50 Things You Won’t Believe Are Banned in the U.S. ( COURTECY;-READER'S DIGEST )

Alabama: no bear wrestling

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Did you know that in Mobile, Alabama, silly string is illegal (as is confetti)? But no matter what city or town you're 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. Funny that Alabama's lawmakers thought it important to get this law on the books, when here we were thinking that when we see a bear, all we want to do is run in the other direction.

Here are some of the dumbest laws you'll find around the country.

Alaska: You can't carry a bow and arrow

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In the state of Alaska, it's illegal to enter a bar if you're already intoxicated. That actually makes some bit of 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 of Alaska. Here are some strange laws you've probably broken.

Arizona: No registering at a hotel under a false name

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In Buckeye, Arizona, it is illegal to register or knowingly allow oneself to be registered in a hotel or similar establishment under any name besides his or her true name, or as the spouse of someone who is not his or her actual spouse. Find out all the secrets your hotel's desk clerk won't tell you.

Arkansas: No honking your horn in front of a sandwich shop

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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. Here's why "Arkansas" is pronounced ARE-Kan-SAW, but don't worry if you get it wrong. Although it's on the books as the official pronunciation, no one has ever been prosecuted for mispronouncing it.

California: You can't wear a mask or other disguise

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If you live in Walnut City, California, you should rethink your Halloween costume, especially if it involves a mask or other disguise—or at least get permission from the sheriff. Or you could consider trick-or-treating someplace else such as San Francisco, which is ranked one of the top cities for trick-or-treating.

Colorado: No snowball fights

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In Aspen, Colorado, it's illegal to throw a snowball because snowballs are considered a form of "missile." Specifically, the law provides that it is "unlawful for any person to throw any stone, snowball, or other missile ... upon or at any person or in any public way or place which is public in nature." And guess what? This law actually gets enforced! Stick to these family-friendly snow day activities that won't get you in trouble.

Connecticut: You can't eat in a car

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In Bloomfield, Connecticut, a town ordinance is said to prohibit eating food in your car. Although we couldn't find this one on the books, we found photographic evidence to support that this law is not only in force but also enforced. This could make a trip to the drive-through really frustrating (you can smell those fries, but you can't eat them). Check out these other weird food-related laws across the country.

Delaware: You can't trick-or-treat on a Sunday

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In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, when October 31 falls on a Sunday, you're not allowed to trick-or-treat, Halloween or not. Instead, it's rescheduled for the day before.

Florida: No Internet cafés

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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 cafésin general (and resulted in an immediate shutdown of 1,000 Internet cafés). The law is still in effect, although these establishments keep popping up everywhere, in most cases, claiming they aren't engaging in the gambling the law was intended to prohibit. Did you know there's a reason you work better in a coffee shop?

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/why-do-reopened-internet-cafes-get-shut-down-again

Georgia: You can't buy sex toys

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It's illegal to buy sex toys in Sandy Springs, Georgia. An ordinance on the books specifically provides that "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs is obscene material" and therefore prohibited (unless the buyer has a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, legislative, judicial, or law enforcement purpose). And this law gets enforced, although its constitutionality is currently being challenged in court. (In 2008, a similar law in Texas was overturned.) Now, check out these questions you're too embarrassed to ask your gynecologist.

Hawaii: You can't text and walk

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A ban on pedestrians looking at mobile phones or texting while crossing the street took effect in Honolulu, Hawaii, earlier this year. Fines start at $15 and go as high as $99 for multiple violations. Laugh all you want, but texting and walking causes 11,000 injuries per year, and could soon be banned in these other states.

Idaho: You can't be in the same house as someone who is smoking pot

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Marijuana use is still illegal in most states, but in Idaho, you can't even be in the same house as someone who's indulging. If you're caught on the premises where marijuana is being used, you can be fined up to $300 and sentenced to up to 90 days in jail (or both). Here are some facts about every state we bet you didn't know.

Illinois: You can't wear saggy pants

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In Collinsville, Illinois, saggy pants have been banned since 2011. Under the law, pants must be "secured at the waist to prevent the pants from falling more than 3 inches below the hips ... causing exposure to the person or the person's undergarments." The fine is $100 plus community service for the first offense, and $300 plus community service for subsequent offenses.

Indiana: You can't shoot fish in a barrel

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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, as is catching them with your bare hands.

Iowa: You can't flash or streak naked

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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.

Check out these 50 jokes for 50 states that'll have you laughing.

Kansas: No public peeing

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In Derby, Kansas, it's illegal to urinate in any public place (including highways, streets, alleys, or upon the premises of any public place), when "in open view of any person." Doing so is a misdemeanor and can subject you to a fine of up to $500 and up to 30 days' imprisonment. If you're in a public restroom, do everyone a favor and follow these bathroom etiquette rules.

Kentucky: No selling Easter bunnies

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In Kentucky, it is illegal to sell baby bunnies whose fur has been dyed. In fact, it's illegal to even dye the bunnies in the first place. And for that matter, the law applies to baby chicks, ducklings, and other birds. If you get caught doing so, you're looking at a fine of up to $500. Here's why bunnies are so popular for Easter in the first place.

Louisiana: No vampires

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If you took True Blood or Interview with a Vampire a little too literally and have a taste for human blood (or, for that matter, animal blood, or animal waste), then you'd best satisfy your cravings in a state that is not Louisiana. Louisiana's legislature, finding it "necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, safety, and welfare and for the support of state government and its existing public institutions," has banned the ingestion of human or animal blood or human or animal waste. Break this law, and you're looking at five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Maine: No rollerskating on the sidewalk

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In Biddeford, Maine, it's illegal to roller-skate or ride your bike on the sidewalk, and in Augusta, don't even think about letting your children set up a lemonade stand without clearing it first with the chief of police. Here are some bucket list ideas for every state.

Maryland: No potty mouths at the playground

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Doesn't matter how frustrated you get when you can't get your six-year-old son to share his sandbox toys with his four-year-old brother. Doesn't matter if you stub your toe. Whatever you do, just don't use profanity at the playground in Cumberland, because that stuff is banned. No matter what the law says, we think it's OK to curse under these circumstances.

Massachusetts: You can't buy a Christmas tree that's too big for your car

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In Sudbury, Massachusetts, a town police officer pulled a car over for having a tree that was too big for it. "Sudbury PD would like to remind you to transport your Holiday trees responsibly," the police posted on Facebook in regards to the incident. These are some of the best gifts you can give from every state.

Michigan: No peeing in public

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A moment of childish bad judgment can create a lifetime of unfortunate consequences throughout a number of Michigan municipalities. We're talking about public urination here, and laugh all you want, but it's still a serious offense because not only can you be forced to pay a fine of up to $500, and face up to 90 days in jail, but you may be required to register as a sex offender.

Minnesota: You can't wear your hat in the theater

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If you go to a movie theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it doesn't matter how cold you are, it's still illegal to wear a hat inside. Specifically, the law provides that "no person, during the performance of the program in a theater, auditorium, or place of amusement, shall wear any headgear" (or otherwise conduct himself in a manner which interferes unreasonably with the view or enjoyment of another person of the stage or screen or place of activity). Here are more movie theater etiquette rules everyone should follow.

http://minneapolis-mn.elaws.us/code/coor_apxid29496_title15_ch385_sec385.70

Mississippi: No teaching about polygamy

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The state of Mississippi bans the teaching of "the doctrines, principles, or tenets, or any of them, of polygamy." If you're convicted of this, or of even trying to do this, you could face imprisonment up to six months (and no less than one month).

These are the craziest world records you'll find from each state.

Missouri: No hitching a ride on a moving vehicle

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In Columbia, Missouri, it is illegal for anyone who is riding a bicycle or roller skates to attach himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.

Can you guess the one letter that's not in any U.S. state name?

Montana: No giving away rats as gifts

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In the city of Billings, Montana, you can buy, sell, and give away rats as long as they're to be used as food for snakes or birds of prey (or both). For any other purpose, it's illegal. If you're not sure whether your pet bird is a "bird of prey," you might want to pay a visit to Idaho's Birds of Prey Conservation Area (in Snake River, Idaho). Find out everything you need to know before adopting an exotic pet.

Nebraska: You can't get married if you have an STD

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Under the laws of the State of Nebraska, "no person who is afflicted with a venereal disease" is allowed to marry. That being said, the applicable Nebraska case law holds that a marriage where one person is afflicted is not void, but is voidable. Before you head to the altar, you may want to try this at-home STD test.

Nevada: You can't lie down on the sidewalk

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Don't even think about lying down on the sidewalk in Reno, Nevada, because it is 100 percent banned—except in the case of an actual emergency. If you still think you can handle a trip to Nevada, consider these must-see attractions in Las Vegas that don't actually involve gambling.

New Hampshire: No making off with seaweed

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When in New Hampshire, be sure to leave the seaweed where you find it because carrying away seaweed from the seashore is illegal.

New Jersey: You can't text and walk

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As in Hawaii, one municipality in New Jersey, Fort Lee, a municipality in New Jersey, banned texting while walking. Violations come with an $85 ticket. Besides walking, here are some other activities that essentially beg you to stop talking with your thumbs.

New Mexico: No voting for idiots

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In the state of New Mexico, you can't vote if you're an idiot. Specifically, the New Mexico State Constitution provides: "Every U.S. citizen who has resided in New Mexico 12 months, in the county 90 days ... shall be qualified to vote at all elections for public officers," with the exception of "idiots," as well as "insane persons and persons convicted of a felonious or infamous crime."

New York: No drinking before the brunch hour

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In New York City, it's illegal for a restaurant to serve an alcoholic beverage before 10 a.m. on Sunday. For those who enjoy a really early brunch, that rules out mimosas. At least the ban doesn't extend until noon anymore, as it did until only recently. Here are some other unusual alcohol laws from across the country.

North Carolina: No crimes against nature

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North Carolina prohibits all crimes against nature. What are "crimes against nature" you might ask? Well, for starters, it can include consensual sex between two people. In addition, sex outside of marriage is illegal in North Carolina (assuming it's "lewd and lascivious").

https://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-177.html

North Dakota: No sex with birds

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It's illegal in North Dakota to perform a "deviate sexual act" with an intent to be gratified. Violating this law comes with a hefty penalty: up to one year in prison, a fine of $2,000, or both. Luckily (for some), North Dakota defines "deviate sexual act" narrowly to mean "sexual contact with an animal, bird, or dead person."

Ohio: No arrests on Sundays

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You can't be arrested on a Sunday in Ohio. You also can't be arrested on the Fourth of July, or during a session of the State Congress. Instead of breaking the law on America's birthday, we recommend these strategies for having the best ever Fourth of July.

Oklahoma: No horse-tripping

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In the state of Oklahoma, it's illegal to engage in "horse-tripping". According to SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), "horse-tripping is an incredibly cruel event which involves the roping of a horse's feet, forcing them to trip and fall." So, even though this event seems somewhat obscure, we applaud you, Oklahoma, for your efforts to make life better for horses.

http://www.sharkonline.org/index.php/rodeo-events/917-horse-tripping

Oregon: No peeing in a bottle

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Thinking about taking a road trip in Oregon? Well, you'd better have some pretty clear ideas of where you'll be making pit stops because Oregon happens to be very particular about the way they want residents and visitors to dispose of their personal waste—by which we mean urine and fecal matter. Specifically, what you're not allowed to do in the state of Oregon is disposing of a container of urine or other human waste on or beside the highway.

https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.172

Pennsylvania: No cell phones in the courtroom

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In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, they're cracking down hard on distractions in the courthouse. Specifically, all cell phones and all audio-recording devices are banned in several courthouses throughout the county. That goes for the press, as well, which one might wonder, is a blow against freedom of the press? Or maybe we're just addicted to our cell phones (here are the signs).

Rhode Island: No biting off someone's finger

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Rhode Island prohibits the biting off of the "limb or member" of another person. It also prohibits putting an eye out and slitting the nose, ear or lip of another person. In all cases, the punishment is up to 20 years in prison.

Did you know there's only one state whose letters are all on one row of a keyboard?

https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/2014/title-11/chapter-11-29/section-11-29-1

South Carolina: No working on Sunday

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South Carolina law provides that "on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday," it's illegal to "engage in worldly work, labor, business" or the sale of consumer goods or to employ others to do so. The one exception is made in Charleston County, where those who observe the Sabbath on the "seventh day of the week" (i.e., Saturday) may work on Sundays, as long as they refrain on Saturday. But don't worry, the law, which dates back to the 1800s, is rarely enforced, so you can still grocery shop, eat out, fly out of town, or take an emergency trip to the hospital if need be.

South Dakota: No causing static

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No one likes static cling, but in South Dakota, the anti-static sentiment can only be described as "epic." In fact, it's against the law to cause static in the municipality of Huron, South Dakota. It's important to note that the sort of static this law refers to is not the kind that makes your hair stand on end, but the kind that makes crackling noises and "snow" on your television. Here are some really cool photos of actual snow that were taken from space.

Tennessee: No sharing your Netflix password

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In Tennessee, you can't share your Netflix password (or any other password for a paid subscription streaming service). In 2011, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed a bill into law to this effect. "The law is mainly targeted at hackers who steal and then sell log-in information in bulk. But this means it will also be crime for everyday consumers to share user log-in information with friends so they can access media downloads for free." Getting caught could mean up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Or, read a book instead—these are the most popular books in each state.

Texas: No sex between people of the same gender

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The Texas penal code specifically prohibits what it calls "deviate sexual intercourse" between people of the same gender. But, while this law is still on the books, it's unenforceable thanks to the 2003 Supreme Court decision in Lawrence V. Texas, which deemed it unconstitutional.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/docs/PE/htm/PE.21.htm

Utah: No booze for immigrants

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In a state that already has many arcane alcohol-related laws on the books, Governor Gary Herbert recently upped the ante by signing into law House Bill 155, which prohibits recent immigrants (those who have been here for less than two years) from driving with even a drop of alcohol in the blood. House Bill 155 also lowers the legal limit on alcohol consumption to a blood alcohol content of .05.

Vermont: You can't have apple pie without ice cream

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It's not exactly a ban, but it's kind of crazy nevertheless: Since 1999, in Vermont, when serving apple pie, the official state pie, "a good faith effort" is required to be made to also serve a glass of cold milk, a slice of cheddar cheese weighing a minimum of 1/2 ounce, or a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Find out the best ice cream shop in Vermont ... and every other state.

Virginia: You can't go trick-or-treating if you're older than 12

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If you're over the age of 12 in Chesapeake, Virginia, you're not allowed to go trick-or-treating on Halloween or risk a fine of up to $100.00, a jail stay of up to six months, or both. The same law is on the books in Newport News, Virginia.

Washington: You, with a cold

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If you've got a cold or another contagious disease, don't walk around in public in the state of Washington, where "every person who shall willfully expose himself or herself to another ... in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or her or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health ... shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." Here's what happens to your mind when you've got a cold.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.54.050

West Virginia: No dueling if you're planning on running for office

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One thing you can be sure of in West Virginia is that anyone who holds public office has never been involved in a duel. Specifically, anyone who in West Virginia or anywhere else, fights a duel with deadly weapons or sends or accepts a challenge to do so, is forever banned from "holding any office of honor, trust or profit" in West Virginia.

Wisconsin: No spitting on the sidewalk

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In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, it's illegal to spit on the sidewalk. Sounds like common sense to us! While we're at it, how about a refresher course on these other etiquette rules.

Wyoming: No entering a mine when you're drunk

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In Wyoming, it's illegal to enter a mine while intoxicated. Failure to heed this law is a misdemeanor but carries with it a fine of up to $500, and possible imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year. Something else you shouldn't do while drunk in Wyoming? Selling metals, rubber, rags, paper, and other stuff because your purchaser will be violating the law.