkland
Bees are not allowed to fly over the village or through any of Kriland’s streets.
Moline
Ice skating at the Riverside pond during the months of June and August is prohibited.
There is a ban on unnecessary repetitive driving on 23rd Avenue.
Morton Grove
You may not own a handgun.
Normal
It is against the law to make faces at dogs.
Orland Park
No pool tables are allowed in a public establishment, because it supports gambling.
Ottowa
Spitting on the sidewalk is a criminal offense.
Park Ridge
Trucks may only park inside closed garages.

Peoria
Basketball hoops may not be instaled on a driveway.
Zion
It is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, or any other domesticated animals.

http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/alabama
These are just awesome.

In absolute stitches over some of those, especially the animal related ones

You've made my afternoon

However, the spitting one is actually a law both in Singapore and Barcelona and you can be fined for it.

Ratius wrote:In absolute stitches over some of those, especially the animal related ones

You've made my afternoon

However, the spitting one is actually a law both in Singapore and Barcelona and you can be fined for it.

Yeah but this is AMERICA! The land of the free! ( HA! )

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:Hi Dakka!

Had a little free time at work, and I've always been interested in silly, unenforceable laws. Found these gems on a solicitors website! If you fancy adding anymore, please feel free!

I've also noticed that the OT forum is getting a little heavy recently and thought we could all use a little cheering up!


RIDICULOUS LAWS!
 

v     It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the queens head upside down

v     In Ohio it is against the law to get a fish drunk

v     It is illegal to die in the House of Parliament

v     In France it is forbidden to call your pig Napoleon

v     It is illegal to flag down a cab in London if you have the plague

v     In Florida, unmarried women can be put in jail for parachuting on a Sunday

v     Throughout the UK it is illegal for a lady to eat chocolates on public transport

v     It is legal to shoot a Welsh person in Chester with a bow and arrow inside the city walls

v     It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament dressed in a suit of armour

v     In Los Angeles it is an offence to lick a toad

v     In New York, citizens are prohibited from greeting each other by putting ones thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers

v     It is illegal to be drunk on licensed premises

v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

v     A bed may not be hung out of a window

Oh god I loled at some of these. Actually, all of them. Especially In Florida, unmarried women can be put in jail for parachuting on a Sunday"

LOL

This just makes one wonder...

What caused these laws to be put into action in the first place?

Probably a bunch of guys in the council were just screwing around and thought they'd be funny

Seriously? Illegal to get a fish drunk? I can't imagine that being real, lol

Many are hangovers from previous centuries, that fall into obscurity/irrelevance but are never redacted.

Still though, some are as you said, are crazy.

Samus_aran115 wrote:Probably a bunch of guys in the council were just screwing around and thought they'd be funny

Seriously? Illegal to get a fish drunk? I can't imagine that being real, lol

Its real. I talked with my judge friend all the laws listed in dumb laws are ACTUAL LAWS!

That's what makes them awesome! If, for instance, I knew an annoying Welshman all I have to do is too buy a Bow and lure him into the Chester City Walls. Where I can legally kill him....

Fantastic!

Theres another one I read that I quite like, any taxi in London is still legally required to carry a bale of hay with which to feed his horse.

Swordwind wrote:This just makes one wonder...

What caused these laws to be put into action in the first place?

Yeah; like several US states say woman cant drive unless their husbands go in front while waving flags to warn motorists

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

Swordwind wrote:This just makes one wonder...

What caused these laws to be put into action in the first place?

Yeah; like several US states say woman cant drive unless their husbands go in front while waving flags to warn motorists

Not sure if serious about the woman driving thing or not....


Many laws, such as the one I posted for Montana came from previous eras where the law had a real and credible reason for existing... in Montana's case, in its earliest years, a group of Native Americans driving a covered wagon essentially was presumed to have killed the original owners and stolen it, hence why people were supposed to shoot any Natives they saw driving wagons.

'Men must walk in front of women drivers waving flags to warn other road users'


That law should be fething mandatory in ALL countries!

Sarpedons-right-hand wrote: It is legal to shoot a Welsh person in Chester with a bow and arrow inside the city walls

If you listen to anyone from an English county they'll tell you about a similar law. Thing is the details vary from 'in the city walls/boundaries, in the shadow of the cathedral, after sundown, at midnight , on Sunday, with a longbow/crossbow/axe' regardless of that, the law is under county charter which is superseded by national law which (AFAIK) doesn't allow the random murder of Welshmen... or it does, i haven't actually checked...

LOL three laws, which in conjunction are hilarious. I presume these are true:

"In Alaska, the following laws apply to moose:

a moose may not be viewed from an aeroplane.

it is illegal to give alcoholic beverages to a moose.

it is an offence to push a live moose out of a moving aeroplane."

I can see it now:

One day Bruce was flying a load of corn whiskey to Anchorage when he saw a Moose with it's antlers stuck in a tree. Spotting a field conveniently nearby he landed his plane and set about trying to help the poor Moose. Unfortunately, by the time he got the Moose unstuck, the large animal was so irate it chased Bruce all the way back to his plane and jumped inside. Thinking quickly Bruce uscrewed the cap off one of the whiskey bottles and shoved it down the moose's throat, forcing the beast to ingest the entire gallon. Bruce kept this up till the moose passed out. Having ingested quite a bit of the alchohol himself and thinking the animal dead, Bruce immediately took off for Anchorage once more, because "Hey, moose makes great jerky!" Unfortunately for Bruce the animal was not quite dead, and just as they came over the city, the moose woke up and began thrashing about. After a great struggle and many curse words the man finally forced the liquor-mad beast from his plane, just in time to 'bomb' the mayor's house."

And this friends is why one can not only Not Throw Moose from planes, but one is certainly not allowed to get it drunk first. Even looking at moose from a plane is outlawed, just to be safe!

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:Hi Dakka!

Had a little free time at work, and I've always been interested in silly, unenforceable laws. Found these gems on a solicitors website! If you fancy adding anymore, please feel free!

I've also noticed that the OT forum is getting a little heavy recently and thought we could all use a little cheering up!


RIDICULOUS LAWS!
 

v     It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the queens head upside down

v     In Ohio it is against the law to get a fish drunk

v     It is illegal to die in the House of Parliament

v     In France it is forbidden to call your pig Napoleon

v     It is illegal to flag down a cab in London if you have the plague

v     In Florida, unmarried women can be put in jail for parachuting on a Sunday

v     Throughout the UK it is illegal for a lady to eat chocolates on public transport

v     It is legal to shoot a Welsh person in Chester with a bow and arrow inside the city walls

v     It is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament dressed in a suit of armour

v     In Los Angeles it is an offence to lick a toad

v     In New York, citizens are prohibited from greeting each other by putting ones thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers

v     It is illegal to be drunk on licensed premises

v     In Scotland it is illegal to be drunk in possession of a cow

v     A bed may not be hung out of a window

Yeah most of those are not true, only one that is correct is the one about not being able to wear armour in Parliament.

These "crazy" laws have always been popular, and the internet has made it even more so.

However, they typically fall into 1 of 4 categories:

1) Old laws that have been repealed years and years ago.
2) Bills that were never made into law.
3) Laws that make sense, but the specific example used is intentionally chosen to be silly.
4) Laws that never actually existed.

For example, in Lordhat's list, it's not that Moose can't be viewed from an airplane, it's that airplanes cannot be used in the hunting of moose (such as having a spotter in a plane find moose for the hunter on the ground). Or, in Hlaine Larkin's example, it was actually the law that all cars had to have someone go out in front in order to alert everyone with horses, as early cars backfired a lot and spooked horses.

There's also the "Illegal to get a fish drunk" or "give alcohol to a moose". I assume the law is actually that it's illegal to give alcohol to any animal.

Asherian Command also brought up the "illegal to fish while sitting on a giraffe's neck". The law is actually that it's illegal to fish off the back of any animal. This is because people used to fish off the backs of various animals while standing in a stream. The animals would relieve themselves into the stream, and people downriver would be using that stream for drinking water.

There's also the classic "It's illegal to enter Minnesota with a duck on your head." While this is true, the law is actually that you can't bring any ducks into Minnesota (to limit any diseases or anything like that).


And, Asherian Command, what's wrong with the Chicago law about city stickers?