Every state has its fair share of unique laws, but some go far beyond the ordinary and into the downright bizarre. Whether rooted in outdated ordinances, old-fashioned etiquette, or simply strange local customs, these laws still exist on the books today — even if they’re rarely enforced. From moose-related mishaps in Alaska to outlawed soup slurping in New Jersey, here’s a quirky look at some of the most unusual laws across all 50 states. You might just think twice before walking your cow down Main Street or carrying an ice cream cone in your back pocket.

Alabama

1. You may not wear a fake mustache in religious settings in order to prevent amusement
2. You may not spit orange peels on the sidewalk in Mobile
3. It is also illegal to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket

Alaska

1. You may not give a moose alcoholic beverages
2. You may not bring a kangaroo or flamingo into a barber shop
3. You may not push a moose out of a moving airplane

Arizona

1. It is illegal to allow a donkey to sleep in a bathtub
2. It is illegal to rig a crane game so that the claw cannot pick up prizes
3. You may not spit in public

Arkansas

1. Alligators are not allowed in bathtubs either
2. You cannot walk your cow down Main Street in Little Rock after 1:00 PM on Sundays
3. You may not mispronounce Arkansas

California

1. Women cannot drive while wearing a housecoat
2. There are limits to how high you can fly a kite in some areas
3. In Blythe, you can only wear cowboy boots if you own at least two cows

Colorado

1. You cannot drive a black car on Sundays in Denver
2. It’s illegal to set upholstered furniture outside unless it’s specifically designed for outdoor use
3. You cannot modify the weather without a permit

Connecticut

1. Beauticians are prohibited from humming, whistling, or singing while working on a client
2. You may not walk on your hands while crossing a street
3. Silly string is banned in public areas 

Delaware

1. Liquor can only be sold on Sundays between noon and 8 PM
2. Adult entertainment establishments must be closed on Sundays

Florida

1. You may not sing in a swimsuit in public
2. Doctors are not allowed to ask if you own guns
3. You may not release balloons outdoors

Georgia

1. It is illegal to eat fried chicken with a fork
2. Why did the chicken cross the road? It didn’t because it was in Georgia. In Georgia, it is illegal for chickens to cross the road
3. It is illegal to use obscene language in front of a corpse

Hawaii

1. You may not remove lava rocks from state parks
2. It is illegal to annoy birds
3. Having a shark fin in your possession is illegal

Idaho

1. It is illegal to fish from the back of a camel
2. Selling potatoes with blemishes is against the law and can lead to jail time
3. If you are older than 88, you cannot ride a motorcycle 

Illinois

1. It is illegal to fish while wearing pajamas
2. It’s illegal to take a French poodle to the opera
3. You can be arrested for eavesdropping

Indiana

1. You cannot “noodle” (fish with your hands)
2. Sniffing glue is illegal
3. It is illegal for employers to require microchips for their employees (law made in 2020)

Iowa

1. A man with a mustache is prohibited from kissing a woman in public
2. In some towns, ice cream trucks are illegal
3. A permit is required to throw a brick

Kansas

1. You may not put ice cream on cherry pie
2. People over 14 years old are not allowed to play on playgrounds
3. You may not wear a bee in your hat

Kentucky

1. You may not wear a bikini while walking on the highway
2. You may not have a reptile during religious services
3. You may not fish with a bow and arrow

Louisiana

1. Sending a surprise pizza is considered harassment
2. You may need a special license to have a goatee
3. Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and locked

Maine

1. Blowing your nose in public is illegal
2. You may not gamble at the airport
3. Parking in front of a Dunkin’ Donuts is prohibited

Maryland

1. It is against the law to bring a pet lion to the movies
2. It is illegal to eat while swimming in the ocean
3. You can’t pretend to tell the future

Massachusettes

1. At wakes, you are not allowed to eat more than three sandwiches
2. It is illegal to frighten pigeons
3. Duels with family members are only allowed before 8:00 PM

Michigan

1. It is illegal to sell cars on Sundays 
2. It is illegal to pass snow plows on the right side
3. It is illegal to tie an alligator to a fire hydrant

Minnesota

1. You cannot cross state lines with a chicken or duck on your head
2. Red cars may not drive down Lake Street
3. It is illegal to hitchhike on a roadway

Mississippi

1. It is illegal to shave in the center of Main Street
2. It is illegal to spike a tree to harm loggers
3. Drugstores cannot sell poison to children 

Missouri

1. It is illegal to have a yard sale in the front yard
2. It is illegal to hunt rabbits from a motorboat
3. It is illegal for someone who is intoxicated to purchase a toy cap gun

Montana

1. Horses are not allowed in bars
2. Pool tables must be visible from outside the establishment
3. You can’t leave sheep alone in a truck

Nebraska

1. Men are prohibited from having shaved chests in Omaha
2. Dancing, bowling, and foot races are illegal until Monday after midnight
3. Bar owners must be simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup while selling beer

Nevada

1. You may not hula hoop without a permit on Fremont Street
2. Camels are prohibited from highways
3. Toy cars are not allowed on the sidewalk

New Hampshire

1. It is illegal to collect seaweed at night
2. Bar patrons are not allowed to tap their feet
3. You may not operate machinery on Sundays

New Jersey

1. You’re not allowed to slurp soup loudly 
2. It is illegal for men to knit during the state’s fishing season
3. Selling handcuffs to minors is illegal

New Mexico

1. Dancing while wearing a sombrero is illegal
2. It is illegal to keep a mule on the second floor of a building unless there are two exits
3. You may not carry a lunchbox down Main Street

New York

1. Throwing a ball at someone’s head is illegal
2. Wearing slippers in public after 10:00 PM is illegal
3. Selfies with tigers are illegal

North Carolina

1. Stealing waste kitchen grease is a crime
2. People are not allowed to trespass on private property to gather pine needles and pine straw
3. You may not rollerblade on the highway

North Dakota

1. You cannot fall asleep with your shoes on
2. You may not dance with a hat on

Ohio

1. You cannot whale fish on Sundays
2. It is illegal to eat a donut while walking backwards
3. You may not get a fish intoxicated

Oklahoma

1. It is illegal to fish from the back of a giraffe
2. You may not trip a horse

Oregon

1. It is illegal to sit on a bridge
2. You may not eat watermelon in Beech Grove
3. You may not hunt in cemeteries

Pennsylvania

1. Offering fortune-telling services for profit is illegal
2. It is illegal to sing in the bathtub
3. You may need a permit to wear makeup

Rhode Island

1. It is illegal to steal poultry that you know was stolen

South Carolina

1. You are not allowed to have tattoos on the head, face, or neck
2. It is illegal to make a marriage proposal with the intent to deceive 

South Dakota

1. You may not use fireworks to scare away birds
2. It is illegal to sleep in any place where food is prepared or provided

Tennessee

1. If you participate in a duel, you are not allowed to hold public office
2. It is illegal to import skunks into the state
3. It is illegal to attend a cinema or theatre within four hours of eating garlic 

Texas

1. You cannot sell your own eye
2. Horses are required ot have tail lights when being ridden at night
3. Children are not allowed to have unusual haircuts

Utah

1. Biting another person in a boxing match is illegal
2. There is a 48-hour limit for burying a pet after it dies
3. Cyclists must keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times

Virginia

1. Tickling is illegal
2. Driving without shoes is illegal

Vermont

1. A woman must obtain her husband’s permission before wearing false teeth
2. It is illegal to deny the existence of God
3. It is illegal to whistle underwater

Washington

1. It is illegal to use X-ray machines to see if a shoe fits
2. Using a laser to threaten or intimidate someone is illegal
3. It is illegal to harm Bigfoot

West Virginia

1. Owning black or red flags is illegal
2. It is illegal to snooze on a train

Wisconsin

1. Chees must be “highly pleasing”
2. Snowball fightsarer prohibited on public property
3. It is illegal to sit on another person’s car

Wyoming

1. Employers may not compel employees to use preferred pronouns (recent)
2. You may not use firearms to fish