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Ludicrous Laws and Ridiculous Rules By Zach Seemayer In Georgia, the ban on lewd or obscene bumper stickers has been overturned after a women was fined for her anti-Bush sticker with an obscenity in it. So now, motorists’ freedom of expression has been upheld, and a quirky law overturned. Throughout America, and the world, there exist thousands of odd, quirky and just plain freaky laws that make very little sense as to why they exist in the first place. Usually, the law comes from one specific court case where something weird happened and so the weird behavior was banned.
Most of these laws are outmoded and completely ignored. If they were ever tried, more likely than not they would be overturned. For example, in many states in the U.S., atheism is illegal. If this was ever tried, the Supreme Court would overturn it immediately. So, although the laws have little effect, guessing what bizarre event lead to the law’s conception is the whole fun of knowing quirky laws.
Here are some freaky laws from my home state and the cities in and around it. It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale. No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour. In Arcadia Peacocks have the right of way to cross any street, including driveways. In Baldwin Park - Nobody is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool. In Chico - Driving a herd of cattle down a street is against the law. In Chico (again) - Detonating a nuclear device within the city limits results in a $500 fine. In El Monte - Pinball machines are outlawed, as well as mock horse racing games. In Eureka - A man with a moustache may not kiss a woman. In Fresno - No one may annoy a lizard in a city park. In Glendale - A person must be 18 years old to buy a wax container. In Hollywood - It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Boulevard at one time. In Indian Wells - It is illegal for a trumpet player to play his instrument with the intention of luring someone to a store. In Indian Wells (again) - Drinking intoxicating cement is prohibited. In Los Angeles- It is illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent. In Los Angeles County - It is illegal to set metal balloons afloat in the air. In Norco - All persons wishing to keep a rhinoceros as a pet must obtain a $100 license first. In Pacific Grove - It is illegal to molest butterflies. In Palm Springs - It is illegal to walk a camel down Palm Canyon Drive between the hours of four and six PM. In Pasadena - It is illegal for a secretary to be alone in a room with her boss. In Redlands - Motor vehicles may not drive on city streets unless a man with a lantern is walking ahead of it. In Riverside - One may not carry a lunch down the street between 11 and 1 o'clock. In Walnut - Kites may not be flown above 10 feet over the ground. In Walnut (again) - Children may not wear a Halloween mask unless they get a special permit from the sheriff. In Walnut (one more time) - Males may not dress as a female unless a special permit is obtained from the sheriff. These laws are not limited to California. In Auburn, Alabama any man who has sex with a virgin girl, regardless of age or marital status, can be sentenced to five years in prison. In New Jersey, it’s illegal to pump your own gas and in Kentucky, you may not dye a duckling blue and offer it for sale unless more than six are for sale at once. In France you can’t wear religious symbols in any public school. In some Middle Eastern countries women aren’t allowed to drive and in Manila, only royalty can drive maroon cars.
So, although California is known as a bizarre state, what with the fakeness of Hollywood and decadence of San Francisco, people should know that bizarre stuff happens all across this wide, magnificent world.
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