Funny and Stupid Laws

[SpaceMan++]

What's your favorite stupid law? By stupid law I mean laws that are oddly specific (brushing teeth) and restrict unfairly. Controversial laws that many people know and many people are debating (cultural protection in Canada, one child policy, abortion, religion, loli etc.) are not funny and this is not a thread of mocking political parties. (aside from the rant that different state/province/prefecture/governate have different age of doing X) Bonus if you have heard of it in real life and/or witnessed/overheard someone actually violating it. You don't need to do your extended homework confirming its existence or expiry, but don't make anything up.

There is an old law in Texas that states you are unable to tuck your pants into one boot unless you own ten or more cattle.
In South Carolina it is legal to beat your wife on the court house steps on Sundays.
In Australia, it’s illegal to name any animal you plan to eat.
In Victoria, Australia, you need a licensed electrician to change a light bulb. (light bulb joke now)
In Massachusetts, it is illegal to go to bed without first having a bath. (However, another law prohibits bathing on Sunday)

[Quadcentruo]

In my state of Michigan, it is illegal to tie your pet alligator to a fire hydrant.

[Cyrus]

Here's a real head scratcher - in my state of North Carolina, town of Forest City, it is illegal to shoot paper clips with rubber bands.

[LugiaDialga]

In my state there are two rather silly laws in St. Louis, Missouri:

It’s illegal to sit on the curb of any city street and drink beer from a bucket.
A milk man may not run while on duty.

[7dewott8]

In New York, the penalty for jumping off a building is death

[The Spirit of Time]

I don't understand; are these laws issued by the government, and aren't you one country, so why does every state issue its own laws?

[Quadcentruo]

Originally Posted by The Spirit of Time

I don't understand; are these laws issued by the government, and aren't you one country, so why does every state issue its own laws?

It would be too much hassle for the national government to try to solve the issues of every single state (this was especially true back in the 1700's), so there is the national gov. and state gov. to create laws.

[SpaceMan++]

Game Consoles
I broke the law in China!
Think soccer moms are annoying for making V-chips and ESRB? Look at Chinese parents. China not only censored, it also turned into a nanny state toward youths.

Most game consoles are made in China and Chinese prisoners are often forced to play World of Warcraft so the government can collect their loot and sell it to other players, which is why it seems so utterly bizarre that China doesn't allow the sale of gaming consoles. The ban took place back in 2000, when the government expressed its concern that the country's youth would waste their time playing games instead of working. Even so, gamers are still permitted to buy non-console games, making the ban notably ineffective –which is probably why it is not extensively enforced.

Avatar 2D
While the army in Avatar is undoubtedly American, the idea of people siding with an indigenous population against an imperialistic force is something that China was not comfortable with. That's why shortly after the release of the movie in China, the authorities decided the movie could only be shown in 3D. Since there are very few 3D theaters in China, the move was effectively a ban on the film

http://www.oddee.com/item_97890.aspx

[Fubab_107]

I just found out today in Canada, It's Illegal to board a plane while it's in flight...

[Blood Swampert]

It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or
corpses.
It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.
It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British
monarch upside down.
In France, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon.
Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not
to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t
have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing.
In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a
vehicle.
In Ohio, it is against state law to get a fish drunk.
Royal Navy ships that enter the Port of London must provide a barrel of
rum to the Constable of the Tower of London.
In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants
– even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.
In Lancashire, no person is permitted after being asked to stop by a
constable on the seashore to incite a dog to bark.
In Miami, Florida, it is illegal to skateboard in a police station.
In England, all men over the age of 14 must carry out two hours of longbow
practice a day.
In London, Freemen are allowed to take a flock of sheep across London
Bridge without being charged a toll; they are also allowed to drive geese
down Cheapside.
In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing
squad.
In the UK, a man who feels compelled to urinate in public can do so only
if he aims for his rear wheel and keeps his right hand on his vehicle.
In Florida, unmarried women who parachute on Sundays can be jailed.
In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon more than six-feet
long.
In Chester, Welshmen are banned from entering the city before sunrise and
from staying after sunset.
In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient
city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.
In Boulder, Colorado, it is illegal to kill a bird within the city limits
and also to “own” a pet – the town’s citizens, legally speaking, are merely
“pet minders”.
In Vermont, women must obtain written permission from their husbands to
wear false teeth.
In London, it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague.
In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman’s genitals but is
forbidden from looking directly at them during the examination; he may only
see their reflection in a mirror.
The head of any dead whale found on the British coast is legally the
property of the King; the tail, on the other hand, belongs to the Queen – in
case she needs the bones for her corset.

[Roxas]

In England:

No boy under the age of 12 may see a naked shop mannequin.

A pregnant woman is legally entitled to spend a penny anywhere she likes if caught short.

If you are wearing a full blown suit of armour, it is illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament.

In Liverpool, it is illegal for a woman to be topless in public unless she is a clerk in a tropical fish store.

It isn't an offence to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls of York - but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow.

And really hillariously:

Eating mince pies on Christmas Day is an offence. (Oliver Cromwell made this one during the English Civil War.)

Also. The one about over 14s being forced to train with a longbow? Not enforced. I'm English, and I'm fifteen. But I don't train with a longbow. Not anymore. I did when I was 13 in Ireland.

[Idno58]

In Oklahoma, it is illegal to hunt whales. Now, where's Oklahoma again?

Also, in Michigan, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a lamppost.

ALSO, in Czarist Russia, Peter the great banned all beards on nobles, and gave a beard tax to peasants, because he thought beards were backwards and old-fashioned.
ALSO, Attaturk of Turkey banned hats for the same reason.

[Quadcentruo]

Originally Posted by Idno58

Also, in Michigan, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a lamppost.

Michigan - home of crazy weather and crazy pets.

[GTP_NickSkyline]

I have several. All courtesy of stupid-laws.net. Swing on by sometime.

Germany
"A pillow can be considered a 'passive' weapon."
"It is illegal to wear a mask."
"Munich: By law a pub can never be overcrowded - there is always room for one more drinker at each table - no matter how squashed people are."
"Munich: During Oktoberfest no person is ever legally drunk - no matter how much alcohol they have consumed."

Italy
"Pinching a girl's bottom is permitted by law."
"A man may be arrested for wearing a skirt."

And then there's this one.    

"A man may be imprisoned for not wearing a skirt."

Mexico
"Any kind of nude artistic display is against the law."
"Cyclists must not lift even one foot from the pedals, in case they lose control."
"If a Mexican enters the USA illegally it then becomes illegal for him to return to Mexico."
"Mexico City: It is illegal to say to anyone 'Have a nice day.'"

Ireland
"If a Leprechaun calls at your door you must, by law, give him a share of your dinner."
"In Trinity college students can demand a glass of wine at any time during an exam, provided they are wearing their sword."

China    

"Rescuing a drowning person is not allowed as it would be interfering with their fate."

"By law, if you pass anyone over the age of 70 in the street, you must bow to them and say a prayer to the Gods of the Ancients."

"You may only have one child, or a massive fine will be imposed."

I don't find China's law system stupid as much as I do cruel.

In Bangladesh, "Kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals."
In Australia, "Children may not purchase cigarettes, condoms or alcohol, but they may use them."
In Thailand, "No one is permitted to swim across a river unless they have a coin in their pocket."
In France, "No pig may be called Napoleon."
In Iceland, "It is forbidden to run a Marathon in less than 3 hours 30 minutes."
And in my home of Nova Scotia, Canada, "It is illegal to water your lawn while it's raining."

[alternateshadow300]

In Wisconsin, it's illegal to kiss on a train.

[JeffTheKiller]

You cannot kiss a woman in public if you have a mustache in the state of Iowa

[Creepachu]

in a village in england whos name escapes me, it used to be illegal to die (yeah, i know right?)

[Cyrus]

In my state of North Carolina (not sure which city), it’s against the law to sing off key.

[Fubab_107]

There's a certain gambling law in Canada that states some skill is required for a contest in which a prize is given out. So they decided for sweepstake contests where a prize is given to the winner, a math question must be answered.

[ThePokeMan]

It's illegal to sing in the shower in Pennsylvania.