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First off, I didn't realize Reader's Digest was a thing. Last time I visited my parents in South Carolina, I didn't see them stacked up in the bathroom. They have a pretty good article about crazy laws in the US, including...
Alabama: No bear wrestling
Did you know that in Mobile, Alabama, silly string is illegal (as is confetti)? But no matter what city or town you’re in in Alabama, it is unlawful to promote or otherwise be involved with bear wrestling matches. That includes selling tickets to bear wrestling matches and/or training a bear to be a bear wrestler. This must be one of the dumbest laws in the country, because when we see a bear, all we want to do is run in the other direction.
Alaska: You can’t carry a bow and arrow
In the state of Alaska, it’s illegal to enter a bar if you’re already intoxicated. That actually makes some sense. Now, if only we could make sense of why, in the municipality of Nome, Alaska, it’s illegal to carry a bow and arrow when, generally speaking, bow-and-arrow hunting is permitted in the state.
Arizona: No camel hunting
In Arizona, the hunting of camels is prohibited. While this may seem like a nonsensical law—camels aren’t exactly native to Arizona—there is actually a logical reason for it: Before the Civil War, the U.S. Army experimented with camels in the Arizona desert before eventually giving up the project. The remaining camels were set free and are still protected to this day.
Arkansas: No honking your horn in front of a sandwich shop
In Little Rock, Arkansas, after 9 p.m., it’s illegal to honk your horn in front of a sandwich shop. So please, be patient at the drive-through.
California: No donning false whiskers
In 1872, California enacted a law banning false whiskers. Granted, this is only applicable if you’re using the disguise to cause a public offense or flee after being convicted of one, but it’s pretty specific. Since this law was enacted in 1872, one must assume there was a spate of people fleeing from the police and slapping on false beards and mustaches to avoid being caught.
Colorado: No throwing missiles at cars
Within the city limits of Alamosa, Colorado, it is illegal to throw missiles at cars. While you would hope your car is protected from missiles no matter where you are—this one is so obvious you wouldn’t even think it’s technically illegal—this Colorado city made sure to articulate the rule.
Connecticut: No kissing on Sundays
If you live in Hartford, Connecticut, you might want to avoid Sunday night dates with your significant other—it’s illegal for a man to kiss his wife on Sundays. The origin of this strange-but-true state fact is unknown, though while it still exists, it’s not enforced.
Delaware: You can’t trick-or-treat on a Sunday
In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, when Oct. 31 falls on a Sunday, trick-or-treating is not allowed, Halloween or not. Instead, the festivities are rescheduled for the day before.
Florida: No internet cafés
In 2013, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law House Bill 155, which was aimed at cracking down on illegal gambling in internet cafés. But the law had the effect of banning internet cafés in general (and resulted in an immediate shutdown of 1,000 of them). The law is still in effect, although these establishments keep popping up everywhere, in most cases claiming they aren’t engaging in the gambling that the law was intended to prohibit.
Georgia: No swearing around a human corpse
In the state of Georgia, you have to watch your mouth even around the deceased, otherwise you might not be able to run a funeral home. Apparently swearing isn’t good for business in any industry.
Hawaii: You can’t text and walk
A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street took effect in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2017. Fines start at $15 and go as high as $99 for multiple violations. Laugh all you want, but texting while walking causes 11,000 injuries per year, and the bad habit could soon be banned in other states too.
Idaho: You can’t be in the same house as someone who has pot
Marijuana use is still illegal in most states, but in Idaho, you can’t even be in the same house as someone who possesses pot. If you’re caught on the premises with marijuana present, you can be fined up to $300 and sentenced to up to 90 days in jail (or both).
Indiana: You can’t shoot fish
If something is easy, you might say it’s like “shooting fish in a barrel,” but then clearly, you haven’t been fishing in Indiana, where shooting fish is illegal, full stop, as is catching them with your bare hands.
Illinois: You can’t wear saggy pants
In Lynwood, Illinois, saggy pants have been banned since 2008. The city ordinance issues fines ranging from $35 to $750 for pants that show more than 3 inches of underwear, and the ACLU reported via the Chicago Tribune that tickets had been issued under the ordinance 40 times by 2011. Collinsville, Illinois, overturned a similar ban in 2011.
Iowa: You can’t flash or streak naked
In Iowa, a person who exposes his or her “genitals or pubes” to another commits a serious misdemeanor, if he does so to arouse the sexual desires of himself/herself or the viewer and knows or should know the act is “offensive to the viewer.” The exception is if the viewer is the person’s spouse.