Dumb Laws


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Sovereign Court

Post an official Dumb Law in the state you live in

Cats may not run loose without having been fit with a taillight. - Sterling, CO


You can bring all manner of guns (concealed or not) into the state capitol building, as well as into the gallery to view the legislative process...but not cameras.-(Madison, Wisconsin)


you cannot walk on a sidewalk with an ice cream cone in your pocket -(Shepherdsville, KY)

This was to keep you from stealing horses that way and it just got left on the books. "What I didn't steal it, it followed me home!"


Where is that "women aren't allowed to drive a car without a man walking in front of her, waving a red flag"? When I saw that it apparently existed somewhere, I thought for sure it was a factoid. But if it is real, well, I can see a few ways it's extremely problematic...


Citizens can collect a bounty for killing a Mormon Missionary (Missouri, it was taken off the books in the last ten years, but was there for a LONG time)

Liberty's Edge

The was a similar one in Massachusetts about Rhode Islanders for a while. Might have been removed a long time ago.

Not where I live, but:

It's a crime for an unmarried couplt to cohabitate. (Virgina)


Free speech is illegal in the Peoples Republic of Boulder.

It is legal to challenge a police officer, but only until he or she asks you to stop.

It is illegal for liquor stores to sell food or grocery stores to sell any alcohol except beer that is at most 3.2% alcohol.

Car dealers may not show cars on a Sunday.

At least we got the law against liquor stores being open on Sundays repealed.


Apparently, according to stupid laws in Idaho:


  • A boy may only court a girl after obtaining written permission from her father.
  • Bicycles must not be taken onto a tennis court. (Eagle)
  • Cutting off a friend’s head with an axe is against the law. (Isn't it already illegal anyways?)
  • Illegal for a man to give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing less than fifty pounds.
  • It is a criminal offense to ride a merry-go-round on a Sunday.

Oh heck, here's the whole darn list: List

As to whether any of it is enforced... ... No, I don't see anyone arrested for these.


Krensky wrote:
The was a similar one in Massachusetts about Rhode Islanders for a while. Might have been removed a long time ago.

The way I always heard it was Masschusetts state troopers have the right to pull over and harass Rhode Islanders due to something from the days of Articles of Confederation times. I don't know if it ever included bounties for killing them, though...


I bleieve there is still a law that one may shoot a Rhode Islander found in Boston Gardens after dark. if my memeory serves correct that was the law I knew in Boston.


Stay away, Lord Dice!


But... if that law remains... Could you actually shoot that Rhode Islander and refer to it and go free?

"I heard a voice behind me. 'Excuse me... are you by any chance from Rhode Island?' My throat caught up as I heard the click of a gun being readied."


To be fair, Rhode Islanders are terrible people.


Except for Lord Dice.


Doodlebug Anklebiter wrote:
Except for Lord Dice.

Especially Lord Dice.


In new york clubs are illegal. They are also required in commercial vehicles to test the tires by hitting them.

Sovereign Court

Cant sell cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles etc etc on Sundays (Minnesota). You cant buy liquor either although you can go to a pub and drink as much as you like on Sundays.

Silver Crusade

Bitter Thorn wrote:

It is illegal for liquor stores to sell food or grocery stores to sell any alcohol except beer that is at most 3.2% alcohol.

That remains the law in all of New York State.


Sissyl wrote:

But... if that law remains... Could you actually shoot that Rhode Islander and refer to it and go free?

"I heard a voice behind me. 'Excuse me... are you by any chance from Rhode Island?' My throat caught up as I heard the click of a gun being readied."

Good question and what constitutes being a Rhode Islander these days? Someone who once lived in Rhode Island but nows lives in Boston and was born in Boston are they still a Rhode Islander? Or only people born there? Important questions I think if we review this seriously.

Now they did say shoot not sure if that allows you to kill them. Only shoot them? Perhaps? Do you get off on discharging a firearm in public place if it is a Rhodie as well? Research I think needs to be done.

Dark Archive

I think the last of the blues laws in New England were repealed Rhode Island not selling liqiour on Sundays.

Those Rhode Islanders always causing trouble.


The Mad Badger wrote:
Sissyl wrote:

But... if that law remains... Could you actually shoot that Rhode Islander and refer to it and go free?

"I heard a voice behind me. 'Excuse me... are you by any chance from Rhode Island?' My throat caught up as I heard the click of a gun being readied."

Good question and what constitutes being a Rhode Islander these days? Someone who once lived in Rhode Island but nows lives in Boston and was born in Boston are they still a Rhode Islander? Or only people born there? Important questions I think if we review this seriously.

Now they did say shoot not sure if that allows you to kill them. Only shoot them? Perhaps? Do you get off on discharging a firearm in public place if it is a Rhodie as well? Research I think needs to be done.

(Readies her plasma pulse rifle) Experimental research?

Dark Archive

Well by all means go and get started Sissyl I won't stop you. Being a Bostonian myself. Tell me how it goes and ... hey wait where did you get a plasma pulse rifle from anyways? And can you get me one?


I understand that in some places the old laws about killing someone during a LEGAL duel are still on the books. Anyone know if that's true?


Pendagast wrote:

Citizens can collect a bounty for killing a Mormon Missionary (Missouri, it was taken off the books in the last ten years, but was there for a LONG time)

This still exists in some Towns & Counties. Crane Included. Well Crane it is any Mormon with more than 1 Wife.

In Crane, it is legal to take your wife and fight on Church Steps on Sunday's After Church Service. There are literally Handbooks on the Etiquette of doing this.

Any Male over the age of 13 is also expected to carry a Revolver and have access to a Rifle or Shotgun. If you here a specific Ringing of the Town Bell you are expected to show up in the Town Square with your Revolver, Rifle, and Shotgun and as much Ammo that you can fit in 3 Bandoleers. 1 for each Weapon. The Bandoleers were also supplied to you by the Town.

Also you can set up a Legal Duel. In order to do such you must dig your own Grave and whoever finishes first gets a fully loaded Revolver. The last one gets a Revolver with every other slot loaded and must rotate the chamber randomly following a set regulation.


I grew up in Los Angeles, where there used to be a law on the books prohibiting anyone from shooting a porpoise from a streetcar......


I believe it's still legal to shoot a Scotsman in York with a longbow - except on Sundays.


In Germany, until recently, women left by their fiancé could demand damages for "sexual services rendered" if the couple used to live together.

If you cause a nuclear explosion, you can be fined, or be put into prison for up to 5 years.

And of course, in North Rhine-Westphalia, if a civil servant dies during an official journey, said journey ends.


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In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to sing in the bathtub. Also, fireworks stores are not allowed to sell to PA residents. And all liquor stores are run by the state (for now).

A local law in Danville PA is that all fire hydrants must be fully inspected one hour before any fire.


In 31 out of 50 states in the U.S. it is legal for a convicted rapist to seek visitation and even custody rights to a child conceived from their crime.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Recently in Missouri, a member of the state's Legislature has proposed that proposing gun control legislation be made a felony offense.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
TheWhiteknife wrote:
fireworks stores are not allowed to sell to PA residents.

Those stores exist for only one purpose...to jack with New Jersey law which does not allow for unlicensed possession of fireworks.


LazarX wrote:
Recently in Missouri, a member of the state's Legislature has proposed that proposing gun control legislation be made a felony offense.

How is this a Dumb Law? It is defending a Basic Constitutional Right. In the way it was meant to be. Though the link you posted is bad for his side.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Azaelas Fayth wrote:
LazarX wrote:
Recently in Missouri, a member of the state's Legislature has proposed that proposing gun control legislation be made a felony offense.
How is this a Dumb Law? It is defending a Basic Constitutional Right. In the way it was meant to be. Though the link you posted is bad for his side.

It's a dumb law because it trumps an even more important constitutional right. You might have heard of it, it's called the First Amendment.


The 1st Amendment Deals with Public Speech NOT Legislative Proposals. Legislative Proposals are handled outside of the Bill of Rights.


LazarX wrote:
TheWhiteknife wrote:
fireworks stores are not allowed to sell to PA residents.
Those stores exist for only one purpose...to jack with New Jersey law which does not allow for unlicensed possession of fireworks.

That makes zero sense.


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DMCA -- Digital Millenium Copyright Act

Anything you do that could possibly help someone else infringe on copyright is itself an infringement. Also, somebody can demand a take-down of material without proving that any of their copyrights have actually been violated.

Now that's pretty silly.


Every pro-copyright law these last fifteen years or so falls under "unbelievably stupid"... Not because there is anything wrong with the concept of copyright itself, but because those laws destroy other important issues like the mere conduit principle, not having the government watching our communication, having works actually reach the public domain as was intended, and so on.

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