I’m obliged to CBS2 Chicago for these interesting snippets of legal levity.
Did you know that there are laws in Illinois to the effect that:
- In Chicago, you may be arrested for vagrancy if you don’t have at least one dollar bill on you?
- It’s illegal to give a lighted cigar to a cat, a dog or any other domesticated animal kept as a pet?
- Bachelors should be called ‘Master’, not ‘Mister’, when addressed by their counterparts?
- In Oblong, IL, it’s illegal to make love while hunting or fishing on your wedding day?
- It’s illegal to fish in pajamas in Chicago?
- In Evanston, IL, it’s illegal to change clothes in an automobile with the curtains drawn – except in case of fire?
- In the same town, bowling is banned?
- In Chicago, it’s illegal to give whiskey to a dog?
- And it’s illegal in that city to eat in an establishment that’s on fire?
- In the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago, it’s illegal to consume beer from a bucket while sitting on the curb?
- In Cicero, it’s illegal to hum while walking down the street on Sunday?
- The official language of the State is American, not English?
- In Eureka, a man with a mustache may not kiss a woman?
- In Normal, IL, it’s illegal to make faces at dogs?
- In Galesburg, IL, you can be fined up to $1,000 for beating rats with a baseball bat?
- No monster may enter the corporate limits of Urbana, IL?
There are a few more at the link. I’d love to know how some of those laws came to be enacted!
How about it, readers? Do you know any weird or silly laws in your State – or nation, for those overseas? If so, post them in Comments, so we can all enjoy them.
Peter
Oh, what fun! Here’s a selection from my state:
In California, it’s illegal to own snails as pets. 😀 (Darn!!!)
In Chico, bowling on the sidewalk is illegal.
In Lodi, it’s illegal to own or sell “Silly String.” (I’ve lived there — I wonder what the fine is!)
In San Francisco, it’s against the law to wipe your car with used underwear…
In Redlands, a motor vehicle may not drive on city streets unless a man with a lantern is walking ahead of it!
It’s a good thing that State law also does not permit any vehicle without a driver to exceed 60 miles per hour. (Whew!)
In the State of Oklahoma, it is illegal to engage in sexual activity except for traditional intercourse with one’s spouse in private. If the said act is withing 1,000-feet of a school or church, it becomes a felony. This is according to the Prostitution Bill; §21-1025 through 1031.
As a former resident of Illinois, and glad of it, I can attest to some weird laws. For instance, in Olney, IL, it is illegal to hunt or kill white squirrels. There is a unique of white squirrels in Olney and they are protected by city ordinance.
A tree-rat by any other color is still a tree-rat.
In Indiana you can hang a horse theif.Dueling is leagal. If you notify the sheriff. have a doctor in attendance,and have seconds.You must use single shot pistols or swords.