WEIRD LAWS
WEIRD LAWS: Isn’t it entertaining to look at some of the laws still on the books?
This one, if enforced, might put a stop to storefront psychics — in Pennsylvania, it’s illegal to fortune tell for gain.
The law says you can’t pretend to cast spells or charms, perform necromancy or incantation. You can’t advise ‘the taking or administering of love powders or potions,’ or publish that you can predict future events.
And it’s illegal to pretend to enable someone to recover stolen property, or tell where lost property can be found.
We’re not sure how this could be enforced on the’phone a psychic’ hotlines or whatever the internet equivalent is of that.
Some say the law is archaic; others say the law should be used to protect folks from ill-intentioned scammers.
In Connecticut, pickles must bounce to be labeled as a pickle.
In Arizona, it’s illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs after 7 p.m. In Los Angeles, you can’t wash a neighbor’s car without permission.
In Fresno, you can’t — no matter how much you want to — annoy a lizard in a city park.
Well, or other animals, birds or reptiles. These specific annoyances are prohibited: ‘hunting, pursuing, annoying, throwing stones or missiles at, or molesting or disturbing.’
That covers a lot of ground. What if one dog enjoys listening to classic rock, but it annoys another? What if the lizards want to listen to Adele? Who makes the complaint, the animals, birds or lizards taking offense?
Are there translators?
In Topeka, Kansas, don’t get caught singing the alphabet out on the streets at night.
In Oklahoma and Ohio, don’t make faces at dogs. You might get fined, or end up in the doghouse … er, jail.