Thats not the case in Texas. If you dont, you could end up being slapped with a jail sentence for trespassing and property theft. We stumble home from the bar, desperate for something to soak up some of the alcohol, and spot something tasty poking out of our neighbors garbage. The entire encyclopedia is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home. Can't let things get too wild! In the community of Mesquite, children are not allowed to have unusual haircuts. For more than 50 years, the country's leading training, research, and flight control programs have been conducted here. It is illegal for kids to have unusual haircuts in Mesquite, Texas. Sometimes you can intuit an imaginary, zany situation that prompted the passing of a peculiar Texas statute. AUSTIN, Texas When the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature opened this week in Austin, it was another case of our law-making body facing 21st-century problems under a state constitution. In some cities, the laws do not allow you to be barefootin public without a permit. The Texas State capitol building is similar to the United States Capitol. As long as both parties are consenting, over 18, not already married, and of course not related; you can skip having to bother with getting a marriage license. Texas doesnt really care if you want to shoot a buffalo, but it does care where you do it. It was the 28th state to join the Union. You Cannot Own a . It is illegal to raise alligators in your home. However, legislators quickly amended the law after it became clear that its vague language could have permitted pregnant women to commit any murder without consequences. According to one Texas law, criminals who intend to commit a crime are supposed to give their victims oral or written notice 24 hours in advance. Dont buy the Encyclopedia Britannica, 15. 20 Bizarre But Real Laws that Exist in New York - Money Inc P: 630.864.5270, Built, Powered, & Developed By: Youtech Web Design Agency. While we dont know if any court would uphold the enforcement of that law, its still interesting to note how and when the law governed personal conduct or fashion. In Reno, Nevada, it's illegal to sit down or lie down on a public sidewalk. This was right after Mexico became independent and was given control over all the Spanish territories, Texas included. The King Ranch in Texas is notably bigger than Rhode Island, which is the smallest state in the United States. The Lone Star State is no stranger to peculiar laws. Texas law also says that it's illegal to carry wire cutters in your pocket, land an airplane on the beach, and ride horses at night without "tail" lights. Lily Wordsmith is a freelance writer who has had a love affair with the written word for decades. Allegedly, it came from a time when ranchers disputed over open ranges vs. fencing off their land. Theres a law in Lubbock stating that it is illegal to drive within arms length of alcohol. 10 Strange Sex Laws in the United States | Mental Floss Want to give your pet a new look? Here is a list of the weirdest Texas laws that are still on the books, according to WFAA and KHOU: JUST SAY YOU'RE MARRIED In Texas, if you want to be married then all you have to do is say so. Because of the weird laws in Texas, it's illegal to do the following 12 things. According to the Tennessee Constitution, it's illegal to hold public office if a person does any of the following: "fight a duel, or knowingly be the bearer of a challenge to fight a duel, or send. As you can see, the state of Texas still has myriad laws, both local and statewide, that still fit into the category of "weird." In New York, the penalty for jumping off a building is . Idaho - It's Illegal To Gift Someone a Box of Chocolates Weighing More Than 50 Pounds Nobody should be eating that much chocolate. The 50 Strangest Laws in America - Bob Vila You are free, however, to sell blood and hair. It stands at 8,751 feet tall. 5 188 votes Milking cows It is illegal to milk another person's cow. Initially, the Spanish referred to it as Tejas and the name later changed to Texas. So concerned are the authorities about peoples right to spit without embarrassment, theyve even made it a legal requirement for all churches, hotels, halls of assembly, stores, markets, banking rooms, railroad depots, and saloons to provide spittoons of a kind and number to efficiently contain expectorations into them.. In South Carolina, a law once made a man guilty of a misdemeanor if he seduced an unmarried woman using "deception and promise of marriage." He/she has the authority to veto bills, appoint boards and commissions, and initiate legislation. 10 Weird Texas Laws to Know Before Your Road Trip These listings are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any other claims. For common law marriages, you just need to fill out a declaration form, which can be found online. We hope you wont need to take a rest as youre walking around Galveston. Dana has extensive professional writing experience including technical and report writing, informational articles, persuasive articles, contrast and comparison, grant applications, and advertisement. Can Texas Really Put the Ten Commandments in Public Schools? Throughout the state, you'll also find that there are legal consequences for shooting a buffalo from a hotel window. 17. According to houston-criminalattorney.com, theres still an active Texas law that prohibits shooting a buffalo from the second floor of a hotel. The Texas state capitol building is faced in pink granite and is 7 feet higher than the U.S. national capitol. The law was finally repealed in 2010. But if youre a train driver, take heed. The government of Texas operates under the Texas constitution and its made up of a unitary democratic state government that is under a presidential system that favors the Dillon Rule. Rodeos are considered to be the official state sport. Handy they may be, but in this particular part of Texas, theyre also strictly forbidden (or at least, they are when theyre traveling around with you leave them at home and you should be able to escape any trouble). The law states that only the owner, pump operator or employee is allowed to pump the gas. Tossing anything from aircraft over the city is equally forbidden. In the Lone Star State, you can marry your beloved simply by publicly announcing your other half as your wife or husband three times. Shooting a buffalo It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. Colorful Cascarones and Other Easter Traditions, The Ultimate Guide to Texas Gardens & Orchards. We all knew parents (or had parents) who gave their kids the worst haircuts and sent them off to school, and someone would say something like, that should be illegal. But in Mesquite, it is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts. It is obviously illegal in some Texas towns to be drunk in public spaces, at least to the degree that youre a nuisance or a danger to others. Bicycles can be ridden, but not at excessive speeds. Possibly one of the strangest laws in Texas. Technically, theyre required of a kind and number to efficiently contain expectorations into them, so even just a single spittoon might do these days. Not all Texans wear cowboy hats and western boots, only a small percentage channel the Texas cowboy look and almost all of them are small-town ranchers. Getting people to remember that your eye is worth as much as someone else's eye is a difficult business. The governor also has a four-year term but unlimited terms. While we dont have the law codes regarding buffalo-shooting committed to memory, we can safely assume that youre not allowed to shoot them from any other floor, either. Colorful lawmen and hard-line justice are part of Texas DNA. An old law in Temple calls for cattle thieves to be hung on the spot. But what makes it also diverse and unique are the many different weird laws in the US. Texas uses the plural executive branch system which means that all executive officers are answerable to the public and not to the governor. Every state has old and archaic laws on their books. And you had better hold it in. Its not. State law holds that "no person shall move uphill on any passenger tramway or use any ski slope or trail while such person's ability to do so is impaired by the consumption of alcohol or by the use of any illicit controlled substance or other drug. When people hear about Texas, they probably think of guns, Dr Pepper, immigrants, cowboy boots, and rodeos. 6 273 votes Obnoxious odors In Mobile, Alabama, it's illegal to "keep, store, use, manufacture, sell, offer for sale, give away or handle any 'spray string,' 'snap pops,' or other matter or substances similar thereto.". Jefferson, Missouri, has a strict attitude towards garage sales. The governor in Texas has limited power. Still, these laws technically existand if anything, are good for giving us a peek at what life must have been like in small towns all over Texas a century ago (or even more recently). Weirdest Laws In Texas - Grunge A memorial was built at the Alamo to honor the fallen heroes. This is one of those laws you might wish was illegal in your town. According to the latest census data, 56 percent of people in Texas believe in a religion, a whole 8 points higher than the national average. Getty Images. The state of Texas does not require drivers to have a windshield. According to stupidlaws.com, the law stipulates that when two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone. You can legally marry someone by stating it out loud. As it turns out, although Texas does not require driving with a windshield (allowing owners of vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Gladiator to fold down their windshields), Texas does require windshield wipers. Texas is the home of three NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets, and the San Antonio Spurs. Some of these laws were created in the early 1800s and 1900s (when they made more sense) and were just never changed, while others have been revised to fit with the times. The Most Ridiculous Law in Every State - Business Insider If youre in Dennison or Bristol, Texas, try not to adjust your stockings in public. If you're planning to commit a serious crime in New Jersey, leave your bulletproof vest at home. Back in the mid-1980s, the Texas Legislature specifically told Texans not to sell their eyes in a statute prohibiting the purchase and sale of human organs. Might end up in the city jail for that. According to state law, it's illegal for a person in an "offensive state of intoxication" to "enter or be on or remain upon any railway train or interurban car as a passenger.". The Houston Comets made sporting history in the United States by being the first team in the country to scoop four back-to-back WNBA Championships. Texas has ten of the 21 counties in the United States in which more than a fifth of residents are inmates, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. Offenders of this one might have to pay up to $500 in fines (viaHG Legal Resources). Profiting from the sale of your eye, heart, lung, or any other organ within the boundaries of the state is punishable by law. In some states, paying a fine for a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt. As per rhinolawyer.com, if you want to hold public office in Texas, youll first need to acknowledge the existence of a supreme being. If two trains meet at a railroad crossing, both must stop and neither can go until the other one is gone. If youre wondering about the little things, give your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent a call to make sure you know the ins and outs of your policy so you never get surprised. Lets bust some myths and talk about some Texas facts that will blow your mind and leave you craving for a visit to the Lone Star state! Their notice must include the nature of the crime. While many of these laws are (mostly) harmless, there are outdated laws that cause a great deal of harm because theyre outdated. ", Thought silly string was all fun and games? It can be verbal or written and was supposed to help reduce crime. Here's a look at some odd Texas laws that are still on the books Perhaps thats why it was necessary to write a law declaring, It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.. Skamania County, Washington, passed a law in 1969 deeming the "slaying of Bigfoot to be a felony and punishable by 5 years in prison." Hawaii is full of weird rules, with it against the law to have two alcoholic drinks sitting in front of you, get a tattoo behind your ear, and eat your second wife. Flickr/state_library_south_australia. If youre caught sitting on the sidewalk you can be fined up to $500 for breaking the law! It no longer solely depends on the strength of oil. The 50 Craziest State Food Laws. According to click2houston.com, its not just cheese thats a problem residents are also prohibited from buying beer after midnight on a Sunday. The only requirements (from the state) are that both parties must be at least 18 years old, unmarried, and not related to each other. Here are just a few. According to Section 4 of the Texas Bill of Rights, No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledges the existence of a Supreme Being.. In Utah, it's illegal to "cause a catastrophe." The phrase Remember the Alamo originated in Alamo, San Antonio where Texas defenders were defeated by the Mexican general, Santa Anna in the Texas revolution. Except this law technically applies to alcohol in someone elses bloodstream. Simone Biles is from Texas and she has the highest number of medals for a black, female American gymnast in World Championship history. This one doesnt have context, but there are some towns in Texas where it is illegal to dig into your neighbors trash for food (or anything else). Kansans don't mess around with their cherry pie. E: info@urbanmatter.com An ordinance here will force you to ingest a large dose of this liquid, which is to be administered by a doctor. Neither of the Bushes were born in Texas. Why? Louisiana law states that individuals involved in "bear wrestling matches" - defined as "a match or contest between one or more persons and a bear for the purpose of fighting or engaging in a physical altercation" - are guilty of bear wrestling. There are lots of wonderfully weird things about the Lone Star State. We dont know why exactly many of them were created, but we do know everyone could use a good laugh. Thats how you end up with a law like this one from Texarkana: its only legal to ride your horse at night if it has taillights. Not forgetting the rodeo! It's illegal to dig in your neighbor's trash and you can actually get charged with property theft. According to state law, it's a third-degree crime to wear a body vest while "engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnapping, criminal escape or assault.". From a law against wearing socks with sandals in Florida to one against eating rabbits in Oklahoma, here are some of the craziest laws in the US. Tex-Sex Laws: Legislating Lust In The Lone Star State They do, however, require that drivers have windshield wipers! Another beer law that has since been repealed concerns how you drink your beverage while standing up. The 8 Weirdest Strangest and Stupidest Laws in Texas (2023) - Liner Law ContactSenators.com is supported by our readers. This law seems pretty odd, but its mostly about trespassing and property theft. Better not try to pronounce Arkansas phonetically - the provision specifically says that " pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of "a" in "man" and the sounding of the terminal "s" is an innovation to be discouraged.". Always check local laws before you travel. State law defines a catastrophe as widespread injury or damage caused by weapons of mass destruction, explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, or building collapse. Which, Read More The 20 Worst Places to Live in New JerseyContinue, For many people, living against a backdrop of mountains is a dream come true. Weird Laws in Texas - Ranker Blood and hair are a-ok. You could get up to a year in jail for this class A misdemeanor if the judge or jury convicts you of selling an organ. The problem is, however outdated and bizarre they might seem on paper, theyre still enforceable. Weird Texas Laws That Still Exist | iHeart Each separate county in Texas is administered by an administrative, the commissioners court. El Paso has a law on the books requiring spittoons in church, assembly halls, hotels, banks, stores, train depots, and saloons. As long as both parties are consenting, over 18, not already married, and of course not related; you can skip having to bother with getting a marriage license. Three of the top 10 most populous cities in the United States are Texas cities, they are Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. During the late 19th century, tens of millions of buffalo were killed in the American West. So why not skip the formalities and do it the Texan way instead? The Dallas Cowboys are the sole team in the NFL that has recorded 20 back-to-back winning seasons! But then there is this mystery: Why would Clarendon prohibit the feather dusting of a public building? (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent to obtain an economic benefit the person: (1) knowingly institutes a suit or claim that the person has not been authorized to pursue; [or] (2) solicits employment, either in person or. You might be tempted to milk your neighbor's cow, but you had better get their permission first. If you want to fuss with your stockings in Bristol, prepare for some jail time. As far as weird city laws go, Galveston seems to have the lion's share of them. The Alamo in San Antonio is Texas most famous historic site and it is considered a symbol of Texas liberty. Here are the top 8 strangest laws in Texas. This angered the Texan community and the state authority enacted a law banning Osbourne from the Alamo and prohibited people from relieving themselves at the site. Being born and raised in Austin will do that to you - theres always something new and exciting going on. Even though today there are many legal options for home beer making, if youre caught with the books you can be fined or do some jail time. Find out what the law says in your home state. In Texas, there are still some strange rules on the books. The worlds very first rodeo was hosted by Texas on July 4th, 1883 in Pecos. Info? ", Wisconsin takes its cheese seriously.
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