Sometimes, we hear about laws that are so bizarre that we wonder what on Earth happened to enforce them in the first place. If you don’t know what we mean, here are 17 examples of outdated laws in America that still remain in effect.
Blue laws
Blue laws restrict the operation of certain services on a certain day, usually Sundays, for religious reasons. Some of these laws remain in effect in certain states, meaning depending on where you are, it may be illegal to buy a beer, a car, or even play bingo, according to Stanford Law School.
Anti-LGTBQ+ laws
Despite being ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2003, laws restricting non-heterosexual people remain on the books in several states. This has an ongoing social and cultural impact on the LGBTQ+ community because even though these laws are not enforceable, they can nevertheless be used to make arrests and discriminate.
Banning atheists from holding office
Some states still have clauses that prohibit atheists from holding public office despite being unenforceable under the U.S. Constitution. Advocacy groups have been pushing to remove these discriminatory laws to ensure equality in public office and elsewhere and freedom of belief.
Swearing while driving
You should always remember to stay extra calm if you find yourself driving in Maryland, where swearing while driving is a misdemeanor! Believe it or not, you risk being charged and fined, so take a deep breath and count to ten. Or, if you really need to swear, pull over.
Prohibitions against fortune telling
Bizarrely, in some states, laws still prohibit several mystical and magical practices. CBS News explains: “There’s a law on Pennsylvania’s books that makes it illegal for fortune tellers to make money off predicting your future.” We suppose it stops people from getting scammed!
Adultery is a misdemeanor
Adultery is technically still illegal under the laws of several states, where it is considered a misdemeanor. However, in a few states, adultery is a felony, and cheating on your partner runs the risk of a fine or even a prison sentence! These laws are rarely enforced, but they still technically exist.
Seduction under the promise of marriage
Some states have laws against a man a ‘chaste woman’ under the promise of marriage, making the seduction a misdemeanor if the man does not marry the woman afterward. Seduction laws first emerged as a way for the legal process to account for the harm women suffered from sexual misconduct.
Hitching-post law
In some states, laws require each building to have a hitching post out front, dating back to when travel by horse was the only way to go. These laws remain in some places, primarily historical rather than functional laws, although who knows–perhaps horse travel may become the normal way to get around again!
Spitting prohibitions
Laws against spitting were introduced in the late 1800s to combat the spread of tuberculosis, as Smithsonian Magazine reminds us. These laws against spitting in public still exist, and while they are rarely enforced, they still reflect historical public health practices. To be honest, we think they’re not such a bad thing!
No dueling laws
Historically, if a person felt offended, they could challenge the offending person to a duel to restore their honor. The duel was usually fought with a sword or a pistol, lasting until injury or death. Dueling was outlawed in the early 1800s and is thankfully still prohibited, preventing plenty of violence.
Buying cold beer
Prohibition times brought many of the strange laws related to alcohol that are still in place today. In the state of Oklahoma, for example, the law says that beer with a 4% or more abv may not be sold from a cooler. How bizarre!
Sunday activities
Some states have blue laws that still restrict certain activities on Sundays, such as truck driving or hunting. In some places, dancing on a Sunday is even prohibited! Sure, these laws have historical and religious origins, but they can still impact modern activities, so we think it’s time for change.
Lawn maintenance
Some local ordinances require lawns to be kept below a certain height, with fines for non-compliance; for example, Virginia Law says that a fine must be paid if grass exceeds 12 inches in height! These municipal laws have implications on personal freedom and property rights, not to mention plant and insect diversity.
Oddly specific traffic laws
Some states have unusually specific traffic laws, such as prohibitions against driving blindfolded or requirements that certain vehicles stop at all railroad crossings. In Massachusetts, it’s even illegal to drive with a gorilla in the back seat! We’d love to hear the story behind that one.
Restrictions on harvesting rainwater
Some states have laws that restrict or regulate the collection of rainwater, mainly because of the old systems of water rights that have not changed for a long time. These laws have an impact on sustainability efforts, and there has been a push for legal reforms to encourage rainwater collection.
Eavesdropping
In Oklahoma, sneaking around listening to other people’s conversations and gossip is still considered a misdemeanor, which we find rather amusing. As noted by NCSL, these laws may sound positive, but they make gathering evidence for the police a little tricky!
A pickle may not be sold unless it bounces
Finally, always remember to bounce your pickles, kids! This strange law in Connecticut was originally enacted in the mid-1900s to prevent confident tricksters from selling non-bouncy pickles… have you ever tried bouncing a pickle to check if it’s good? We’re going to give it a try today!
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