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Top 5 Most Enforced Weird Laws in the US

Top 5 Most Enforced Weird Laws in the US

June 25, 2024
WeirdLaws Research Team

While most weird laws sit forgotten in municipal codes, some are surprisingly still enforced by local authorities. Here are five weird laws that might actually earn you a ticket today!

1. Honking at Sandwich Shops (Little Rock, Arkansas)

In Little Rock, Arkansas, it's technically illegal to honk your horn at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9 PM.

This law was originally passed to curb noise pollution around drive-in restaurants in the 1920s and 30s. Today, with the proliferation of drive-thrus, it is occasionally cited as a noise violation.

2. Jaywalking (Everywhere)

While it doesn't sound "weird," the concept of jaywalking was literally invented by the auto industry in the 1920s to shift the blame for pedestrian deaths away from drivers. The term "jay" was a slur for a country bumpkin.

Today, it's aggressively enforced in cities like Los Angeles and Seattle, often with hefty fines.

3. Feeding Pigeons (San Francisco, California)

In San Francisco, it's illegal to feed pigeons on city streets or sidewalks. The law was enacted because the city considers pigeons a public nuisance and a health hazard (often calling them "rats with wings").

This law is actively enforced by the Department of Public Works, and you can be slapped with a hefty fine for tossing breadcrumbs.

4. Driving with Snow on Your Roof (Multiple States)

In states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, it is illegal to drive a vehicle without clearing the snow and ice from the roof, hood, and trunk.

This is a very practical law, as flying ice sheets can cause severe accidents. Police regularly issue tickets for "failure to remove snow or ice" during winter months.

5. Collecting Rainwater (Colorado)

For decades, it was completely illegal to collect rainwater in barrels in Colorado due to complex water rights laws dating back to the 1800s. The state essentially argued that the rain belonged to the people downstream.

While the law was finally relaxed in 2016, it is still strictly regulated. You are only allowed a maximum of two rain barrels with a combined capacity of 110 gallons, and using the water for anything other than outdoor landscaping is still prohibited.

Conclusion

Next time you're out and about, remember that just because a law sounds strange or outdated doesn't mean the local police have forgotten about it! Stay safe and stay legal.

Discover Weird Laws

Loved reading about the history of weird laws? Check out some of these bizarre statutes currently in our database:

behaviorCalifornia
It is illegal to produce, test, maintain, or store a nuclear weapon within city limits.

During the height of the Cold War and the anti-nuclear movement of the 1980s, the city council passed this strict ordinance. Violating the law carries a modest $500 fine, which seems like a bargain for a weapon of mass destruction. It stands as a profound political statement with a hilariously disproportionate penalty.

animalsCalifornia
It is unlawful to lick a toad.

Following a strange drug craze in the late 1980s where thrill-seekers licked the Colorado River toad to ingest its hallucinogenic secretions, city officials passed a strict ordinance. The law aims to protect both public health and the local amphibian population from harassment. It remains a testament to the weird lengths people will go for a cheap thrill.

drivingAlabama
It is unlawful to drive a vehicle while blindfolded.

While this seems like basic common sense, it actually had to be explicitly written into the state's traffic code. In the mid-20th century, daredevils and traveling stunt shows would occasionally perform blindfolded driving tricks to draw a crowd. The legislature decided they needed a specific ban to prevent amateur copycats from attempting it on public roads.