State rankings
Weird Laws by State
Weird Laws by State: compare 51 US states on 1 metric.
Data
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51 states
 Alabama | Plastic confetti is illegal in Mobile., Driving while blindfolded is illegal.+2 |
 Alaska | Moose are not allowed on sidewalks in Fairbanks., If a person kills a moose then they must salvage certain body parts including the liver, head, and heart for human use.+2 |
 Arizona | It is illegal to spit in public in most parts of Goodyear., It is illegal to feed garbage to a pig unless one is raising the pig for personal use and has a state-issued permit.+1 |
 Arkansas | The S at the end is legally declared silent., No pinball machine in the state of Arkansas can give more than 25 free games away to winners.+2 |
 California | The production, testing, maintenance and storage of nuclear weapons are illegal in Chico., It is legal in California to possess many large frogs.+2 |
 Colorado | It is illegal to allow weed to grow more than 10 inches tall in Pueblo., It is illegal to use indoor furniture outside of one's house.+1 |
 Connecticut | According to Connecticut's food and drug administration, a proper pickle should bounce if dropped from a height of 12 inches or more., To be considered safe for human consumption, pickles must bounce when dropped from a height of 12 inches or more. |
 Delaware | Whispering in church is illegal., In Rehoboth Beach, trick-or-treating on Sunday is prohibited.+1 |
 District of Columbia | Both dancing and "demonstrations" that could entertain or attract onlookers are illegal at most monuments. |
 Florida | If a dog owner has hung a sign reading "Bad Dog" in a prominently visible location, they are not liable for any damage their pet causes., Unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be fined or jailed.+1 |
 Georgia | It is illegal for a person to live on a boat for more than 30 days within the state., In Dublin, wearing a mask to conceal one's identity is illegal (exception: children under 16 on Halloween).+2 |
 Hawaii | Billboards and other outdoor advertising devices are illegal in much of Hawaii., Coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears.+1 |
 Idaho | Cannibalism is officially illegal., In Pocatello, it is illegal to not smile.+2 |
 Illinois | It is illegal to dye or color baby chicks, ducklings, or goslings., In Galesburg, bicyclists are prohibited from removing both hands from the handlebars or engaging in "any acrobatic or fancy riding on any street".+2 |
 Indiana | It is illegal in the state to ride a horse faster than 10 MPH., It is also illegal to sell cold beer for carry out.+2 |
 Iowa | Drunk surfing or water skiing is prohibited in the landlocked state of Iowa., Imitation butter sold within the state cannot use the word “butter” or refer to creameries, cows, or dairies.+1 |
 Kansas | Hunting from a motorboat, airplane, or motor vehicle is prohibited., More than 25 counties within the state do not allow liquor to be sold by the glass.+2 |
 Kentucky | A person who wants to be a public official or lawyer in Kentucky must take an oath swearing that they have never fought a duel with deadly weapons., Kentucky law forbids the dyeing of birds, chicks or rabbits—unless they are being sold in quantities of six or more.+1 |
 Louisiana | Bear wrestling matches are illegal in Louisiana., It is illegal to ingest human or animal blood in a ritualistic manner.+1 |
 Maine | Dancing is prohibited in any businesses that sell alcohol unless they've been given a "special amusement permit"., It is illegal to skate or ride a skateboard while attached to a vehicles in a public place.+2 |
 Maryland | It is illegal to wear a sleeveless shirt in Baltimore parks., In Rockville, it is illegal to swear or use profane language on or near any street, highway, or sidewalk.+1 |
 Massachusetts | Psychics who wish to sell their services must live in the state for a year and apply for a license., It is illegal to make, sell, or use exploding golf balls.+3 |
 Michigan | Adultery is punishable by jail time., It is illegal to buy, sell, or trade a vehicle on a Sunday.+1 |
 Minnesota | Contests to catch a “greased or oiled” pig are illegal., Public intoxication is not illegal, though one is still responsible for any illegal acts they might commit while intoxicated.+1 |
 Mississippi | Having more than 1 child out of wedlock is a misdemeanor punishable by a month in jail or a $250 fine., Speaking during designated times of silence in church is legally prohibited.+1 |
 Missouri | If a bull has been running loose in town for three days and has been witnessed by at least three residents, any person who chooses to may castrate it., A single male must be charged an annual tax for being unwed. |
 Montana | Live stage performers in Montana are required by law to stay on the stage for the entire performance., Nighttime frisbee golf in any location other than a city-sanctioned folf course is prohibited.+1 |
 Nebraska | Driving near the edge of a mountain road is illegal despite the fact that Nebraska lacks mountains., Cocktails that mix beer with hard liquor are prohibited.+2 |
 Nevada | Throwing items from a chairlift is illegal., It is illegal in the city to sit or lie down on public sidewalks.+1 |
 New Hampshire | In many towns, it is illegal to have a picnic in a cemetery., It is illegal to pick up seaweed off the beach.+1 |
 New Jersey | A man absolutely cannot knit during fishing season according to state law., It is illegal to slurp one's soup in a restaurant.+1 |
 New Mexico | It is illegal in New Mexico to sing only a portion of the national anthem or the state song, "Oh Fair New Mexico"., Both tunes must be performed in their entirety or not at all. |
 New York | New York law prohibits the release of 25 or more balloons within a 24-hour time frame., It is illegal to throw a ball at someone’s head for fun.+1 |
 North Carolina | It is illegal to play more than 10 hours of bingo a week in North Carolina., Moreover, bingo events are limited to five hours each and may not be held within 48 hours of one another.+2 |
 North Dakota | Killing pigeons without a permit is illegal., Fireworks are legal in Devil's Lake only from July 1st through 5th between the hours of 8am and 11pm.+1 |
 Ohio | Certain crimes are legal on a Sunday or the 4th of July., Operators of underground coal mines are legally required to furnish their restrooms with adequate toilet paper.+2 |
 Oklahoma | It is illegal to trip a horse in Oklahoma (as well as a number of other states)., Sharing hamburgers at a restaurant is prohibited. |
 Oregon | It is illegal to dispose of human waste while operating or riding in a motor vehicle., It is illegal to hunt within a cemetery.+1 |
 Pennsylvania | It is illegal in Pennsylvania to catch a fish with one's mouth., Purchasing alcohol in another state and bringing it into Pennsylvania is prohibited. |
 Rhode Island | Biting off another person's limb is punishable by up to 20 years in prison., It is illegal to impersonate an auctioneer.+1 |
 South Carolina | Individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited from playing pinball., It is illegal to work on Sundays (ministers are granted an exception).+1 |
 South Dakota | Live stage performers in Montana are required by law to stay on the stage for the entire performance., Nighttime frisbee golf in any location other than a city-sanctioned disc golf course is prohibited.+1 |
 Tennessee | It is illegal to share passwords to streaming platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Spotify, Hulu, or HBO Go., If a person salvages roadkill for personal consumption, the law requires them to notify law enforcement within 48 hours. Bears may not be salvaged unless TWRA visits th… |
 Texas | It is illegal to sell a human eye in Texas, though the sale of hair or blood is allowed., The Texas constitution states that public officials can believe in any Supreme Being they choose, but the do have to acknowledge one.+2 |
 Utah | Alcohol cannot be bought or sold within the state during a governor-declared state of emergency., A permit is required to possess a beer container larger than two liters (such as a keg).+1 |
 Vermont | A wife cannot get dentures without permission from her husband., Clotheslines are classified as devices that run on renewable solar power and therefore cannot be legally prohibited.+1 |
 Virginia | Trick-or-treating is only allowed for children under 14 years old and cannot continue past 8pm in Chesapeake City., It is illegal to hunt or kill wild animals on a Sunday—with the exception of waterfowl or game stocked on private land, provided they are at least 200 yards fro… |
 Washington | In Wharton County, it is illegal to harass, harm, or kill Bigfoot., It is illegal to harass Bigfoot or Sasquatch.+1 |
 West Virginia | It is completely legal to salvage and eat roadkill., More than 20 states have similar laws.+1 |
 Wisconsin | It is illegal to carry more than one pound of margarine in Wisconsin., Similarly, restaurants are forbidden to substitute margarine for table butter unless the customer requests it.+2 |
 Wyoming | Forgetting to close a gate can earn the offender a fine., Skiing while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is punishable by up to 20 days in jail and a $200 fine.+1 |
Quick answers
- Where does this weird laws by state data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: The Weirdest Food Laws In Every State - The Daily Meal; That’s a crime? 50 weird state laws in the US that might surprise you - One Legal.