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Fortune tellers, crosstie dealers, shoe sellers and other trades with their own rules.
Our overview
Some of these laws regulate a trade as it was practiced long ago. South Carolina requires crosstie dealers to keep a public record book and gives anyone trusted with a phosphate-mining boat two days to return it once the owner asks. Michigan wants imitation leather in shoes stamped as imitation leather, and Virginia bans using X-ray equipment to fit shoes.
Fortune telling turns up twice, in different ways. Massachusetts requires a local license to tell fortunes for money, while South Carolina's provision covers fortunetelling as a trade and as a lure to promote some other business.
Written by Silly Rules from the quoted laws below. Not legal advice.
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“No person or company shall take part in or cause to be publicly performed or represented for profit any unpublished or undedicated dramatic or musical composition known as an opera without the consent of its owner or proprietor,”
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.”
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 …”
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 16-17-670
“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 …”
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, …”
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.”
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.