Do Dumb Laws Really Exist in the U.S.? Quiz

Answer: False

This phrase is not found either in the State Constitution OR any of the Statutes. Some say that this is a San Francisco law, but it is not in any of the municipal codes there.

Answer: False

Title 17 is the Fish and Game code. This may have been a law back in the late 1800s just after the camels were set free by the US Army, but the law certainly does not exist now.

Answer: True

The Texas Constitution Article 1 Section 4 prohibits any religious qualifications of holding office, provided they profess belief in a Supreme Being.

Answer: False

RCW Chapter 46 (Revised Code of Washington) deals with motor vehicles. There is reference to red lanterns, flares, and flags to be CARRIED in trucks for emergencies (RCW 46.37.440), but the law as quoted does not exist.

Answer: False

Title 16 Chapter 5 is the Fish and Game Code. Not only is this NOT a law, Section 790 makes it illegal to obstruct a person's view of game. There seem to be a lot of these "Moose" fake laws in Alaska - an indication that this is an urban legend.

Answer: True

MCL 435.251 (also known as Act 66 of 1953) makes selling cars on Sunday illegal.

Answer: False

Title 18 Chapter 12 did deal with confectionaries, but that title has been repealed. Title 71 Chapter 2 deals with weights and standards, but this law is not there either. Here is an indicator that this law is an urban legend: Supposedly it is illegal for a man to give a woman a box of candy weighing LESS than 50 lbs in Idaho.

Answer: False

There are many similar "laws" in various states. All these laws say is you cannot be arrested in certain places at certain times like polling places during an election. These certainly don't make the crimes legal, it's more of a temporary sanctuary. Ohio has a famous one (ORC 2331.12) preventing arrests on Sundays or July 4th.

Answer: False

Why is this a dumb law? I certainly don't want blindfolded people diving around. Section 32-5A-53 deals with obstruction of a driver's view, but it deals with passengers - not blindfolds. In fact, this law does NOT exist. Yeah, it surprised me too.

Answer: True

This was written into the State Constitution (Article VII Section 1) in 1911 when "Idiot" denoted someone with an IQ of less than 20.

Answer: False

Why make up a law when there is a perfectly good dumb law. Chapter 272 Section 36 makes blasphemy illegal.

Answer: False

The only law about nakedness is 800.03 outlawing public exposure. A few states have laws regarding being exposed in a bathroom if the window allows you to be viewed by others (e.g. non-frosted glass, no blinds, or no curtains).

Answer: False

Nope, not a law. This seems to be one of the more famous urban legend "laws". Probably a real decency law that was repealed, like New York's flirting law.

Answer: True

This makes sense in a butter-rich state. The law 97.18(5) also makes it illegal for the state to serve margarine to students and patients in state institutions.

Answer: False

Again, not a law currently on the books. However, the pronunciation of the word "Arkansas" is legislated (AC 1-4-105)

Answer: False

The real question is WHY would you want to get a fish drunk? I guess if you got the fish drunk to make it easy to catch, you may be violating ORC 1533.37, but just taking the fish out for a beer is not illegal.

Answer: False

Urban legends claim that a few states have these "laws". If these laws ever existed, it was possibly a morality code, but it certainly does not exist anymore.

Answer: False

There are a lot of Utahan laws concerning milk in the Dairy Act (Title 4, Chapter 3), but this law is not there or anywhere.

Answer: True

You get Sundays off according to Kentucky Revised Statute 436.160. Incidentally, I couldn't find any law that requires Kentuckians to take a bath once a year (another famous urban legend law).

Answer: False

Again, not a current law. But it is illegal to put a siren on your bicycle (Statute 1141(b)).

Answer: False

But it would be illegal to come into the state with a Eurasian wild pig or a game fish on your head. There is no restriction on importing a duck, on your head or otherwise.

Answer: False

But luckily, RS 23:3-1(c) outlaws licensing a trapper under the age of 12.

Answer: False

Variations of this urban legend are "laws" in other states too. Tennessee Code 39-13-512(1) defines a house of prostitution as a place where prostitution takes place under the supervision of another. 39-13-512(4)(F)(5) defines a prostitute as having sex for money.

Answer: True

Title 41 Section 6 Chapter 3. As you can see from the other questions, many states ban certain activities on Sunday.

Answer: False

22-16-35 only allows homicide in defense of your property only if there is a felony being committed and the person is in imminent danger. It is probably an old law that has long been since taken of the books. By the way, 1-5-1.2 makes the 2nd Monday of October as Native Americans' Day.