[Cody Dawg]

Okay, as the title suggests, this is a thread inspired by stupid laws that you know about or have read about. I read about a well-intentioned but stupid law, link below, this morning.

These are just outdated laws, unenforcable laws, and just plain ridiculous.

SimeyTheLimey and MacNStein will probably have a blast trying to explain a few if they tune in.

This thread is inspired by this law: Walk your dog 3 times a day or else pay $650.

This is a ridiculous law, as much as I think it's great for dogs, because how will they enforce it?

Next?

[ghporter]

Cody, there are tons of laws that are so outdated and useless that they're laughable. You must precede an automobile into Dallas, TX with a red lantern, so as not to disturb the horses on the street. You are prohibited from sleeping in a bathtub in Detroit. Lots of stupid stuff that nobody's ever bothered to do away with.

(maybe political here)Maybe we should make legislators review everything that's on the books and either continue it or let it die (with rollcall votes so we know which way they go) before they can pass anything new. Tee heee! (okay, done with maybe political)

Okay, what other dumb stuff can other folks come up with? This looks like it can be entertaining!

[badidea]

http://www.legal-forms-kit.com/legal...dumb-laws.html

[E's Lil Theorem]

Two that I remember, though as ghporter said, there are tons of these:

• In New York, while in an elevator, you have to face the door.
• In California, after it rains, you can't splash (kick) the puddles on street.

[badidea]

Originally Posted by E's Lil Theorem

• In New York, while in an elevator, you have to face the door.

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally Posted by badidea

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Heh, worse than I remember it.

Here's another gem from California. This one is from San Francisco specifically:

• Persons classified as "ugly" may not walk down any street.

[Cody Dawg]

That's funny! If you're "ugly" as in your physical face or body or "ugly" as in you're acting poorly - aka "ugly?"

Figures that that would originate in California! The state that launched a dancing raisin ad campaign!



GHPorter, those are really interesting laws. And stupid. So, why don't they get rid of them? Seriously?

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by E's Lil Theorem

Heh, worse than I remember it.

Here's another gem from California. This one is from San Francisco specifically:

• Persons classified as "ugly" may not walk down any street.

Another one from California...

• Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship.

In other news, two stray dogs were arrested in California yesterday for lewd behavior after they started mating just 800 feet from a public elementary school. Teachers at the school said that several children saw the dogs and now require counseling to deal with the shock. "Those dogs should have known better than to do something like that so close to the school. This will send a message to dogs everywhere that we won't tolerate this kind of behavior," one of the teachers said. The dogs are being held in the county dog pound pending their trial.

[jlemons]

In Georgia it is against the law to pat a man on the back.

[Cody Dawg]

Wow! Against the law to pat a man on the back? Really?



Now how did they come up with THAT law...and why?

And could a person actually be arrested for that? What would happen if a cop tried to arrest someone for one of these ridiculous laws?

[ManOfSteal]

There is a Northwest suburb of Chicago (can't remember which one exacty); however, if you "pull through" when parking your car into a parking space, you can be fined up to $200 with a parking violation. Does not matter if the lot is completely empty or not...crazy!

[subego]

DMCA

[MacNStein]

In VA, TN, and NH it's legal to beat your wife with a stick... as long as it's no thicker than your thumb.

Actually, it says that a man can't use a stick thicker than his thumb when punishing his wife. But it's more comical the other way.

[wdlove]

Thank you Cody Dawg, this thread is definitely good for a laugh.

[Cody Dawg]

I KNEW that you would have a great example, MacNStein!

As far as the "stick" being not thicker than a thumb, what about rebar? It's not thicker than a thumb.

[E's Lil Theorem]

Originally Posted by MacNStein

In VA, TN, and NH it's legal to beat your wife with a stick... as long as it's no thicker than your thumb.

Actually, it says that a man can't use a stick thicker than his thumb when punishing his wife. But it's more comical the other way.

Hah, it gets better in California:

• It is illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.

[MaxPower2k3]

There's a couple of good ones from (i'm sad to say) my hometown, Jersey:

- If you have been convicted of driving while intoxicated, you may never again apply for personalized license plates.

- It's illegal to pump your own gas. (All gas stations are full service here)

- It is illegal to offer whiskey or cigarettes to animals at the local zoo. (If only that smoking chimp were in a New Jersey zoo, he may not have ever gotten addicted)

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by E's Lil Theorem

Hah, it gets better in California:

• It is illegal for a man to beat his wife with a strap wider than 2 inches without her consent.

That one was good. I also like the Texas one:

`You can be legally married by publickly introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.'

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by MaxPower2k3

- It is illegal to offer whiskey or cigarettes to animals at the local zoo. (If only that smoking chimp were in a New Jersey zoo, he may not have ever gotten addicted)

Gosh, and I thought for a moment, beer was illegal, too.

-t

[Cody Dawg]

`You can be legally married by publickly introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.'

So THAT'S how Anna Nicole got that old geezer to marry her!

(Did she ever get his millions? I heard his son finally prevailed in court over her.)

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

That one was good. I also like the Texas one:

`You can be legally married by publickly introducing a person as your husband or wife 3 times.'

They can use that to get around the gay marriage ban

[gururafiki]

In Oregon there is a great law that says it is illegal for a dead person to serve on a jury. Strange, I've never served on a jury before...

[ghporter]

Cody, I believe that the legislators are too busy making themselves look like they're important by passing more dumb laws, so they just don't have time to even look at the old ones, let alone get rid of them.

The sad fact is that most laws today are written by law clerks working for legislators-and law clerks seem to be going downhill! One law presented before the U.S. House two years ago (I don't remember which one it was-probably a protective mental block!) was so huge that NOBODY had a chance to read it in its entirety before debate. It was passed on a voice vote and the enormous number of major structural (not to mention linguistic) problems didn't surface until it got to the Senate-where at least a few people tried to read it.

{SeriousSuggestion}
I think that before they could begin "new business," each and every U.S. Congress should be required to review EVERY SINGLE LAW, STATUTE, AND REGULATION, INCLUDING TAX REGULATIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS THE FORCE OF LAW, AND ACTIVELY EITHER CONTINUE SAME OR ELIMINATE THEM. Sure, the first couple of Congresses after this was put in place would do almost nothing new-they may have to work on budgets so they will get paid-but think of how streamlined the whole legal system could be!

Keep in mind how much "law" in the U.S. is actually bureaucratic regulation that has simply been published in the Federal Record after a "reading" which is often/usually dispensed with. Watch C-SPAN and see how often the whole room is VACANT while "business" is being conducted-you'll be amazed. The English Parliament may be thuggish and incredibly rude at times, but it's not often empty!

I also think that any new law should be required to be written in plain english, such that any person reading at an 11th grade level (we'll say as measured by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score score, though there are others just as good), or it would be null and void. This accomplishes two things: reduces the public's reliance on attorneys for everyday activities such as running a business, buying property, etc. (while not one bit reducing the importance of attorneys in litigation or criminal actions), and eliminates the camoflage behind which numerous legislators have hidden their own personal agendas. It might also have the effect of getting some of the younger members of our society to actually learn to read something more difficult than a TV Guide entry. I could hope...
{/SeriousSuggestion}

While the silly stuff we've quoted here is all pretty much plain english, the actual effect of some of the worst "silly" laws is hidden in flowery language which MUST have the purpose of hiding its true meaning from John Q. Citizen.

[historylme]

In LA, it's against the law to drive your flock of sheep down Hollywood Blvd. The side streets are fine.

[Eriamjh]

In Detroit, it's against the law to tie your alligator to a fire hydrant.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by ghporter

the actual effect of some of the worst "silly" laws is hidden in flowery language which MUST have the purpose of hiding its true meaning from John Q. Citizen.

...or John "X" Smith.