Everyone comes across a law at some point that strikes them as just plain weird. The good thing about ridiculous laws is that they’re generally not enforced, but the fact that they still exist might say something about the government that hasn’t gone to the trouble of abolishing them yet. These are 15 of the oddest laws both from overseas and right here in the USA.
The Missionary Position
It’s still technically illegal to have sex in Florida in any position other than “Missionary.” This particular rule isn’t native to just the Sunshine State though, it can be found throughout the country and in the military to this day. What makes Florida’s law hilarious is the added stipulation that, while having lawful sex in the Missionary position, it’s illegal for the man to kiss the woman on the breasts.
Sex with Animals
Lebanon’s a quirky place, to say the least, but this law is ridiculous even by quirky standards. A man may have sex with animals other than humans, so long as the animal happens to be female. Sex with male animals is strictly forbidden, and punishable by death.
Patent-Leather Shoes
This is the sort of thing that sounds like it belongs in an elementary school — women in the state of Ohio are technically forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes. Why? Because a guy could use the reflective material to see up her dress.
Examining Women’s Genitals
Male gynecologists in Bahrain don’t have an easy job. In order for them to examine female genitalia, they must use a mirror, because looking directly at a woman’s private areas is strictly forbidden unless she’s his wife.
False Mustaches
In Alabama, it’s technically illegal to wear a false mustache to church — because it could cause “unseemly laughter.” Of all the “during church” sort of archaic laws that still exist in this country, this one might be the funniest.
Husband Killing
In Hong Kong, a woman is legally allowed to kill her adulterous husband, but only if she can do it using her bare hands. The woman he slept with, however, is at the wife’s mercy — regardless of her choice of weapon.
Cat Calls
In Beverly Hills, of all places, it’s technically illegal for men to make cat calls at women on the street. To make it funnier, the law’s wording is quite specific: “No male person shall make remarks to or concerning, or cough or whistle at, or do any other act to attract the attention of any woman upon or traveling along any of the sidewalks.”
The Threesome
In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, a guy can have sex with both a woman and her mother — but it’s illegal if he has them both at the same time. We’re guessing this has more to do with the incest/lesbian taboo than the threesome part.
Revenge on Your Dentist
They used to believe in “an eye for an eye” in the Old West, and apparently the folks in Castaic, California believed in “a tooth for a tooth” as well. They have an archaic law there that says that if a dentist pulls the wrong tooth, you can pull one of his to make it fair.
Wine Limitations
In Bolivia, an old law still stands today that says that a woman may not have more than a single glass of wine in bars or restaurants. The reasoning was that women are “morally and sexually yielding” when they’ve had too much to drink. You don’t say…
Wife Beater
An oldie but goodie in Los Angeles says that a man may beat his wife with a leather belt so long as it’s not wider than 2 inches. This sort of “rule of thumb” law isn’t unheard of though — until you get to the part where he can use a belt wider than 2 inches if the wife consents to it.
No Masturbating
Indonesia can be a beautiful place, a fun place, and an exciting place. It can also be a horrifying place, because they can technically behead you for masturbating.
No Fat Chicks Allowed
In Pico River, California, it’s illegal for a woman to ride a horse wearing shorts — if she weighs over 200 pounds. Apparently, they were more worried about the sight of a fat woman’s legs than the health of the poor horse that carried her.
Walking or Riding Only
In Brewton, Alabama, they’re serious about pedestrian efficiency. At least, they were back when they wrote the ridiculous law that requires anybody on a public sidewalk to be walking or riding something. Standing, crawling, sitting, laying or sleeping on a sidewalk are all illegal activities.
Trains at a Crossing
This may hurt your brain — Kansas passed a law that states “When two trains approach each other at a crossing, both shall come to a full stop and neither shall start up again until the other has gone.” If you find yourself pondering several days from now as to just how this was supposed to work, don’t worry. You’re not alone.
