Some old and crazy laws....that still exist, on the books at least... (illegal, death)

[sugarmaple]

MASS: Bullets may not be used as currency; Quakers and witches are banned; Hunting on Sundays is prohibited; Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked; At a wake, mourners may eat no more than three sandwiches.

VT: Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth;

NY: New Yorkers cannot dissolve a marriage for irreconcilable differences, unless they both agree to it.

AK: A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.

MT: It is a felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail.

FL: Penalty for horse theft is death by hanging; You are not allowed to break more than three dishes per day, or chip the edges of more than four cups and/or saucers; It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit; Unmarried couples may not commit “lewd acts” and live together in the same residence.

NM: Idiots may not vote.

RI: It is considered an offense to throw pickle juice on a trolley.

Aside from the craziness of these laws and although most of these 'laws' are no longer enacted or have been deemed 'unenforceable' they illustrate, I believe, that currently we have laws that are either absurd, unenforceable or, completely lack any common sense at all AND we have laws that are not enforced and should be.

We can shake our heads at some of the nutty ones above [www.dumblaws.com] yet I think it is important to take some time and go to your legislative website and look at the ones that are on the books, getting passed or are 'on the wall', meaning getting ready for review by your Senate Judiciary.

Comments have been made in some of these postings about the sex offender registry (laws) and how it is just not working correctly...I concur; in many states the registry is not up to date, there is insufficient money to keep the offender registry current.

I would hate to see, down the road, some other person start this thread with 'dumb laws' of 2008/2009 ..... when perhaps we can collectively begin to present our sentiments to our legislative leaders for laws that truly make sense and are appropriately just.

And for any husband who lives in Detroit Michigan: It is illegal for a man to scowl at his wife on Sunday.

[Delta Planter]

Hilarious! Thanks!

[Frankie117]

Originally Posted by sugarmaple

NM: Idiots may not vote.

I think New Mexico may be onto something here .


Thanks for the great comic relief!

[Chatteress]

Thanks for posting these. Interesting laws we have here.

[delusianne]

I'd love to know the events that led up to these - and to read the judges' opinions - the VT one, the RI one, and the Detroit Michigan one!

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by delusianne

I'd love to know the events that led up to these - and to read the judges' opinions - the VT one, the RI one, and the Detroit Michigan one!

If you find anything, post it. Some of them read a little out of touch, by today's standards, but then again... Kinda like that saying I've heard down here in Texas, 'But Judge, he just needed killin." I've also heard that can be a legal defense...

[Magnolia Bloom]

"FL: Penalty for horse theft is death by hanging; You are not allowed to break more than three dishes per day, or chip the edges of more than four cups and/or saucers; It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit; Unmarried couples may not commit “lewd acts” and live together in the same residence."

I'd have to see the citations in the Florida statutes to believe this.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by HIF

"FL: Penalty for horse theft is death by hanging; You are not allowed to break more than three dishes per day, or chip the edges of more than four cups and/or saucers; It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit; Unmarried couples may not commit “lewd acts” and live together in the same residence."

I'd have to see the citations in the Florida statutes to believe this.

I didnt look up the others, but -

Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

"If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together, or if any man or woman, married or unmarried, engages in open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083."

[Magnolia Bloom]

Def of "gross lewdness"?

I'm not saying that there aren't antiquated statutes, but much misinformation abounds.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by HIF

Def of "gross lewdness"?

I'm not saying that there aren't antiquated statutes, but much misinformation abounds.

Well, not trying to argue, but "If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together" is the same thing - cohabit - the statute's language may have been updated or the OP quote is a paraphrase. That Sunshine statutes link where I found the quote lists the statute's predecessors, though they're not linked - the old language could be there.

I know its not important and I know there are exaggerations, but the fact that this law still exists at all is quite something. And "gross lewdness" - how do the strip clubs stay in business?