Laws: Off the Beaten Path
Every state has laws on the books that may be considered “weird” or “strange.” In our own state of Washington, there is a county that prohibits the hunting of Sasquatch (aka Bigfoot). Under Georgia’s Equine Liability Act, residents assume personal liability for injuries sustained while “engaging in llama activities.” The Ohio legislature mandated that underground coal miners must be provided with adequate toilet paper. In Kentucky, public officials (including members of the Bar) must take an oath that they have never fought in a duel. And in Oklahoma, it is illegal to loiter around a building with the intent of eavesdropping.
Here are some examples from other states:
· Chances are you’ve heard of manipulating a storm forecast. But, did you know that it’s scientifically possible to manipulate the actual weather? Human intervention into the weather is real. In Colorado, you are required to have a permit in order to attempt it, per the Weather Modification Act of 1972.
· It doesn’t seem out of the ordinary that cannibalism is an illegal activity punishable by up to 14 years in prison. However, the Idaho legislature identified an affirmative defense to the crime.
· In 1960, Nevada passed a law prohibiting machines that take x-rays of your feet in order to determine your shoe size. Due to not having a shield to protect the feet (and subsequently the rest of the body) from the radioactive beams of the shoe-fitting fluoroscope, they were outlawed. Shoe models and store employees’ repeated exposure led to illness and injury.
· In Iowa, you can sell someone a mass of “renovated butter,” but according to the law it must have the appropriate label, even if it’s not in a container.
· The dueling prohibition isn’t just for Kentuckians running for office. According to the Tennessee State Constitution, “Any person who shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send or accept a challenge for that purpose, or be an aider or abettor in fighting a duel, shall be deprived of the right to hold any office of honor or profit in this State…”
Each region has its own unique legal needs. What is considered weird in one state may be entirely necessary for another. So, are these weird laws truly weird or are they simply off the beaten path? For more information on how a bill becomes a law or how to write your own weird legislation, check out this overview of the legislative process from the Washington State Legislature or the Washington State bill drafting guide. (LE)
