Top 10: Crazy Laws in the United States

Some+of+our+laws+in+the+U.S.+are+just+silly.

Ashley Onzuka

Some of our laws in the U.S. are just silly.

By Sheehan Chase, Staff Writer

With all the rules and regulations in the Unites States, the public often overlook many laws. Some of these laws are so specific and odd that they usually remain unknown to the vast majority of us. Here is a list of the 10 most interesting laws you probably were not aware of.

10. In Oregon and New Jersey drivers are not allowed to pump their own gas.

*Due to the possible fire hazards that are associated with pumping fuel, these two states found it in the public interest to outlaw all self-service gas stations in 1949.

9. In Michigan you may not swear in front of women and children.

*Although there have been repeals recently against this old-fashioned law passed in 1931, it is still active in the Michigan penal code. Some of the outdated laws in Michigan also include several that relate to “dueling.

8.In California it is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.

*With some of the most strict fish and game regulations in the country, this one just seemed far to specific and begs a few questions like: Why would it be OK to shoot only whales? Are they overpopulated in that area? And is shooting from moving vehicles a normal thing in California?

7. In Alabama, all bear wrestling matches are explicitly prohibited.

* For years, the people of Alabama have enjoyed good old-fashioned bear wrestling. However in the mid-1990s, a bill was passed to outlaw this pastime while also making the act of training a bear to wrestle a human a felony.

6. In California no vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

*Silicon Valley is widely acknowledged as the Mecca of technology. The good folks at Google have produced “driverless” cars that are currently in the testing phase. This gives us a small glimpse into the near future, as with new technology comes new regulations.

5. In Florida, when having sex, only the missionary position is legal.

* Although regulation of this law seems to be nearly impossible, it is just one several similar sex laws in Florida.

4. In Hawaii you can ride in the bed of a pickup truck with no safety equipment but you may be fined for riding in the back of a passenger car without a seatbelt.

*Now this is one I’m sure we can all appreciate. Here in Hawaii you frequently see full families riding in the back of trucks, young and old.

3. In Alabama it is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

*Church time is a sacred time in this region of the U.S. So there is no wonder why lawmakers in Alabama have outlawed fake mustaches in Church, it’s simply too humorous.

2.In Florida if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.

*In the 1920s, the Ringling Bros. Circus moved its winter operations to Sarasota, Fla. Shortly after, parking meters started popping up and a new law was born. So if you ever need to park your elephant in Florida, don’t forget to pay the meter.

1. In Texas the “campus carry” law allows a licensed gun owner to carry a concealed weapon in most public places, including universities.

*However, it is illegal for anyone to bring a sex toy on campus. This inconsistency in law sparked a protest at the University of Texas in 2015 called “Cocks not Glocks.”