One wrong step could easily place somebody on the wrong side of US law with these odd particulars.
In the United States, there are both federal and state laws. The 50 states of the United States are allowed by the federal constitution to formulate and implement their own laws. Some of these laws are rarely implemented and are even considered weird, controversial and obnoxious. While some of these laws are outlandish and could rarely be broken nonchalantly by the average citizen, some laws refer to behavior so commonplace that many could be breaking the law without even noticing!
“Dumb Laws” Across the United States
It Is Prohibited To Harass Big Foot (Washington)
In the US state of Washington, it is a crime punishable by either a fine or a jail term to harass big foot, Sasquatch, or any other undiscovered species. Skamania County, Washington, was the first county to draft the law in 1964 which states that "any willful, wanton slaying of such creatures shall be deemed a felony". Whatcom County, Washington, also unanimously passed the law on 6/9/91 declaring the county a refuge for Sasquatch and Bigfoot. Any person violating this law is likely to be charged an amount not exceeding $100,000 or a jail term not exceeding two years, arguably a bit harsh for a character from urban legends.
It Is Illegal To Catch A Fish with Your Bare Hands (Kansas)
Hand-fishing without a license is illegal in is Kansas State. Anyone who plans to hand-fish must first obtain a hand-fishing license in addition to a fishing license for an extra charge of $27.50. Seems straightforward enough, right? However, it is legal to hand-fish flathead catfish from sunrise to sunset June 15 through August 31 along the Arkansas River, all federal reservoirs beyond 150 yards of a dam, and the whole stretch of the Kansas River. Anyone with a hand-fishing license is not allowed to use hooks, a scuba gear, and any man-made fishing gear except a stringer which is deployed only after a fish has been caught.
Illegal to Eat Fried Chicken (Except With Your Hands) (Gainesville, Georgia)
In Gainesville County, Georgia, it is against the law to eat fried chicken in any other way except with your bare hands. As much as the law might seem absurd, it is enforced. In 2009, a 91-year-old visitor from Louisiana was arrested and charged for eating fried chicken with a fork. The law has been in existence since 1965, and the art of eating fried chicken with your hands is considered “a culinary delicacy sacred to this municipality".
New Jersey and parts of Oregon still prohibit you from pumping your own gas mostly because the locals simply like the convenience, and those attendants like having jobs.
Drivers Must Not Pump Their Own Gas (Oregon and New Jersey)
It is illegal for drivers to pump their gas in the state of Oregon. The law was passed in 1951 and seeks to reduce fire accidents caused by mishandling of flammable material by untrained personnel, and anyone violating this law is liable for a $500 fine. The law states that only the owner, pump operator or employee is allowed to pump the gas. In 2015, a bill was enacted to law to allow citizens living in less populated areas with less than 40,000 people to pump their own gas. A similar law also exists in New Jersey.
Other controversial laws in the United States.
Some other strange laws include: it is prohibited to open an umbrella on the street in Alabama, denying someone a glass of water is prohibited in Arizona, and it is also Illegal to collect rainwater in Colorado.
50 "Dumb Laws" Across the United States
Rank
Law
Location
1
Prohibited to open an umbrealla on a street
Alabama
2
Dominoes may not be played on Sunday
Alabama
3
Illegal to throw confetti or spray silly string
Alabama (Mobile)
4
Flamingoes are not allowed in barber shops
Alaska (Juneau)
5
Denying someone a glass of water is prohibited
Arizona
6
Dogs are not to bark after 6PM
Arkansas (Little Rock)
7
Spitting is only permitted on baseball diamonds
California (Burlingame)
8
Illegal to collect rain water
Colorado
9
It is illegal for car dealers to show cars on Sundays
Colorado
10
A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces
Connecticut
11
One is not to walk backwards after sunset
Connecticut (Devon)
12
It is prohibited to fly over water without sufficient supplies
Delaware
13
The singing in public places while wearing a bathing suit is not allowed
Florida
14
Skateboarding without a license is prohbited
Florida
15
One is not to live on a boat for more than 30 days
Georgia
16
Illegal to eat fried chicken any way but with your hands
Georgia (Gainesville)
17
Chickens are not permitted to cross the road
Georgia (Quitman)
18
No billboards allowed
Hawaii
19
You cannot place a coin behind your ear
Hawaii
20
It is prohibited to gift a box of chocolates weighing more than 50 lbs
Idaho
21
No bicycles allowed in tennis courts
Idaho
22
The giving of whiskey to dogs is prohibited
Illinois (Chicago)
23
No kites allowed to be flown within city limits
Illinois (Chicago)
24
The value of pi is 4, not 3.1415...
Indiana
25
The reading of palms is prohibited
Iowa (Cedar Rapids)
26
It is illegal to catch a fish with bare hands
Kansas
27
No false promises allowed
Louisiana
28
Nobody is to step out of a plane mid-flight
Maine
29
Christmas decorations must not be up past January 14th
Maine
30
It is not permitted to take a lion to the movies
Maryland (Baltimore)
31
Beer is not to be given to hospital patients
Massachusetts
32
All putt-putt courses are to be closed no later than 1am.
Michigan (Detroit)
33
Nobody is to cross state lines with a duck atop their head
Minnestoa
34
Anyone disturbing church services is subject to a citizens arrest
Mississippi
35
It is prohibited to frighten a baby
Missouri (Mole)
36
The raising of pet rats is prohibited
Montana (Billings)
37
Doughnut holes are not to be sold
Nebraska (Lehigh)
38
No camels are allowed on highways
Nevada
39
Tapping feet, nodding head, or moving to music in any water is prohibited in restaurants
New Hampshire
40
It is required that a person lend a phone to another in need
New Jersey
41
No slippers before 10 pm
New York
42
It is illegal to sing off-key
North Carolina
43
No bingo games shall last more than 5 hours
North Carolina
44
The serving of beer and pretzels simutaneously is not allowed
North Dakota
45
Noone shall participate in a duel
Ohio
46
Drivers must not pump their own gas
Oregon
47
Professional sports are not to be played on Sundays