Did you know that yesterday, May 1, was National Law Day? Created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, the idea was to promote a greater public awareness and understanding of the legal system and the principles of justice working within our nation.
Perhaps you’ve read a time or two about some of the fun, funky, and outlandish laws that technically exist within your home state. Some are antiquated, outdated rules or restrictions that have largely fallen through the cracks of irrelevance or absurdity over time. Many are so bizarre that you can’t help but wonder about the reasoning behind their very formation in the first place.
While many foundational stories behind some of our most peculiar laws are obscure and unknown, some at least offer reasonable explanations for their very conceptions. For this Flashback Friday, I’m sharing a few of the backstories behind some of the most bizarre laws throughout various Mid-Atlantic states.
Delaware
Delaware has some pretty oddball laws to its credit, like those prohibiting picnicking in or using your vehicle to change clothing while within the limits of Fenwick Island. There’s also the one about not being allowed to “fake sleeping” on the Boardwalk in Rehoboth. Some of these appear unreasonable or random. Thankfully, I can shed a little light on a few, though.
Prosthetics Aren’t Payment!
In Delaware, it is illegal to accept a wheelchair or a fake limb as a means of payment or pawn. This is highlighted in Title 24 Professions and Occupations, Chapter 23: Pawnbrokers, Secondhand Dealers and Scrap Metal Processors. As random as this may seem, there is a method to the madness for enacting such a law. In short, it serves to protect the rights of individuals who rely on these assistive devices for mobility and everyday life.
Don’t Be Discreet Where Margarine is Concerned!
If you’re dining at an establishment in Delaware or buying from a manufacturer directly, and they’re trying to pass off margarine as butter, this is technically against the law. According to Title 16 of the Delaware Code, selling and manufacturing oleomargarine, whether white or yellow, is prohibited. A broader description cites that “no owner or proprietor of any public eating place shall serve yellow oleomargarine unless a notice that oleomargarine is served is displayed prominently on the menu or on a placard in clear view of all customers.” This may seem dramatic, especially considering attitudes about healthy eating long ago weren’t as conscientious as they are today, but given our current times of requiring more disclosure of ingredients as they relate to and react to underlying health conditions and may pose serious threats, it all makes perfect sense.
Shh!!! No Whispering in Church!
In some parts of the state, Rehoboth, for instance, whispering, talking, swearing, and rude or indecent behavior of any kind is not permitted around a congregation or assembly meeting for religious worship or within 300 feet of the place of worship. You will find this in Article IV, Offenses Against Public Peace and Safety, adopted on November 8, 1974, as Chapter 11, Article 9, 198-23, Disturbing Religious Worship and Lawful Assemblies. The official statement reads: “A. No person shall disrupt or disturb any congregation or assembly met for religious worship by noise, talking or whispering, or by rude or indecent behavior, or by profane language within their place of worship, or within 300 feet of the place of worship.” While this law is likely violated regularly, the reason behind its establishment is obvious—a way to keep the peace and not ruin morale during times of prayer, worship, sanctity, and peaceful reflection.
Maryland
There are several strange Maryland laws that everyone violates these days. Among them are no spitting or cursing within city limits, no sleeveless shirts can be worn in public parks, and no topless men may be on the Ocean City Boardwalk. While some rules seem irrelevant by today’s standards, there’s almost always a specific backstory connected to each one’s broader meaning. Here are just some explanatory examples.
No Fortune-Telling!
Even with a crystal ball, you probably didn’t see that one coming! Some regions throughout the state actually prohibit or restrict the act of fortune-telling. In Baltimore, palm reading and fortune-telling even come with fines and imprisonment. Wicomico imposes penalties between $15,00 to $2500 for violators under eCode360. This law was originally enacted in April of 1959, later amended in its entirety in October of 1999 under Bill No. 1999-15. Some restrictions remain in place, including certain conditions, licenses, and regulatory rules, depending on where you are. Reasons range from the state’s religious roots (avoidance of occult involvement) to unlawful monetary profiting.
Don’t Throw Bales of Hay from Second-Story Windows!
When in Baltimore, just don’t do it. It’s not worth the $20 fine. In all fairness, this law, which dates back to the 1870s, does not call out “hay” bales specifically. The exact quote, cited in Section 50.4 of Article 19 (Police Ordinances) published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference reads: “It shall not be lawful for any person to throw any bale or bulky article from the second or higher story door or window into the street.” Bales may refer to any number of “baled” items. This was amended as of September 2024 to more readily refer to textiles, cardboard, aluminum, plastics, and other recyclables. No particular incident can be documented to explain this law directly. It was established to ensure safety practices are in place and people are not throwing items out the window—an act that can harm unsuspecting passersby below.
Sorry, You Can’t Take a Lion to the Movies!
Nothing’s stopping you from seeing The Lion King, Mufasa, or any of the other big cat movies that are all the rage at the local cinema. You just can’t bring the aforementioned stars of the show with you on your outing. Back in the early 20th century, a state law was passed specifically prohibiting anyone from bringing lions into movie theaters. Was this even a thing? Surprisingly, yes. Owing to the popularity of traveling circuses of the day, it was not uncommon for entertainers, when not performing, to attend the pictures while on break. And yes, some brought disruptive circus animals with them. I guess there was no ban on elephants, though?
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has several puzzling laws you can’t help but scratch your head at. How about that one about it being illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outside? Or what about not being allowed to sing in the tub or sweep dirt under a rug? Many don’t appear to have a viable explanation behind their establishment, but at least some do.
Don’t Put Pretzels in a Paper Bag!
There is a longstanding law in Philadelphia that goes back to the 1930s, deeming it illegal to put pretzels in a paper bag. Before you start considering all those citywide pretzel places that violate said rule daily, know that this law largely applies to brown paper bags. Back in the days of prohibition, it was not uncommon for Philly folks to hide alcohol in the same brown bags pretzels were often served in. Prohibition may have ended long ago, but this now irrelevant law is still technically on the books.
Ladies, Limit Your Roommates!
A shocker for those living in female housing facilities (including those of state-based colleges and universities), it’s technically unlawful for more than 16 women to live together. Why? This goes back to longstanding, albeit antiquated and outdated ties to what constitutes as being a brothel. So let’s try to keep the number of roommates reasonably low, shall we?
Mind Your Fishing Methods!
Many states have strict fishing regulations requiring licenses and varying forms of equipment to be used (or not used). Pennsylvania takes the specifics to the next level regarding the mandatory use of properly licensed fishing devices. They specifically state that you may not use any part of your body (except your mouth) to catch a fish. On the same note, it is illegal to use dynamite while fishing. These rules are set to ensure safe fishing practices for people and fish alike. Just stick with using a rod, reel, net, or…your mouth?
Virginia
From the prohibition of washing mules on sidewalks to the illegality of spitting on seagulls, various locales throughout Virginia have very oddly specific regulations in place. Most hardly make sense on first read, but given a bit more thought, you can start to see the logic in at least some.
No Foul Language!
Similar to the existing Baltimore and Rehoboth laws and others elsewhere, it was technically illegal to use profanity in Virginia until 2020. That was when the law, which was originally issued by George Washington in 1776 as an “Order Against Profanity,” was officially repealed with the signing of House Bill 1071. As it was, George Washington considered swearing to be a “foolish and wicked practice.” He went on to declare, “Every man of sense and character detests and despises it.”
Trickiness of Trick-Or-Treating
Various communities throughout the state have very rigid rules and restrictions regarding the when and who of trick-or-treating traditions. Historically, it could not be done on Halloween night—ties to long-ago rowdiness when the Halloween scene was more trick than treat. While some places do allow trick-or-treating on the actual date of said Halloween observances, others maintain specific times and dates for when the practice may be carried out. There are also age limits in place. Some locations restrict trick-or-treating to those 12 and under, while others permit participants up to 14 years of age. All these rules serve to keep safety practices in place for young candy seekers.
West Virginia
West Virginia isn’t without wacky laws either. There are so many, like needing a permit to play pinball, for instance. In all fairness, though, most of the state’s weirdest regulations do cite optimal safety practices as their common underlying objective. Here are a few examples.
Dogs Must Be Leashed!
If you are walking more than one dog at a time, be sure that all of them are on leashes. This is the best safety practice for people and animals alike, and pretty self-explanatory.
You Can’t Sleep in a Bathtub!
It may sound odd, but people have been historically known to sleep in stranger places (remember the apparent Pennsylvania fancy of sleeping on top of refrigerators outdoors?). This law again cites safety as its driving factor, as it minimizes the potential of drowning to death in your sleep!
Don’t Walk a Camel on the Sidewalk!
Don’t let the odd specifics on this one carry away the underlying meaning. The reasoning behind this law’s establishment is to prevent public disruptions or safety hazards regarding exotic animals being brought into public corridors, established during a time when it was more common to own exotics throughout the United States. Camels may seem an odd choice to target, but pack animals in the Appalachians have never been all that rare. Plus alpacas and llamas—now growing in popularity throughout many places in North America can be grouped as camelids.
Don’t Duel if You Want to Be Governor!
Warning to anyone hoping to be elected State Governor someday, if you ever fought in a duel with deadly weapons, challenged someone to a duel, or knowingly acted as a second in a duel, you may not hold federal office or even state office aide from the governorship. This is spelled out under Article IV, Section 10 of the West Virginia Constitution. It goes back to the days when dueling was a common practice. I don’t see it being a problem today, however…
There are so many other wide-ranging, wacky laws in place throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and, by extension, the whole of the entire nation. It makes for a most amusing and informative study to get acquainted with them all.