No Water Yo-yos

In Illinois, § 720 ILCS 5/12-21.7 states, "It is unlawful to sell a yo-yo waterball in this State." The penalty is a fine of $1,001.

No Malt Liquor on Credit in Wyoming

In Wyoming, malt liquor may not be sold to a retailer on credit. (Wy. Stat. § 12-5-402(b)) Why malt liquor only, and not beer, wine, or liquor? Your guess is as good as mine.

The actual language of the statute is:
"No sale or delivery of malt beverages shall be made by a wholesaler to any licensee except for payment in full made at the time of or prior to delivery, and a licensee shall not accept or receive delivery of malt beverages except when payment is made at or prior to delivery."

No Marbles in the Street

In Vicksburg, Mississippi, it is a violation of city ordinance Sec. 17-41 to play marbles, tops, or ball in the street "unless same is authorized in an official play street."

What the heck is "an official play street?"

Got Divorced? Stay Apart!

In Michigan, a statute specifically states that if a couple gets a divorce and then lives together, they are subject to all the penalties for adultery. (Mich. Stat. § 750.32)

This law was originally passed in 1931. That makes me wonder if there might have been a Detroit couple in the Roaring 20's that scandalized the area.

Achromatic Sex Businesses

In Dallas, Texas, a sexually-oriented business may only have the exterior painted "a single achromatic color." (Ord. Nos. 23137; 24440;
24699) This is defined as "colorless or lacking in saturation or hue. The term includes, but is not limited to, grays, tans, and light earth tones. The term does not include white, black, or any bold coloration that attracts attention." (Ord. Nos. 19196; 19377; 20291; 20552; 21838; 23137;
24440; 24699; 25296)

So a sexually-oriented business is not allowed to have white exterior walls, because that would attract attention?

Presidential Holidays

In Nevada, "any day that may be appointed by the President of the United States for public fast, thanksgiving or as a legal holiday except for any Presidential appointment of the fourth Monday in October as Veterans' Day" is an official state holiday. (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 236.015)

So the only exception to a Presidentially-declared holiday is if the President designates the fourth Monday in October as Veterans' Day? Why?

Raiding Orchards in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the penalty for entering someone else's land to damage or steal the vegetation or produce is imprisonment for up to six months or a fine of not more than $500. No silliness there, eh? Well, if the offense is committed on a Sunday, there are minimums: "The imprisonment shall not be for less than five days nor the fine less than five dollars." (Mass. Gen. Laws § 266:117)

No Skinny-Dipping . . . During Daylight Hours

In Vicksburg, Mississippi, public skinny-dipping may not specifically be prohibited at night, but it is during the day. Here is the city ordinance:

"Sec. 17-29.  Same--Nude bathing in public.
It shall be unlawful in the daytime for any person to swim or bathe in a nude condition in any canal, lake, river, or waters in or contiguous to the city, thereby exposing his person, or any part thereof to public view.
(Code 1959, § 14-33)"

Don't Taunt Someone for Refusing to Duel

In West Virginia, it is a misdemeanor to taunt someone "for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a challenge." (W. Va. Code § 61-2-24) Note that it it only a criminal offense if you put the taunts in writing; apparently, you are free to verbally abuse someone all you wish for refusing your challenge.

Watch Out for Strolling Paupers!

Mississippi Code Section 43-31-27 says, in part, "The members of the board of supervisors shall prevent the poor from strolling from one district to another."

The statute goes on to say that if a poor person on the county dole strolls to another county, any member of the board of supervisors is authorized to order a constable to bring him back. So have many counties run a shortage of paupers, so that the county supervisors need to make sure that other counties don't steal theirs?

Sometimes it's all in the Wording

Laws against indecent exposure are important, but sometimes the wording of them gets a little . . . peculiar. Take, for example, California Penal Code Section 314:

"Every person who willfully and lewdly . . .exposes his person . . . where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby . . ." So it is a crime to willfully and lewdly expose yourself to another person and annoy him or her thereby.

Also, if you willfully or lewdly exhibit yourself in a manner that "is adapted to excite to vicious or lewd thoughts or acts" you also have committed a crime. I wonder if a fat man wearing a speedo on the beach would qualify, since it might be willful and lewd, and may excite someone to think about violence against him.

Weird Laws: No Fishing with Guns in Wyoming

In Wyoming, fishing with guns is forbidden. The actual wording of Wyoming Statute § 23-3-201(d) is "No person shall take, wound or destroy any fish of Wyoming with a firearm of any kind or nature."

Llama Activities?

In Georgia, there is a warning sign required to be posted at "llama activities," and the same warning has to be put into contracts for "llama activities." (Ga. Code Ann. § 4-12-5) It says:

"WARNING Under Georgia law, a llama activity sponsor or llama professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in llama activities resulting from the inherent risks of llama activities, pursuant to Chapter 12 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated."

If you do not post this notice, a llama professional can be liable for injury or death of a participant in llama activies. It does not take a terribly warped mind to consider just what the "llama activites" are.

No Begging for Drinks in California

In California it is unlawful for anyone to loiter in a bar to beg for people to buy him or her a drink. (Cal. Penal Code § 303a) It is considered an "Offense Against Good Morals."

Dallas Placards

How many times have we seen someone on television walking down the sidewalk, wearing a sign that says "Eat at Joe's," or something similar? Not in Dallas! Under Ord. Nos. 5304; 10372; and 22061, it is illegal to "to carry or hold by hand or otherwise, any billboard, showcard, placard or advertisement or sign of any description for the purpose of advertising" on streets, sidewalks, or any other public property.

The Government Can Gouge You?

Many (if not all) states, including Alabama, have laws outlawing usury, the charging of excessive interest rates. In Oxford, Alabama, the local development authority is exempt from state laws "governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates." (Ala. Code Sec. 45-8A-111.15)

So, while a banker could be indicted for charging too much interest, the government could charge whatever it wants when it makes a loan?

Does this Include Sleeping on the Job?

In Colorado, it is illegal to impersonate a public servant. (Col. Stat. § 18-8-113) It is also no defense that the office does not really exist, so it is still a crime to claim to be an inspector for the "Colorado Department of Lingerie Fit Inpections" or a taker of survey questionnaire taker for the "Colorado Department of Repetitive Redundancies."

Is There a Market For This?

In Georgia, "it shall be lawful to sell the tails of legally taken squirrels." (Ga. Code Ann. § 27-3-23)

And should I presume that there is (or was at one time) a market for squirrel tails in Georgia?

No Taxis on MSU Campus?

Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 37-113-39 prohibits taxis on the campus of "the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science", unless the university issues a free license. The penalty is a fine of not more than $100 or by thirty days in jail or both.