Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Legislature spent time debating which animal to designate as the official state reptile. The winner, at least in the House, ended up being the Eastern box turtle, although there is a movement in the state Senate to name the Eastern timber rattlesnake as the state reptile.If you get the feeling we have too many politicians with too much time on their hands, you're not alone.
But it isn't just a Pennsylvania problem.
All over the country and across the globe, lawmakers are busy passing unnecessary and downright ridiculous laws. It doesn't help that many elected legislators are also lawyers. Maybe they're just trying to find work for their colleagues.
Jeffrey A. Isaac is a California lawyer who has compiled an entertaining collection of some of the wackiest laws on the books in a new collection with Phil Konstantin called "The Wacky World of Laws."
With lawmakers across the United States turning out 500,000 new laws each year and 2 million regulations annually, it wasn't difficult for Isaac and Konstantin to fill the 190-page book.
"The Wacky World of Laws" is arranged by states and countries so you can turn to your favorite geographic location to find if you've violated any arcane law, such as:
In Missouri, whenever you move a bear down a highway, it must be in a cage.
In Florida, it is illegal to sing in a public place while in a bathing suit.
In New Jersey, keeping a homing pigeon from returning to its home is illegal.
In Delaware, it's against the law to pawn a wooden leg.
In Massachusetts, rodeo clowns are not allowed to engage in sex in front of the horse since it might spook them.
Snowball fights are against the law in Aspen, Colo.
In Nebraska, if a child burps during church, his parents may be arrested.
In Wyoming, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April without a permit.
In Portland, Oregon, people may not whistle underwater.
In Bettendorf, Iowa, beer ads cannot be posted outside liquor stores.
In Atlanta, piggyback rides are illegal if you are both males, because one man cannot be on another man's back.
Pennsylvania is not immune from crazy laws. Some prime examples from the Keystone State:
Singing in the bathtub can be prohibited if it bothers anyone.
It is illegal to go fishing with dynamite.
Sixteen unmarried women living in the same house (other than a sorority) meets the definition of a brothel.
Participating in a duel will eliminate you from running for governor.
The United States doesn't have a monopoly on wacky laws, either.
In Iceland, before a building is constructed, the land must be proven to be free of elves.
In Bolivia, one glass of wine, or alcoholic beverage is the most a single woman is allowed to drink in a public restaurant or bar.
In Germany, every person who works in an office must be positioned in such a manner that they can see some part of the sky.
In England, a pregnant woman can relieve herself in any convenient facility. This includes using a police officer's hat.
In Malaysia, toilet paper should not be used instead of a napkin in a public establishment.
In Thailand, underwear is required if you are going to be in public places. (I'm not sure how the authorities enforce that one.)
The book is full of laughs as well as trivia and includes references to many of the actual laws it lists so you can look it up yourself if you don't believe it's for real.
"The Wacky World of Laws" is available for purchase online at www.lawyerinbluejeans.com
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
