50 Weird State Laws in the US That Might Surprise You

The United States is known for its diverse culture, landscapes, and, as it turns out, some pretty bizarre laws. While many of these laws were created with good intentions, they can seem downright strange today. Here are 50 weird state laws that might surprise you:

1. Alabama: It’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
2. Alaska: You can’t wake a sleeping bear to take a photo.
3. Arizona: Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.
4. Arkansas: It’s illegal to mispronounce “Arkansas.”
5. California: It’s illegal to whistle for a lost canary before 7 AM.
6. Colorado: It’s illegal to keep a couch on your porch.
7. Connecticut: A pickle must be able to bounce to be considered a pickle.
8. Delaware: It’s illegal to sell dog hair.
9. Florida: Unmarried women parachuting on Sundays can be fined.
10. Georgia: You can’t eat fried chicken with anything other than your hands in Gainesville¹.
11. Hawaii: Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears.
12. Idaho: It’s illegal to give someone a box of chocolates weighing more than 50 pounds.
13. Illinois: It’s illegal to fall asleep in a cheese factory.
14. Indiana: Mustaches are illegal if the bearer has a tendency to habitually kiss other humans.
15. Iowa: One-armed piano players must perform for free.
16. Kansas: It’s illegal to catch fish with your bare hands¹.
17. Kentucky: A woman cannot marry the same man four times.
18. Louisiana: It’s illegal to send a surprise pizza delivery.
19. Maine: It’s illegal to park in front of Dunkin’ Donuts.
20. Maryland: It’s illegal to swear while driving.
21. Massachusetts: It’s illegal to own an explosive golf ball.
22. Michigan: It’s illegal to sell your vehicle on a Sunday.
23. Minnesota: It’s illegal to cross state lines with a duck on your head.
24. Mississippi: It’s illegal to teach others what polygamy is.
25. Missouri: It’s illegal to drive with an uncaged bear.
26. Montana: It’s illegal to give a rat as a present.
27. Nebraska: It’s illegal for bar owners to sell beer unless they are simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup.
28. Nevada: It’s illegal to sit on sidewalks.
29. New Hampshire: It’s illegal to collect seaweed at night.
30. New Jersey: It’s illegal for men to knit during the fishing season.
31. New Mexico: Idiots are banned from voting.
32. New York: It’s illegal to take a selfie with a tiger.
33. North Carolina: It’s illegal to use elephants to plow cotton fields.
34. North Dakota: It’s illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
35. Ohio: It’s illegal to get a fish drunk.
36. Oklahoma: It’s illegal to wrestle a bear.
37. Oregon: It’s illegal to pump your own gas¹.
38. Pennsylvania: It’s illegal to catch a fish with your mouth.
39. Rhode Island: It’s illegal to bite off another person’s limb.
40. South Carolina: It’s illegal to play pinball if you’re a minor.
41. South Dakota: It’s illegal to sleep in a cheese factory.
42. Tennessee: It’s illegal to share your Netflix password.
43. Texas: It’s illegal to sell your eye.
44. Utah: It’s illegal to not drink milk.
45. Vermont: Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
46. Virginia: It’s illegal to tickle women.
47. Washington: It’s illegal to harass Bigfoot¹.
48. West Virginia: It’s illegal to whistle underwater.
49. Wisconsin: It’s illegal to serve margarine in prison.
50. Wyoming: It’s illegal to take a picture of a rabbit from January to April without an official permit.

These laws might seem absurd, but they offer a glimpse into the quirky history and culture of each state. Whether they were created to address specific issues or simply to add a bit of humor to the legal system, they certainly make for an interesting read!

¹: Source: WorldAtlas, Far & Wide

What do you think about these laws? Have you ever encountered any strange laws in your travels?

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 06/08/2024
(1) 50 Dumb Laws From Across the United States – WorldAtlas. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/50-dumb-laws-across-the-united-states.html.
(2) 50 Weird Laws in the U.S | Far & Wide. https://www.farandwide.com/s/weird-laws-united-states-5ec88a12367547fd.
(3) Weird Laws: Dumb, Stupid & Funny Laws in the US – Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/list/dumbest-laws-america/.
(4) Weird State Laws | Crazy & Bizarre Laws That Actually Exist – Ranker. https://www.ranker.com/list/50-bizarre-state-laws/litgoddess.
(5) Weirdest laws passed in every state – USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/list/news/nation-now/weirdest-laws-every-state/53ad0541-3518-4432-adc4-0fec193d389e/.