Dumb laws
Encyclopedia
Dumb laws, also weird, strange, or unnecessary laws, are laws that are perceived to be useless, no longer applicable (in regards to current culture or modern law), or humorous. There are relatively few real "dumb laws" on the books, but large amount of hoax or exaggerated dumb laws are circulated on the internet and in the print media. Common characteristics of these laws are prohibitions against seemingly benign behaviors (for example it is claimed that in California "bathhouses are against the law" ) or prohibitions against acts that one is realistically unlikely to carry out (such as an Arizona law prohibiting hunting camels, while camels are not native to North America .). In reality, California only bans bathhouses that encourage sex, in order to prevent the spread of AIDS and the Arizona law was designed to deal with aftereffects of a failed army experiment to use camels as a military animal.
Several books have been written and numerous websites exist on the internet purporting to list "dumb laws" in various jurisdictions (see "External links" section). The "dumb laws" are also often circulated via e-mail chain letter
s. However, two books, You May Not Tie an Alligator to a Fire Hydrant: 101 Real Dumb Laws and The Book of Strange Laws and Curious Legal Oddities, appear to have been vetted for accuracy.
There are two main reasons that references to false or inaccurate laws may persist:
1) exaggeration or misinterpretation of real provisions of law, and
2) common law cases.
(1) Some of the purported "dumb laws" have no basis in reality, or are an exaggeration of real laws. For example a reasonable law about the preservation of rare cactus species may be presented as humorous statement that "There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.".
The minor phenomenon's popularity is attested to by existing websites that generate the "dumb laws" at random.
(2) Reports about 'dumb' laws often originate from case rulings issued in common law countries. The reason is that the court decision on a particular case may, for example, state that a dog-owner has to pay damages to his neighbours because his dog keeps barking at night and repeatedly disrupts their sleep. When taken out of the context, the 'dumb law' appears: "Dogs may not bark after 6 PM". Since in common law systems decisions of certain courts become precedents, such ruling is formally also included in the legal system and is considered a source of law.
Local communities often express concern when their laws get cited on one of the lists on the internet, and see it as a cause to change the law.
- The law that claims that "sorority houses are illegal since more than a certain number of single females living together constitutes a brothel" has been debunked as fake.
Some laws are however real and still exist on the books:
, an episode of The Simpsons
, the police are ordered to fill the jails. They arrest Homer Simpson
for violation of a dumb law on the books which states that in Springfield tin cans may not be kicked more than five times, as it would constitute "illegally transporting litter." Ironically, Homer was kicking the can out of frustration for being denied employment as a guard at the very same prison he was sent to for violating the law.
The comic character Jughead Jones
has had an occasional appearance as Professor Jughead, when he presents various weird laws.
Several books have been written and numerous websites exist on the internet purporting to list "dumb laws" in various jurisdictions (see "External links" section). The "dumb laws" are also often circulated via e-mail chain letter
Chain letter
A typical chain letter consists of a message that attempts to the recipient to make a number of copies of the letter and then pass them on to as many recipients as possible...
s. However, two books, You May Not Tie an Alligator to a Fire Hydrant: 101 Real Dumb Laws and The Book of Strange Laws and Curious Legal Oddities, appear to have been vetted for accuracy.
There are two main reasons that references to false or inaccurate laws may persist:
1) exaggeration or misinterpretation of real provisions of law, and
2) common law cases.
(1) Some of the purported "dumb laws" have no basis in reality, or are an exaggeration of real laws. For example a reasonable law about the preservation of rare cactus species may be presented as humorous statement that "There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.".
The minor phenomenon's popularity is attested to by existing websites that generate the "dumb laws" at random.
(2) Reports about 'dumb' laws often originate from case rulings issued in common law countries. The reason is that the court decision on a particular case may, for example, state that a dog-owner has to pay damages to his neighbours because his dog keeps barking at night and repeatedly disrupts their sleep. When taken out of the context, the 'dumb law' appears: "Dogs may not bark after 6 PM". Since in common law systems decisions of certain courts become precedents, such ruling is formally also included in the legal system and is considered a source of law.
Local communities often express concern when their laws get cited on one of the lists on the internet, and see it as a cause to change the law.
Examples
Some laws have been revealed as hoaxes:- The law that claims that "sorority houses are illegal since more than a certain number of single females living together constitutes a brothel" has been debunked as fake.
Some laws are however real and still exist on the books:
- In New Orleans it is prohibited by the fire codeFire safetyFire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
to curseCurseA curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
a firemanFirefighterFirefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
when he is engaged in his official duties. - In TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
duelists, preachers and atheists are not allowed to be elected to public office. However this law is unconstitutional under the first amendment and would not be enforceable in practice. - In Washington state, there is a law that 'a motorist with criminal intentions [must] stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.'
- In ChesterChesterChester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, any WelshmanWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
caught within the city walls after sunset may be shot with a longbow. - It is legal for a betrayed wife in Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to kill her adulterous husband, but only with her bare hands. She may, however, kill her husband's mistress in any way she pleases. - Every university in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
is entitled to 1 pound of uranium, and 1 pound of thorium, for experimentation. However, there is a fine of $1 million for letting off nuclear explosions.
Dumb laws in popular culture
In The Seven-Beer SnitchThe Seven-Beer Snitch
"The Seven-Beer Snitch" is the fourteenth episode of The Simpsons sixteenth season, first aired on April 3, 2005 in the United States.-Plot:...
, an episode of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, the police are ordered to fill the jails. They arrest Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
for violation of a dumb law on the books which states that in Springfield tin cans may not be kicked more than five times, as it would constitute "illegally transporting litter." Ironically, Homer was kicking the can out of frustration for being denied employment as a guard at the very same prison he was sent to for violating the law.
The comic character Jughead Jones
Jughead Jones
Jughead Jones is a fictional character in Archie Comics who first appeared in the comic in December 1941. He is the son of Forsythe II; although in one of the early Archie newspaper comic strips, he himself is identified as Forsythe Van Jones II...
has had an occasional appearance as Professor Jughead, when he presents various weird laws.