Thursday, July 17, 2008

13 Thursday Strange Laws

1. In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.

2. It is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

3. In California, bathhouses are against the law.

4. It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.

5. Women may not drive in a housecoat.

6. In Florida, if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.

7. It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.

8. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

9. In Louisiana, it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol.

10. In New York, a fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.

11. The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

12. In Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk.

13. In Texas, The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

7 comments:

Julie said...

#9 made me snort laugh! You can rob the bank, but don't add insult to injury by squirting water at the teller? "Whatever you do Fred, don't take in the water gun!" Oh the images that filled my head with that one. Good list.

Robin said...

Great list... I think they are all funny.

Number 7 - someone needs to tell my husband that law...

Number 8 - sounds like a good law to me.

Julie - love your comments about number 9

Paula said...

You're both funny!

Julie, snorting is always a good sign!

Robin, I was thinking #7 was the one about a man wearing an evening gown. I thought your husband must be an interesting man! Then I realized that was not #7!

Momstheword said...

Some places purge those old laws off the books once in a while. I can't even imagine why they would have some of those laws in the first place. An elephant? A blindfolded driver? Probably one person drove blindfolded and so they enacted a law against it, you know, to protect the public. Funny stuff.

Paula said...

Robin, I didn't mean to say your husband isn't interesting. I just mean he's not TOO interesting!

Moms, some of those laws are pretty silly. It might be fun to write a short story that ends up with one of those laws being created. Hmmm. An idea for our next story telling event.

Robin said...

Queen - you crack me up :) You know when I was making that comment I had to open another window to make sure I didn't mix up those two number for my comments :)

Robin said...

Queen - I just saw your second comment - I read and replied from my email and then it took me to the page and after I posted I saw your second comment. Oh if you knew my husband you would think he's "interesting." He's far from boring (I'm the boring one) - he is the life of the party!