Real laws, quoted from the official code
57 odd-but-real rules from 22 states and federal law, each quoted from the official code with a link so you can read it yourself. Search them, filter by state or topic, or pull one at random.
Checked October 14, 2026
Showing all 57 laws.
Alaska · AS 03.47.020
“All bees imported into the state shall be accompanied by a health certificate that states that the bees come from an apiary apparently free of bee diseases and that is signed by an apiary inspector determined to be qualified by the division.”
Alaska · AS 16.05.822
“The board may transplant surplus musk oxen from Nunivak Island to appropriate areas on the mainland of the state, when good management practices dictate the action.”
Arizona · A.R.S. § 13-2927
“A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area, except for:”
Florida · Fla. Stat. § 823.06
“All buildings erected in this state for theatrical, operatic, or other public entertainments of whatsoever kind shall be so constructed that the shutters to all entrances to said building shall open outwardly”
Florida · Fla. Stat. § 828.121
“It shall be unlawful, and punishable as a misdemeanor, for any person to conduct or engage in a simulated or bloodless bullfighting exhibition.”
Florida · Fla. Stat. 163.04
“the adoption of an ordinance by a governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on …”
Iowa · Iowa Code § 716.9
“A person commits the simple misdemeanor offense of stowing away when, without lawful authority or the consent of a railway corporation, the person does either of the following:”
Kentucky · KRS 436.320
“No person owning or controlling a billiard or pool table shall permit, for compensation or reward, any minor under eighteen (18) years of age to play any game on the table, unless such minor shall have first displayed an …”
Kentucky · KRS 437.030
“Any person who, in this state, challenges another to fight with any deadly weapon, in or out of this state, and any person who accepts the challenge, shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) and imprisoned for not less than six …”
Kentucky · Ky. Const. § 228
“I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted …”
Louisiana · La. R.S. 14:208
“No person or company shall take part in or cause to be publicly performed or represented for profit any unpublished or undedicated dramatic or musical composition known as an opera without the consent of its owner or proprietor,”
Louisiana · La. R.S. 14:224
“No person, firm, corporation, public body, quasi-public body or political subdivision shall transport underground water or surface water from the parish of St.”
Louisiana · La. R.S. 14:312
“No person shall dive or jump off of any public bridge, constructed or owned by the state or any of its political subdivisions, where the object and purpose of the act is to gain publicity.”
Maine · 17 M.R.S. § 2801
“Any fence or other structure in the nature of a fence, unnecessarily exceeding 6 feet in height, maliciously kept and maintained for the purpose of annoying the owners or occupants of adjoining property, shall be deemed a private nuisance.”
Massachusetts · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 2, § 61
“Ms. G of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc.”
Massachusetts · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 185I
“No person shall tell fortunes for money unless a license therefor has been issued by the local licensing authority.”
Massachusetts · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 270, § 14
“Whoever expectorates or spits upon any public sidewalk, or upon any place used exclusively or principally by pedestrians, or, except in receptacles provided for the purpose, in or upon any part of any city or town hall, any court …”
Massachusetts · Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 86D
“On every floor of a building not equipped with an automatic sprinkler system, where horses or mules are stabled, there shall be kept in accessible locations and filled at all times, four pails of water and one pail of sand, for …”
Michigan · MCL 750.58
“Any person who shall wilfully and maliciously or wantonly, and without authority unhitch any horse or team belonging to another, and lawfully hitched or standing in any street, alley or other place, or who in like manner shall …”
Michigan · MCL 750.290
“Every person within this state, who is engaged in the manufacture, sale, exchange, or offers for sale, or has in possession with intent to sell, boots or shoes in the construction of which any imitation leather is used, shall …”
Michigan · MCL 750.540a
“Any person who shall wilfully refuse to yield or surrender the use of a party line to another person for the purpose of permitting such other person to report a fire or summon police, medical or other aid in case of emergency, …”
Minnesota · Minn. Stat. § 1.1496
“The blueberry muffin is adopted as the official muffin of the state of Minnesota.”
Missouri · RSMo 196.150
“It shall hereafter be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to sell or offer for sale, either in wholesale or retail lots, any horse or mule meat under the guise or name of beef”
Missouri · RSMo 578.176
“A person commits the offense of bear wrestling if he or she:”
Nebraska · Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1306
“It shall be unlawful for any railroad company operating its road in this state to bring or cause to be brought into this state from an adjoining state any empty car used for transporting hogs or sheep, or any empty combination car …”
Nebraska · Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1308
“It is hereby declared unlawful for any person to water livestock at any watering trough or tanks belonging to any private owner without the consent of such owner,”
Nevada · NRS 200.440
“If any person posts another, or in writing, print or orally uses any reproachable or contemptuous language to or concerning another, for not fighting a duel, or for not sending or accepting a challenge, the person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.”
Nevada · NRS 207.220
“Any person or persons opening and passing through gates or bars when gates or bars are placed in fences enclosing fields, or in fences partly enclosing lands, and not shutting and fastening the same, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Nevada · NRS 235.085
“The object of human workmanship known as the tule duck decoy is hereby designated as the official state artifact of the State of Nevada.”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-309.14
“No beach bingo game may offer a prize having a value greater than ten dollars ($10.00).”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-363.1
“If any person, firm or corporation shall sell, or offer for sale, barter or give away as premiums living baby chicks, ducklings, or other fowl or rabbits under eight weeks of age as pets or novelties, such person, firm or …”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-371
“If any person wrongfully obtains, or attempts to obtain, any knowledge of a telegraphic message by connivance with a clerk, operator, messenger, or other employee of a telegraph company, or, being such clerk, operator, messenger, …”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-380.1
“Any person who bribes, or offers to bribe, any judge or other official in any horse show, with intent to influence his decision or judgment concerning said horse show, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-380.4
“The provisions of this Article shall be printed on all schedules for any horse show held prior to January 1, 1965.”
North Carolina · N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-401.3
“It shall be illegal for any person to erect or cause to be erected any gravestone or monument bearing any inscription charging any person with the commission of a crime, and it shall be illegal for any person owning, controlling …”
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 925.62
“No person, firm, or corporation shall dye or otherwise color any rabbit or baby poultry, including, but not limited to, chicks and ducklings.”
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 959.18
“No person who is not the owner thereof, shall shoot, kill, or maim an Antwerp or homing pigeon, commonly known as "carrier" pigeon, nor shall such person entrap, catch, or detain a carrier pigeon, provided it has the name of the …”
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 4511.84
“No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones over, or earplugs in, both ears.”
Oregon · ORS 811.200
“A person commits the offense of carrying a dog on the external part of a vehicle if the person carries a dog upon the hood, fender, running board or other external part of any automobile or truck that is upon a highway unless the …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code § 1-1-682
“Boiled peanuts are the official state snack food.”
South Carolina · S.C. Code § 16-11-590
“It shall be unlawful for any person to cut, collect, break or otherwise destroy sea oat plants, Venus's-flytrap plants or any part on public property or on private property without the owner's consent.”
South Carolina · S.C. Code § 16-11-600
“by marking boundaries with a clearly visible purple-painted marking, consisting of one vertical line not less than eight inches in length and two inches in width, and the bottom of the mark not less than three nor more than six …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code § 16-11-690
“Any person being entrusted with any boat, flat or tools for gathering phosphate rock by the owner thereof for the purpose of mining or gathering phosphate rock who shall fail to return the same to the owner within two days after …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code 16-17-450
“Any person who shall wilfully refuse to relinquish immediately a party telephone line when informed that such line is needed for an emergency call to a fire department or police department or for medical aid or ambulance service …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code 16-17-670
“Any person within this State dealing in crossties shall keep a book of record which shall be open to the public and in which shall be legibly written the name of the party or parties from whom crossties are purchased, the number …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code 16-17-690
“It shall be unlawful to engage in the business, trade or profession of fortunetelling, palmistry, phrenology, clairvoyance or the prediction of future events by cards or other means or to offer to tell fortunes or predict future …”
South Carolina · S.C. Code 16-17-740
“It is unlawful for any person to sell or possess a novelty device commonly known as a "cigarette load" which may cause a cigarette or cigar to blow up or explode after being lit.”
Federal · 18 U.S.C. § 336
“Whoever makes, issues, circulates, or pays out any note, check, memorandum, token, or other obligation for a less sum than $1, intended to circulate as money or to be received or used in lieu of lawful money of the United States, …”
Federal · 36 U.S.C. § 306
“The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the national bird.”
Vermont · 13 V.S.A. § 2013
“A person who knowingly and designedly for the purpose of competing for a purse or premium offered by an agricultural society, corporation, or association within the State, enters or drives a horse or horse kind painted or …”
Vermont · 13 V.S.A. § 3831
“A person who takes ice from water over which people are accustomed to pass and does not place around the opening thereby made in the ice suitable guards to prevent a person, team, or vehicle from falling into such hole or opening …”
Virginia · Va. Code § 18.2-321
“It shall be unlawful for any person to use any X ray, fluoroscope, or other equipment or apparatus employing roentgen rays, in the fitting of shoes or other footwear.”
Washington · RCW 9.46.0305
“The legislature hereby authorizes the wagering on the outcome of the roll of dice or the flipping of or matching of coins on the premises of an establishment engaged in the business of selling food or beverages for consumption on …”
West Virginia · W. Va. Code § 20-2-4
“Wildlife, except protected birds, elk, spotted fawn and bear cubs, killed or mortally wounded as a result of being accidentally or inadvertently struck by a motor vehicle may be lawfully possessed if the possessor of the wildlife …”
Wisconsin · Wis. Stat. 97.18(4)
“The serving of colored oleomargarine or margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter is prohibited unless it is ordered by the customer.”
Wisconsin · Wis. Stat. 134.35
“Every person, firm or corporation operating a telegraph line or lines in this state shall, without extra charge therefor, cause to be written, stamped or printed in a conspicuous place upon the addressee's copy of each telegram …”
Wisconsin · Wis. Stat. 951.04
“No person shall lead any animal upon a highway from a motor vehicle or from a trailer or semitrailer drawn by a motor vehicle.”
Every quote on this site was matched against its official page on October 14, 2026. Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.