There are so many crazy laws on the books throughout the United States that cause most people to scratch their head and wonder why there was ever a need for that law in the first place. Or better yet who even took the time to make sure those laws became a reality.
We recently mentioned some crazy laws in each state in an infographic and it left people wondering how those laws were enacted. The follow-up infographic below answers that question for each state.
For example, if you’re questioning where your donkey should sleep tonight in Arizona, you can rule out your bathtub––state law prohibits this option. A dam once broke and flooded a rancher’s property where a donkey was asleep in a bathtub, which led to a state law in 1924.
In Washington, you need to be careful what you do if you happen to encounter Bigfoot or Sasquatch. A law that went into effect during the height of Bigfoot fever in 1969 prohibits people from harassing these creatures or any similar subspecies.
Meanwhile, women in Michigan may be surprised to learn they need their husband’s permission to get a haircut! While the law isn’t enforced, it states that a woman’s husband or father, if she’s unmarried, owns her hair.
In Florida, when you’re ready to go out to eat downtown and don’t know what to do with your elephant, horse, or camel, you may not want to tie it to a parking meter. You’ll have to pay the same fee as you would for a car. This law is believed to have originated in the 1920s, when the Ringling Bros. Circus moved their winter operations to Florida.
And if you ever thought of dyeing a duckling blue in Kentucky and selling it, you’d better be ready to change the color of all of its siblings, too. In 1966, the state decided if you’re dyeing the fur of chicks, ducklings, other fowl, or rabbits, more than six of the colorful animals must be for sale at once.
Wisconsin is well known for its dairy products and the state takes it very seriously, so much so they actually have a butter law. It’s illegal to serve people butter substitutes in public places like restaurants or prisons, unless it’s requested.
If you think there haven’t been bizarre laws enacted in recent years, think again. In 1996, Oklahoma responded to reports of bear wrestling at bars by making the practice illegal. And Mississippi updated a law in 2013 that fines people up to $100 for using profanity in public. No doubt, there will be plenty of new crazy laws to keep future generations laughing and shaking their heads.
Click to enlarge
Infographic via graduate.olivet.edu
