17 Archaic American Laws That Are Still in Effect

Written By Jill Taylor

Sometimes, we hear about laws that are so bizarre that we wonder what on Earth happened to enforce them in the first place. If you don’t know what we mean, here are 17 examples of outdated laws in America that still remain in effect.

Blue laws

Photo Credit: QualityHD/Shutterstock

Blue laws restrict the operation of certain services on a certain day, usually Sundays, for religious reasons. Some of these laws remain in effect in certain states, meaning depending on where you are, it may be illegal to buy a beer, a car, or even play bingo, according to Stanford Law School.

Anti-LGTBQ+ laws

Photo Credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Despite being ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2003, laws restricting non-heterosexual people remain on the books in several states. This has an ongoing social and cultural impact on the LGBTQ+ community because even though these laws are not enforceable, they can nevertheless be used to make arrests and discriminate.

Banning atheists from holding office

Photo Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

Some states still have clauses that prohibit atheists from holding public office despite being unenforceable under the U.S. Constitution. Advocacy groups have been pushing to remove these discriminatory laws to ensure equality in public office and elsewhere and freedom of belief.

Swearing while driving

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

You should always remember to stay extra calm if you find yourself driving in Maryland, where swearing while driving is a misdemeanor! Believe it or not, you risk being charged and fined, so take a deep breath and count to ten. Or, if you really need to swear, pull over.

Prohibitions against fortune telling

Photo Credit: Kzenon/Shutterstock

Bizarrely, in some states, laws still prohibit several mystical and magical practices. CBS News explains: “There’s a law on Pennsylvania’s books that makes it illegal for fortune tellers to make money off predicting your future.” We suppose it stops people from getting scammed!

Adultery is a misdemeanor

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Adultery is technically still illegal under the laws of several states, where it is considered a misdemeanor. However, in a few states, adultery is a felony, and cheating on your partner runs the risk of a fine or even a prison sentence! These laws are rarely enforced, but they still technically exist.

Seduction under the promise of marriage

Photo Credit: PHAISITSAWAN/Shutterstock

Some states have laws against a man  a ‘chaste woman’ under the promise of marriage, making the seduction a misdemeanor if the man does not marry the woman afterward. Seduction laws first emerged as a way for the legal process to account for the harm women suffered from sexual misconduct.

Hitching-post law

Photo Credit: Annabell-Gsoedl/Shutterstock

In some states, laws require each building to have a hitching post out front, dating back to when travel by horse was the only way to go. These laws remain in some places, primarily historical rather than functional laws, although who knows–perhaps horse travel may become the normal way to get around again!

Spitting prohibitions

Photo Credit: ArtOfPhotos/Shutterstock

Laws against spitting were introduced in the late 1800s to combat the spread of tuberculosis, as Smithsonian Magazine reminds us. These laws against spitting in public still exist, and while they are rarely enforced, they still reflect historical public health practices. To be honest, we think they’re not such a bad thing!

No dueling laws

Photo Credit: Tanison Pachtanom/Shutterstock

Historically, if a person felt offended, they could challenge the offending person to a duel to restore their honor. The duel was usually fought with a sword or a pistol, lasting until injury or death. Dueling was outlawed in the early 1800s and is thankfully still prohibited, preventing plenty of violence.

Buying cold beer

Photo Credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

Prohibition times brought many of the strange laws related to alcohol that are still in place today. In the state of Oklahoma, for example, the law says that beer with a 4% or more abv may not be sold from a cooler. How bizarre!

Sunday activities

Photo Credit: gpointstudio/Shutterstock

Some states have blue laws that still restrict certain activities on Sundays, such as truck driving or hunting. In some places, dancing on a Sunday is even prohibited! Sure, these laws have historical and religious origins, but they can still impact modern activities, so we think it’s time for change.

Lawn maintenance

Photo Credit: The Toidi/Shutterstock

Some local ordinances require lawns to be kept below a certain height, with fines for non-compliance; for example, Virginia Law says that a fine must be paid if grass exceeds 12 inches in height! These municipal laws have implications on personal freedom and property rights, not to mention plant and insect diversity.

Oddly specific traffic laws

Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

Some states have unusually specific traffic laws, such as prohibitions against driving blindfolded or requirements that certain vehicles stop at all railroad crossings. In Massachusetts, it’s even illegal to drive with a gorilla in the back seat! We’d love to hear the story behind that one.

Restrictions on harvesting rainwater

Photo Credit: Marcelino Pozo Ruiz/Shutterstock

Some states have laws that restrict or regulate the collection of rainwater, mainly because of the old systems of water rights that have not changed for a long time. These laws have an impact on sustainability efforts, and there has been a push for legal reforms to encourage rainwater collection.

Eavesdropping

Photo Credit: TZIDO SUN/Shutterstock

In Oklahoma, sneaking around listening to other people’s conversations and gossip is still considered a misdemeanor, which we find rather amusing. As noted by NCSL, these laws may sound positive, but they make gathering evidence for the police a little tricky!

A pickle may not be sold unless it bounces

Photo Credit: Nadezhda-Murinets/Shutterstock

Finally, always remember to bounce your pickles, kids! This strange law in Connecticut was originally enacted in the mid-1900s to prevent confident tricksters from selling non-bouncy pickles… have you ever tried bouncing a pickle to check if it’s good? We’re going to give it a try today!

Up Next: Do You Know Your Rights? 17 Things You Don’t Have to Answer When Stopped by Police

Photo Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

The thought of getting stopped by the police is a nerve-wracking prospect for most people. It can be even worse if you’re not sure what you should and shouldn’t say, creating a sense of paranoia, anxiety, and confusion. If you’re worried about the potential for a confrontation with the cops, we’re here to help. This list covers 17 things you don’t have to answer when stopped by police officers.

Do You Know Your Rights? 17 Things You Don’t Have to Answer When Stopped by Police

18 Things That Say You Are Middle-Class and Not Rich

Photo Credit: BearFotos/Shutterstock

The difference between the rich and middle class can be confusing, but the two couldn’t be further from each other in reality. In this article, we look at 18 signs that someone is middle class but not at all rich or wealthy.

18 Things That Say You Are Middle-Class and Not Rich

18 Reasons You Feel Like You Don’t Belong Anywhere

Photo Credit: Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock

Feeling like you don’t belong anywhere can feel incredibly isolating. We need companionship to keep us connected to the world, so if you’re struggling to form relationships and don’t feel that you don’t fit in, here are 18 reasons why that might be.

18 REASONS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T BELONG ANYWHERE