Nowadays, we come across several things on the internet that influences our lifestyle in one way or the other. Some of the information we’ve gathered from the internet include rumors and urban legends about weird laws in the US. Even though these laws seem quirky or fun, it’s not such a good idea to believe everything you see because most of them are senseless. Some websites tend to misinterpret traffic rules or rarely link to current statutes which depict that they are only trying to perpetuate the myths.
You may have come across rules like how it’s wrong for you to shove a moose out of an airplane in Alaska or how a woman’s hair doesn’t belong to her husband in Michigan. It’s also possible that you may have come across popular weird rules like it’s illicit for a drunken person to enter a bar in Alaska or how you can’t take a lion to the movies in Maryland.
Regardless of the rules you’ve come across, it’s important you bear in mind that some of these rules may be real, though outdated, and thus totally weird – especially the traffic laws. And those real ones – and very weird, are the ones we’ll highlight here.
On the other hand, there are traffic rules that are important, but most people don’t take it seriously. In this article, we have compiled a list of traffic rules people ignore and weird laws that exist according to legal databases, state legislatures, or local newspapers. Keep reading and you’ll be astonished.
25 It’s Illegal for Drivers to Pump Their Gas - New Jersey
If you are planning to relocate to the city of New Jersey any time soon because of a new job or for any other personal reason, then this information is for you. It’s absolutely illegal for drivers to pump gas into their cars themselves like it’s done in other states in the US. Rather, attendants are usually available to do the job. According to the laws in New Jersey, it’s illegal to pump your gas, and the law resulted because it seemed like a safety hazard.
So, when next you’re on a road trip, and you pass through New Jersey, ensure you don’t get too forward in a pump station or you might just be charged a fine.
24 You’re Legally Married If You Ride in a Car Barefoot – Mississippi
This traffic rule is one of the funniest traffic rules on this list because it sounds like a traffic rule you hear in some fictional city run by a clown dictator. Even though this is an old law, it must not be taken for granted in Mississippi.
You dare not drive a car without your shoes on, because if you pulled over by a police officer and you’re found driving barefooted, you may just pay a fine and be married as well. So, in order to avoid such penalty it’s best you stick to the rule.
23 You Can’t Honk the Horn of a Vehicle at Any Place Where Sandwiches or Cold Drink Are Served After 9 P.M. – Arkansas
It’s weird to come across laws that make it illegal to honk at sandwich shops at odd hours on Sunday. And this particular traffic law in Arkansas perfectly fits that weird description. According to Section 18-55, it’s unlawful for a motorist to park adjacent to the premises of a drive-in restaurant.
By March 2017, the law was re-enacted, and it became illicit for any motorist to furthermore sound a horn in any place where sandwiches or cold drinks are served after 9 PM.
22 It’s Illicit for Fire Trucks to Exceed 25 Mph Even When Heading to a Fire in Connecticut – New Britain
Traffic rules like this one aren’t just weird but scary and have a propensity to take you off balance, especially in cases where you are faced with a fire emergency that requires urgent attention.
Regardless of how critical the fire situation may be, if you’re in Connecticut, New Britain, the laws would definitely not be broken. According to The Insider, it’s illegal for fire trucks to exceed 25 mph even if they are heading to a fire in Connecticut.
21 In Dublin, It’s Illicit to Drive Your Car through a Playground – Georgia
Sometimes, it’s normal for you to feel the need for speeding between jungle gyms and swing sets. In reality, this could be so much fun. However before you make a decision like this, it’s best to ensure that you’re not in Dublin, Georgia.
Even if you decide to drive your car through a playground because you’re out of caution or it’s in response to someone doing it, according to local officials enacted Ord. No. 75-19:1, 6-2-75, Sec. 15-1 states that it is illegal to drive your car through a playground in Georgia. So think twice.
20 You Can’t Change Your Clothes Inside Your Car in Fenwick Island – Delaware
The name Fenwick Island could be misleading because there’s no relation whatsoever between the place and an island. On the contrary, it is a town with one weird traffic rule that governs it.
According to chapter 116 Peace and Good Order Subsection 5, it’s against the law for any person to change clothes, dwell, live, sleep, use toilet facilities, or cook inside any vehicle located within the corporate limits of the town of Fenwick Island, Delaware.
So, if you find yourself in a position where you need to do any of these activities aforementioned, ensure that you’re not within this jurisdiction.
19 It’s Illicit to Ride in a Boat on a Trailer While It’s Being Driven on the Highway – Pennsylvania
It’s normal for you to ride in a boat while it is on a trailer driven on the highway, but if you end up in Pennsylvania, you’d have to adjust this activity in order to avoid any fine or jail term.
According to the law of this state, it’s unlawful for any person to ride in a boat that is situated on a trailer that is driving on the highway. The law may look weird, but it poses high-risk, which could lead to an accident. The law also applies to mobile homes on trailers.
18 You Can’t Park a Commercial Vehicle at Your Own Home in Cape Coral – Florida
This particular rule isn’t just weird but tricky as long as Florida is concerned. If you happened to be a handyman or someone that offers professional services and you go around in a commercial vehicle to deliver your services, you have to be cautious in Florida.
The reason for this is that according to city ordinances, commercial vehicles are not allowed to be parked on residential properties. Thus, if you’re in Florida with a commercial van, you won’t be able to park at your house since it’s used for work purposes.
17 It’s A No-No to Park In front Of the Dunkin’ Donuts in South Berwick – Maine
If you want to walk into a fast-food to get a quick snack, it’s only normal to park your car close to the building you plan on patronizing. However, there are times where you need to park your car close to a place that isn’t far from your destination.
As easy as this may seem, it’s illegal to actually park your car in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts in South Berwick. According to the law, it’s unlawful to park your car in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts because it’s prime real estate.
16 It’s Wrong to Have Anything Hanging from Your Window That Would Block Your View – Illinois
When driving, it is important for you to have a clear view of the objects ahead of you at every point in the car – by this, you can limit the risk of accidents to the barest minimum. Sometimes, we may want to use some accessories in your cars like the air fresher, fluffy dice, or one of your favorite characters from Sesame Street.
It’s not a bad idea to accessorize your car moderately, but when you’re in Illinois, you have to take down anything that looks like an obstruction in your car. According to the law that governs the state, it’s illegal to have anything hanging from your window that would obstruct your view.
15 You’d Be Breaking the Law in Derby If Your Tires Screech – Kansas
When you’re driving on the road, sometimes your tires may leave some evident marks on the road – sort of like a signature. These marks are usually referred to as skid marks. Most times this happens when a vehicle screeches.
However, if you find yourself in Derby, you have to ensure that your tires don’t screech. According to the law that governs this town, it’s illegal for your tires to screech. If they do, you’d either spend a month in jail or pay a fine of $500.
14 It’s an Offence To Use Obscene Language Within the Hearing of People Passing by Any Street in Rockville – Maryland
Frustrations could come up at any point in time especially if you’re in a hurry and you’re stuck in traffic. In the heat of the frustration, some people tend to curse at everything and everyone that passes. You may have every reason to do that, but you certainly can’t get away with that act in Rockville, Maryland.
According to the law that governs this town, it’s unlawful to swear, curse, or use any obscene language within the hearing of people passing by. It’s difficult to comprehend how they enforce it, but this law is in the books.
13 In Minnetonka, It’s wrong to Drive a Truck with Dirty Tires – Minnesota
It is most likely for an average motorist to keep using his vehicle for different activities without going to a car wash for at least a week. You can get away with it in any other place apart from Minnetonka.
Minnetonka is a town that has traffic laws governing it and one of the laws state that “it’s unlawful to drive a truck with dirty tires.” To avoid entering the black books of the law, you must ensure that you keep your tires clean before hitting the road.
12 Drivers Must Stay On the Right Side on Mountain Highways – Nebraska
If you’re new to Nebraska and you see this law you’d be confused. The confusion comes from the fact that Nebraska doesn’t have any mountains in the first place. Talking about weird laws, this one seems to be a “futuristic impossibility.”
As a matter of fact, Nebraska is home to the flat-lands of the Great Plains and not high elevations like mountains. On this note, it’s safe to say that this weird law is unnecessary. However, according to the law, drivers must stay on the right side on mountain highways.
11 It’s Illegal to Hug Someone While Driving – Washington
Although weird, this is one illegal traffic rule that is taken seriously in the “Capital City.” For no reason should a driver hug his or her passenger while driving – whether it’s your loved one or not. By the way, why should one hug another while driving? Wouldn’t that be risky?
I think it’s more appropriate to pull over by the side of the road and do your hug – that way you would be taking your eyes off the road, while off the road, to avoid endangering yourself or anyone else one on the road.
10 Throwing A Brick onto the Highway in Tiffin Is Illegal – Iowa
If you have a habit of throwing funny objects, especially bricks, on the highway through the window of your car while driving and you get away with it you may just be unlucky in Iowa.
It’s a big traffic offense to do so, and you may just be paying a lot of fines to get yourself out of the fix. So, in order to save you the time and trouble of being pulled over by the cops it’s better you avoid attempting it.
9 It’s Illicit to Be Pulled by a Car If You’re Wearing Roller Skate – Texas
Have you ever seen a young skate roller hitching a ride to help him or her facilitate their movement? If yes is your answer, then it might as well be a legal thing for skate rollers to get pulled by moving cars in your area.
Well, according to the Texas Transport code, it’s absolutely illegal for anyone on roller skates, toy, sled or coaster to cling on to a vehicle or a streetcar on a highway. It attracts a big fine, so it is important to avoid such a thing in Texas.
8 It’ Public Nuisance to Abandon So Much Trash in A Vehicle That It Attracts Rodent in Maudlin - South Carolina
According to Maudlin’s Code of ordinances, it’s a grave offense to leave so much trash in your vehicle, especially if it attracts rodents to your car. This act is seen as a public nuisance to the environment, and it doesn’t go well with the health and environmental rules.
So, you would be paying a large amount of fine to get out of the black books of the law in South Carolina. It just shows that the state has a high zero tolerance for such indiscriminate waste handling. It doesn’t mean other states don’t, but they take it more seriously in South Carolina.
7 Leaving A Container of Urine On the Side of the Road Is Illegal - Oregon
Why would anyone want to leave a container of urine on the side of the road anyway? No doubt, it’s bad to do such a thing on a public road where other people and motorists use regularly.
That’s why the state of Oregon doesn’t take the offense with levity. If anyone is caught in the act, according to states road act law, the person faces a penalty of paying a fine or ends up doing some form of community service.
6 You Can’t Cling On to A Moving Vehicle in Maryville – Missouri
This traffic rule is very much similar to the one in Texas. However, the only difference is that you don’t have to use a skate roller. If you are caught holding on to the trunk of a moving car, you’d be stopped, charged and penalized by the law.
So, you’d have to take permission if you want to shoot an action Hollywood movie that entails anyone hanging onto a moving vehicle. Don’t go acting like a superhero when you’re not one because you’d be penalized.