The reasoning behind most laws is pretty straightforward; it makes sense that we should be punished for stealing, breaking things that are not our own, or hurting other people. Some laws, however, are a bit more unclear, and there are some that most people don't even know to exist. While many of the more outdated laws are no longer enforced, that doesn't mean these things aren't still illegal, and some of them don't even make sense. Scroll on for some of the wackiest things you may not know are illegal.
Photographing the Eiffel Tower at Night
Tourists, beware: while you don't have to worry about any photographs you take of the Eiffel tower during the day, you do need to be careful about what you do with photographs taken of the landmark at night. Although taking photos for personal use at any time of day is permitted, it's against French law to profit from photographs of the tower taken after dark without having received prior consent.
This is because the light show projected onto it is copyrighted. Some actual buildings are protected by a copyright held by the architect, but the Eiffel tower itself is public domain.
No Camels on the Highway
It's against the law to ride a camel on the highway in the state of Nevada, thought's perfectly legal to ride one on any other type of road in the state, and we're assuming that it's okay to ride non-camelid animals on any highway or regular road. This must be a major inconvenience for modern-day Nevadans, we know, but the law actually dates all the way back to the 1800s.
Camels were a popular choice for transporting goods throughout the state because they were better able to stand up to heat than horses but at some point, camel traffic became out of control.
Get Out of Here With That Tiny Candy
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, men from Idaho looking to gift their lovers with something sweet should take note that it is against the law for a man to give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing less than fifty pounds. We're not sure what the origin of this law is, and we doubt it's actually enforced nowadays, but at some point, it might have been easier to just go with flowers.
Good chocolate isn't cheap, and while there are some more budget-friendly options available, anyone looking to gift 50 pounds of the good stuff can expect to spend hundreds of dollars!
Short Hats Only in Wyoming
Wyoming takes the public experience of theatrical performances seriously. Should you find yourself with any event to attend at a Wyoming theater, hall, or opera house, be sure to leave hats and head coverings at home. The law technically only applies to hats that are tall enough to obstruct the view of others in the audience, but there's no set definition of exactly how tall it may or not be. Better not risk it.
The punishment for refusing to remove a head covering that obstructs someone else's view is a misdemeanor and a fine of "no less than two but no more than ten dollars."
No Mustaches in Church
It's illegal to wear a fake mustache for the purpose of causing laughter in any church in Alabama, although should you choose to wear one for any other reason and happen to incite laughter as a result, you're in the clear. Seems like a rather large loophole in the law, but at least it allows fake mustache-wearing churchgoers in the state an opportunity to make their case should they need to.
This seems like the kind of law that was written as a result of a particularly disruptive event. It's a bit too arbitrary, yet oddly specific to have been written for no reason.
Who Can't Vote in New Mexico?
A highly offensive and outdated New Mexican law used to prohibit "idiots" from voting in state and federal elections. The law was overturned in 2010 but only after being in place for 100 years. It seems odd today as the term "idiot" has since become used colloquially to mean any stupid person, but it used to be used to describe people with any type of mental illness or intellectual disability.
We're glad the law was overturned, even if it hadn't been enforced for years. There's no reason we should have been discriminating against people with mental illness in the first place.
Let Them Eat Sandwiches
Mourners at any wake held in Massachusetts are not allowed to eat more than three sandwiches. There was probably a good reason for this law when it was implemented, but it seems high time the state get rid of it. If someone's just suffered a major loss, why shouldn't they be allowed to eat as many sandwiches as they desire? It may be the only thing that brings them comfort.
Perhaps this was written at a time when food was scarcer than it is today, or maybe there's some religious influence intended to prevent mourners from overindulging as they grieve.
Drink Your Milk in Utah
This one is a bit unclear, but there is an explanation. Some sources say it's illegal to not drink milk in Utah - how would they even enforce this, right? What if somebody is lactose intolerant? How would they not be constantly breaking the law? But the law doesn't actually mean that consumers have to drink milk, just that they may not discriminate against milk distributors if they do buy it.
The law as it's written probably prevents some food from going to waste and helps all milk distributors to get some share of sales. It's intended to prevent discrimination based on milk quality.
Moose on a Plane
It's against the law in Alaska to push a live moose out of a moving plane. Hey Alaskan lawmakers, just so we're clear, does this mean it's okay to push a non-live moose out of a moving plane? Or that it's okay to push a live moose out as long as the plane is not moving? What on earth had to have happened that this needed to be written into law?
It seems like this law is probably part of a grander set of laws intended to prevent disturbing wildlife. It's not unheard of for hunters to cause moose stress by flying too close.
No Nude Horses
A South Carolina law stipulates that no horses are allowed into the city of Fountain Inn unless they are wearing pants, which begs many questions such as which pair of a horse's legs do the pants need to be covering? Is it okay if the pants cover their legs but the rest of their bodies are still exposed? There's nothing written in the law that specifies a need for any other clothing.
The horse in this picture was on his way to a visit with the vet, but it seems unlikely the vet would have required him to wear pants. Wouldn't they get in the way?
Insulting the King of Thailand
It's against the law for anyone in Thailand to defame, insult, or threaten any Thai monarch, not just the currently reigning king. Maha Vajiralongkorn has been king since 2016, and in that time over 100 people have been charged with insulting him or his family. It's a crime punishable by up to 15 years in jail, and beyond just being illegal criticisms of the king are considered highly taboo and not to be discussed.
For those that do feel a need to air grievances, some have discovered an indirect option. Rather than insult the king, they'll simply talk about how great previous rulers were instead.
The Deer Whisperer
Alaska and their hoofed ruminant mammals laws, are we right? You can't push a live moose out of a moving airplane OR whisper in someone's ear while they hunt deer? We checked, and it seems this law applies when hunting any animal, not just deer, and the reasoning behind it is that concentration is of key importance when hunting. Disturbing a hunter by catching them off guard could be a danger to anyone in the area.
That said, the wording of the law is quite funny. It sounds like it'd be okay to sneak up on a hunter and scream at them, just don't whisper in their ear.
No, YOU Go First.
Kansas state legislature passed a law at one point known that caused what's known as The Deadlock Problem - essentially when two trains meet at a railroad crossing, each must come to a full stop, and neither can proceed until the other has passed. It seems like a good idea in theory, or at least a way to ensure the safety of all drivers and passengers. We give Kansas lawmakers points for trying.
But it really doesn't take much thought to understand how and why this cannot work. Wasn't there anyone in the room when this was written who heard the law and understood that?
Lemonade Stands
How can something so commonplace be illegal? Didn't we all have our own lemonade stands from time to time as children? Nobody came to arrest us. It's sad, but the fact of the matter is, it's true - lemonade stands are no different than any other business. To open a business, you need all kinds of licenses and permits, and when that business includes food, you have to work with the local health department.
You also need insurance and zoning approval if the business is brick and mortar, as a lemonade stand would be. This seems to be one of those laws where it's usually just let slide.
No Mating Near the Church!
A law in California prohibits animals from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship. We're not sure what the reasoning was behind this law, or how anyone could possibly enforce it. Maybe some residents found the site of animals doing what animals do too shocking or offensive to just look the other way, but passing a law doesn't just make the situation go away.
Animals can't read, and they certainly don't know how to measure distances in terms of feet or recognize what a tavern, school, or place of worship is. Seems like a waste of a law.
Magicians, Be Warned
Practicing magicians may want to steer clear of Hawaii, where law states that coins are not allowed to be placed in one’s ears. It kind of puts a damper on that "finding a quarter behind someone's ear" trick, doesn't it? The law seems strange, but the reasoning behind it is actually kind of sad. When Hawaii became a part of the US, it was ordered that all Hawaiian coins be destroyed.
Hawaiians would hide them in their ears to prevent them from being found and destroyed. We don't see why people shouldn't have been able to keep the coins even if they weren't used as currency.
Go to Michigan for a Haircut
Wisconsin women must be crossing state lines just to be able to get their hair cut. We're not sure how Wisconsin salons are even able to operate, because apparently there is a law in place that says it is illegal to cut a woman's hair. This is probably another one of those laws that are written somewhere but not actually enforced. There's also most likely more to it than that.
From what we could find, the law has something to do with antiquated customs from periods where women needed their husband's permission in order to complete tasks now considered routine.
Blue Is the Cutest Duckling
In Kentucky, one may not dye a duckling blue and offer it for sale unless more than six are for sale at once. This is one of those laws that while technically true, has been twisted by the internet. Written like that, it implies other colors are okay, but not blue. The law doesn't actually specify any particular color, though the rest of the description of the law is accurate.
The law actually prohibits selling or exchanging dyed rabbits and other fowl as well. You'd think it'd be to protect the animals, but if so it seems like they missed the mark.
Good Singers Only
If you're tone-deaf, you may want to skip traveling to North Carolina, or at least avoid going to any karaoke bars. It's illegal to sing off-key in the state, a law that was supposedly passed after a man was fined for singing loudly and poorly in a public space in the 19th century. While it's easy to think the law is a stupid one, it was actually passed to prevent disturbing the peace.
After all, what's more annoying than having to listen to someone screech and scream loudly in public when you're just hanging out somewhere trying to relax? It's a mood-killer, to say the least.
That's Not Very Comfortable
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one may not sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors. Inside of one? Sure. You may have a hard time breathing after a while, but if we're just talking legalities, it's certainly allowed. You can also feel free to sleep in or on any part of a refrigerator you like within the privacy of your own home. If you must sleep outside, choose another appliance.
The law actually dates back to the early 1900s when refrigerator coils were located on top of the fridge. Poor people would lay on top of them to stay warm in the winter.
Now That Doesn't Make Sense
New York state actually abolished the death penalty as a form of punishment in 2007, and yet, still within their laws, it is written that any person guilty of unlawfully exiting a building over 150 feet shall be sentenced to no less than death. Even if someone were to survive a jump that high, sentencing them to death seems a poor way to respond. We're glad this law is no longer enforced.
What's even stranger about the law is that it specifies that sentencing and punishment for the crime shall be carried out no more than two minutes from the jumper's initial exit from the building.
Love Thy Neighbor in New Hampshire
A law enacted in 1887 prohibits people from erecting what is referred to as "spite fences" in the state of New Hampshire. A "spite fence" is defined as a fence higher than 5 ft. tall between two neighboring properties, and the purpose of the law was to, well, prevent neighbors from trying to spite each other by building competingly high fences. Who knew that this was ever even something people did?
If you don't like your neighbors, or you live in any sort of townhouse, we guess you're out of luck. Learn to love them, or find some other way to spite them.
You Should Have Planned for This
In a town in France called Sarpourenx, it's against the law to die without having purchased a burial plot beforehand. Which, you know, makes perfect sense. The law was enacted to encourage people to buy burial plots from the local cemetery because it was reaching capacity and the people who maintain it needed time to prepare and plan for more plots. Still, this seems like it must be a difficult law to enforce.
The mayor of the town even went as far as to say that offenders of the law would be "severely punished," which begs the question - what more can they do to a dead person?
Sexist Taxes
In 1820, Missouri implemented what was then known as a "bachelor tax," where single men between the ages of 21 and 50 needed to pay an annual tax of one dollar. The law is no longer enforced, but at the time it was a way to try to deter men from choosing a single life over getting married. Apparently, they didn't see the need to present women with the same punishment.
One dollar in 1820 was the equivalent of about $23 dollars today. Sure, money is money, but $23 doesn't seem like quite enough to convince anyone who doesn't want to to give up the single life.
Thou Shall Not Kiss With a Mustache
We're not sure of the reasoning behind this weird law that was passed in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, but it prohibits having a mustache if "the bearer has a tendency to habitually kiss other humans." If you live in one of these states and you don't kiss other humans, go ahead and have a mustache. If you have a mustache, be sure to live somewhere else, or stick with kissing non-humans.
There's just something so oddly specific about the wording of this law, but also, why does it even matter as long as the person being kissed consents to the kisser having a mustache?
No Gator Zone
We're not sure why someone would want to have a gator in their possession in the first place, but if you do have one, know that in Florida, it's illegal to tie an alligator to a parking meter. That is, of course, unless you pay for parking. Apparently, this law was originally passed during a time when circus and carnival workers would spend the offseason down south and bring their animals with them.
Locals didn't want them to take up parking space with the large animals, so they passed a blanket ban, which at one point was amended to specify alligators. Because, Florida, right?
No Whale Hunting Where?
The state of Arkansas has a law prohibiting the harpooning of whales from an airplane. It's a great law, in theory. We're all for the protection of whales. But with one look at a map of the United States, we're reminded of one reason why this law makes no sense - Arkansas is a landlocked state. It's not next to the ocean, nor are there any especially large bodies of water.
Who in Arkansas was harpooning whales from an airplane anyway? What happened that caused this law to be written? They don't even have a SeaWorld in Arkansas. We demand a backstory.
Don't Pop Our Bubble, Singapore.
Habitual gum chewers, be sure to brace yourselves if traveling to Singapore - your vice is nowhere to be found in this country. Chewing gum was outlawed in 1992 after vandals and litterers ruined the Mass Rapid Transit system by sticking chewed wads in places they shouldn't have rather than throwing them in the trash. It cost the Housing and Development Board $150,000 a year to clean it all up.
The only gums available now are ones considered to have "therapeutic value," such as nicotine gums intended to help people quit smoking. Anyone caught with regular gum will face a heavy fine.
Stay Gassy
The German Autobahn is famous for being one of few in the world to impose no speed limit on drivers. Drive as fast as your heart desires, you'll face no penalty as long as you're safe about it. One thing you can't legally do on the autobahn, though, is let your car run out of gas. Plan ahead and keep your tank full to avoid potentially facing a heavy fine.
There are plenty of gas stations available off the exists throughout the autobahn, so pay attention to your gas gauge and stop as often as you need to to avoid breaking German law.
Who Would Do Such a Thing?
Whoever wrote this law must have really loved dogs, because, in the state of Oklahoma, it’s illegal to make an ugly face at one. What constitutes "ugly," we're not exactly sure, nor is there much information available as to why this needs to be a law in the first place. Dogs aren't known for being able to decipher human expressions. As long as no one's actually hurting one, making a face seems pretty harmless.
We also have to ask, what if a person makes an ugly face at a dog by accident? What if they receive bad news, and their dog happens to be nearby?
One of Us Is Going to Have to Change
Wear it for a walk in Hyde Park, or strut down Oxford street, just be sure not to wear your suit of armor while visiting Parliament in London or you'll be breaking the law. Most likely, this isn't such an issue these days, but it must have been in 1313 when the law was written. How many times did someone have to do this before they decided to make it illegal?
Other outdated laws in Britain include not being permitted to get drunk in a pub and never handling salmon in any manner that could be deemed "suspicious." What was going on back then?
But He's So Cute Though!
Highland cattle are some of the cutest cows in the world, but if you get drunk in Scotland, please try to resist the urge to ride one. With all that Scottish whisky around, it's tempting for sure, but riding a cow while drunk is against the law in Scotland. Stick with admiring from afar to be safe, or if you must, just give the cow a few little pats for being so adorable.
The law was enacted in 1872 and actually goes beyond just cattle. Drunk people may not ride cattle nor operate machinery such as carriages, steam engines, or loaded firearms either.
Even If We're Just Dancing in the Dark
Nightclub fanatics may want to reconsider if planning a trip to Japan. While there are plenty of clubs there, the typical vibe you'd find in a nightclub is not available after midnight. You can keep dancing after the clock strikes 12, but it's against the law for it to be in the dark. Clubs remain open but expect the lights to turn on, which is a bit of a buzzkill if you ask us.
For a long time, dancing was considered "sinful" and dancing after midnight was not allowed at all. The law was only changed to allow well-lit dancing within the last decade.
Sandcastles in the Sand
Don't bring your kids, or yourself for that matter, to the beach in Spain if any of you like to build sandcastles. They're against the law, and if you get caught building one you're likely to have to pay a heavy fine - though it varies depending on exactly where in Spain you are. The laws against sandcastles are mostly local ordinances so the fine will depend on the local law.
The rationale behind this prohibition comes from people showing up at the beach early in the morning and staking claim to unreasonably large areas to recreate famous landmarks out of sand.
Let Bigfoot Live
The jury's still out on whether or not Bigfoot actually exists, but just in case he does be sure to take extra precautions against accidentally killing him if you're ever in the woods of British Columbia. Sure, it's illegal to kill anyone there, but there is a special law indicating the prohibition of killing Bigfoot. BC isn't the only place with such a law either; it's also illegal in Washington state.
Killing Bigfoot comes with a $250,000 fine, but then again, you'd probably be able to recoup that with a book or movie deal since, you know, you actually found Bigfoot.
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
Keep your chickens under control, Georgia residents. In an effort to keep animals safe and prevent them from defecating on public property, a law in the town of Quitman, Georgia will fine any owners who allow their chickens to get loose. The law actually applies to all domestic fowl, including ducks and geese as well. Any person whose fowl are discovered at large faces the possibility of incurring heavy fines.
The law actually makes a ton of sense, but we can't help but laugh at how ironic it is given one of the most well-known jokes. How will he get to the other side?