The Weirdest Laws In Every State

The United States is a large, vibrant and diverse country in which states and even cities have the power to pass their own laws. This makes sense in many cases because life is different from the East Coast to the West Coast and what needs to be regulated in Alaska is different than in Florida.

However, because states and cities are given legal leeway, that's led to some pretty outrageous laws getting on the books. Sometimes, they are not really enforced, but no one has bothered to repeal or undo them. If you don't want to accidentally get yourself into a pickle in Connecticut or be fined for dancing at the Washington Monument, check out the weirdest laws in every state and Washington, D.C.

In 1913, the mayor and city council of Fairbanks, Alaska, had had enough of the antics of bartender Pete Buckholtz and his pet moose. Buckholtz refused to stop bringing his oversized pet to work at the local saloon. To prevent the animal from coming inside, officials crafted an ordinance declaring that moose weren't allowed on city sidewalks, effectively prohibiting the moose from walking on the sidewalk and into the bar or other businesses.

There is a legal code in Arkansas that explains how the state's name should be pronounced. While it's not technically illegal or punishable to say it wrong with a hard "s" at the end of the state's name, Arkansas is legally supposed to be pronounced "Ar-kan-saw."

In the city of Pueblo, Colorado, it is illegal for a landowner to not cut, destroy or remove weeds 10 inches or taller, including sunflowers and dandelions. If they don't do so within 10 days of being notified, the city will do it for them — then send them a bill.

Many Delaware cities set strict Halloween trick-or-treating hours, but the charming coastal town of Rehoboth Beach forbids any tricks or treats if Halloween happens to fall on a Sunday. According to a city ordinance, if Oct. 31 falls on a Sunday, kids must instead go door-to-door on Saturday night, the evening of Oct. 30.

In Dublin, Georgia, it is unlawful for anyone to wear a mask, hood or other item to conceal their face or identity in public places. The only exception to this rule is children 16 years old and under on Halloween. So your kid's popular Halloween costume is safe.

The city of Pocatello, Idaho, has embraced its identity as the "U.S. Smile Capital" after the mayor passed an ordinance in 1948 making it illegal not to smile. The "Smile Ordinance" was passed to jokingly boost morale after exceptionally severe winter weather. The law unintentionally remained on the books until it was rediscovered and became a source of pride for Pocatello.

Indiana has some peculiar laws. Among them is the confusing statute that says grocery, convenience and drug stores can't sell cold beer for carry-out. However, if the beverage is not cooled or on ice, it can be sold legally. Businesses have been fighting for more than a decade to get the law repealed.

Many states have specific regulations for hunting and fishing, but a somewhat funny one in Kansas is that it is illegal to hunt any game animal or fur-bearing animal from a motorboat, airplane or motor vehicle.

Even before it was the setting of popular vampire TV show "True Blood," the state of Louisiana had a law on the books banning "ingestion of human or animal blood" as part of a ritualistic act. If you're a movie and TV buff, know there are plenty of famous filming locations around Louisiana.

There are plenty of antiquated laws on the books in the state of Maryland, but the city of Rockville, in particular, has a few in place to keep things rated PG for its citizens. It is a misdemeanor to profanely curse and swear or use obscene language upon or near any street, sidewalk or highway. So watch out if you're driving through Rockville with a serious case of road rage. Maybe try using some fun slang instead.

Turns out a toxic relationship in some places is illegal. One of the most severe laws still in effect is in the state of Michigan, where it's a felony to cheat on your spouse. However, prosecutions for adultery are rare. The spouse who is being victimized by the adultery must file a criminal complaint within a year of the offense.

There are plenty of archaic laws still on the books when it comes to marriage and children. According to Mississippi state law, if you have more than one child out of wedlock, you will be charged with a misdemeanor and could face a month of jail time or a fine of up to $250.

If you want to play "folf," otherwise known as frisbee golf or disc golf, in Helena, Montana, there are some rules you have to follow. No playing at nighttime in any area within the business improvement district that has not been sanctioned as a designated folf course by the city. Violators will be charged with a misdemeanor and face jail time or up to a $500 fine. Folf is actually a good workout and is an exercise that can help you lose weight.

Nevada has had some strange and specific laws in the past that have since been repealed, including no driving a camel down the highway and no refusing to hire people from the Communist Party. A funny law still on the books is that it's illegal to throw items from a chairlift. So you can rest assured that you won't be pelted from above while skiing at Lake Tahoe.

New Jersey is the only state in the United States where it's illegal to pump your own gas. According to state regulations, only attendants may dispense fuel into the tank of a motor vehicle or any container. Violators are charged up to $250 for a first offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense.

Suffolk County, New York, passed a resolution banning the intentional release of helium-filled balloons. Don't worry if a stray balloon escapes your grasp, however. The measure restricts releasing 25 or more balloons in a 24-hour period to protect its local beaches and marine life.

Residents of Devils Lake, North Dakota, have to find another way beside fireworks to ring in the New Year. It's illegal to set off, explode or detonate any fireworks other than between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. between July 1 and 5.

While cow tipping is an urban legend, "horse tripping" is a real enough problem for multiple states to ban it. Horse tripping is actually a rodeo event that some states consider animal cruelty. According to Oklahoma's Animal Protection Act, it's a misdemeanor "to cause an animal of the equine species to fall or lose its balance with the use of a wire, pole, stick, rope or other object."

It is illegal to transport alcohol purchased in other states across the border into Pennsylvania. It's a law that's a little stuck in time as a holdover from the Prohibition days of bootlegging. Although it has been rarely enforced in the modern era, lawmakers have not decriminalized out-of-state alcohol.

There are plenty of great things for families to do in South Carolina, but if you are planning on strolling down a classic boardwalk you better check local laws. It's unlawful for a minor under the age of 18 to play a pinball machine.

In the state of Tennessee, it's technically illegal for individuals to share login credentials for streaming services with anyone who doesn't live under the same roof. This applies to Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, Spotify and more. The "Tennessee Login Law" was passed in 2011 to prosecute hackers selling off passwords and hasn't actually been used to target anyone still using their ex's HBO Go account.

Utah is home to some beautiful college campuses, but its students have to apply for permits if they want to throw a keg party. The state has a keg beer law that prohibits anyone other than a licensed beer retailer from possessing beer in containers larger than 2 liters.

Though there are some exceptions, it is unlawful to hunt or kill any wild bird or wild animal, including any nuisance species, with a gun, firearm or other weapon on Sundays. Hunting with permission from a private landowner or hunting waterfowl is allowed — except within 200 yards of a house of worship. And anyone dealing with a pesky pest of a raccoon can hunt them until 2 a.m. on Sundays.

Washington, D.C., is a must-visit destination for history buffs because many of its iconic, historic landmarks are free to visit. However, visitors are not free to bust a move. Demonstrations are prohibited at the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and other parks in the National Capital Region. "Demonstrations" include expressive dancing or other entertainment that attracts a crowd of onlookers.

As "America's Dairyland," Wisconsin takes its milk, cheese and other dairy products seriously. The state has a law on the books that prohibits serving margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter — unless it is explicitly ordered by the customer. Violators can be fined between $100 and $500 and/or imprisoned up to three months.