By C1 Staff
Laws – you may not like them, but you do have to live by them. However, there are some state laws that are real head scratchers. Here are seven of the weirdest and still enforced laws in the U.S.
Pennsylvania
Between the Keystone State and the Sunshine state, there’s no end to weird news stories. But apparently the weirdness made it into the legislature, barring locals from purchasing a vehicle on a Sunday. This is due to “Blue Laws,” or prohibitions based on certain religious tax standards, that limit otherwise lawful activity to only five or six days of the week. Besides Pennsylvania, 13 other states enforce similar laws.
There are also regulations on alcohol purchases on Sundays, and on hunting: only foxes, crows and coyotes are permissible on Sundays.
Arizona
This sounds like a state that Walter White would like to move to, should New Mexico prove unprofitable – statute 13-3453 declares it unlawful for anyone to “manufacture, distribute or possess with intent to distribute an imitation controlled substance.” No fake meth here!
Washington
In Washington, it’s basically illegal for people to leave the house when sick. Statute RCW 70.54.050 says, “every person who shall willfully expose himself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health; and every person so affected who shall expose any other person thereto without his knowledge, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Originally intended for those with something stronger than the common cold, the law doesn’t make an exception for those with just the sniffles.
Michigan
Anyone caught wearing sagging pants in Flint risks being arrested; the chief of police made headlines when he ordered his officers to arrest such scallywags. Though other states have tried and failed to make such laws stick, Flint has made it work. It’ll only cost you 93 days of jail time and a $500 fine; you could even be issued a warning if your underwear is slightly exposed.
Alabama
Man vs. bear wrestling in the U.S. used to be a popular pastime, especially in the 19th century. It’s still so popular that in 2006, Alabama issued a law to stop the practice in order to prevent bear exploitation. Groups like Green Peace and PETA have called the practice cruelty to animals.
Code Section 13A-12-5 determines that unlawful bear exploitation is when a person knowingly “promotes, engages in, or is employed at a bear match,” if they receive money for bear wrestling and if they “sell, purchase, possess or train a bear for bear wrestling.” The law also covers subjecting a bear to surgical alteration, such as removing teeth or claws.
New Jersey
Usually committing a violent crime is a heinous act, but in New Jersey your offense isn’t as great if you commit such a crime in plain clothes and not while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Statute 2C:39-13 states that a person has committed a crime if “he uses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnapping, criminal escape or assault.” Wearing a vest could get you dropped from a third to second degree offense.
Alaska
Pets are often part of people’s families, but in Alaska, you’re better off leaving Fluffy at home. Juneau’s Municipal Code of Ordinances section 36.25.010 states that “no owner of any animal or person having control of any animal shall allow such animal to enter upon any public premises where food or human consumption is sold, processed stored or consumed or to enter into any barber shops or establishments for the practice of hairdressing or beauty culture.” So, no, Rex can’t get a trim while you get your perm redone.
This law is rarely enforced, but when it is, it comes with a hefty $25 fine.
What weird laws have you heard of in your state?