Stupid Laws

Yesterday John Gambling mentioned that a legislator in New Jersey has proposed a law banning baggy pants. Today John mentioned that a state representative in Mississippi has proposed a law forbidding a restaurant from serving an obese patron.

Various legislatures have tried banning baggy pants and at first I thought it was a good idea. Then I started thinking, what's next. Will there be a ban on sleeveless blouses or shirts? How about long skirts? I think the current trend of wearing pants loose and below the hips is ugly and makes the wearer look ignorant and not very attractive, but it is a trend and it too shall pass. Of course, when the ban was suggested in Florida, the NAACP was quick to claim that it was discriminatory against black males. Of course it isn't, all stupid boys wear baggy pants and everyone has a right to be stupid.

The suggestion about restaurants not serving obese people got a lot of reaction. The first question was, what is obese. To an anorexic, anyone over size 6 is probably obese. Some people even suggested that some chefs would not be able to eat in their own restaurants. The food police are coming to get you.

These two laws got me thinking about other laws. I'm sure there are many ridiculous laws in all states. So, I went to www.bitoffun.com and checked out some of the stupid laws in all the states.

Arizona prohibits the hunting of camels. California made it illegal for anyone to try and stop a child from playfully jumping over puddles of water. In Connecticut you are not allowed to walk across a street on your hands. Bathing is prohibited during the winter in Indiana (I'd hate to be in a crowded elevator in January in Indiana). Maine is really protective of its citizens. You may not step out of a plane in flight. In North Carolina elephants may not be used to plough cotton fields. In Ohio women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public. The nuns in school warned us about patent leather shoes too.

New Jersey has more than its fair share of stupid laws. I learned this just recently - car dealerships are forbidden from opening on Sunday. It's also illegal to offer whiskey or cigarettes to animals at the local zoo. There is one law that I approve - You cannot pump your own gas. All gas stations are full service and full service only. That should be nationwide, particularly at this time of high prices. If I'm going to pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas, I want service.

New York is not immune from this stupidity. You need a license to hang clothes on a clothesline. How many times did I violate that one. Here's a good one - the penalty for jumping off a building is death. I never knew this was a law, but all the people in New York obey this one - while riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one and fold his hands while looking toward the door. Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 PM. I guess you have to either go to be before 10:00, or walk around your home barefoot.

There are many, many more. I just don't want to bore you with too many.