But when they sit in their car on a Friday afternoon, repeatedly honking the horn while dishing up baggies of crack cocaine, you can assume theres not a whole lot going on at all. And get rid of that bear--it's also illegal to sell, purchase, possess or train a bear for the purposes of wrestling. specific places that you should avoid trespassing on. While some make sense (at least a little), most of the illegal things in Virginia will make you wonder how the issue ever became a legal matter in the first place. WebVirginia No animal may be hunted on Sunday with the exception of raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 AM. Good luck explaining that to the little ones. WHY? Whether you think the law is dumb or there are just dumb laws, you can't deny that legislation sometimes goes a bit too far. Unless it's been smoked and processed within the Smithfield area, you could get fined for trying to label a generic ham as "Smithfield.". These small x-ray machines looked like wooden boxes with an opening for a foot. Refusing to give in, Virginia's notoriously conservative Attorney General filed a cert petition in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to reverse that decision. You are not allowed to drive past the same location more than once in thirty minuteson Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Cheating in Virginia isn't just wrong, it's a crime. WebA lot of dumb laws prohibit certain activities on Sunday--lawmakers probably hope you'll go to church. Surprisingly, the laws mentioned above arent the only weird laws in Virginia. As crazy as it sounds, until last year oral sex of any kind between any two consenting people was illegal. As one interesting case of this, the Virginia Code has an entire section which makes it illegal to trespass on a cemetery at night. But some dumb laws, like one in Virginia, take this one step further. Its illegal to cuss about another person (Prince William County). No sexual relations for single people. One inmate at Virginias Western Tidewater Regional Jail had apparently failed to mention that heroin was NOT on the list of acceptable items when police found heroin inside a homemade greeting card addressed sent to the inmate. A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. We respond to all communications within one business day. Were a Richmond, Virginia law firm with clients from around the world. Some lawmakers, though not all, characterized this bill as nothing more than the codification of the status quo, according to Metro Weekly: But out gay Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax counties) told his colleagues that the bill was not about protecting religious views, but preventing LGBT individuals from adopting. The first fraternity came about in 1776, when Phi Beta Kappa was founded at the College of William and Mary. Can you imagine how much nosier traffic would be if everyone honked the horn as they passed? Fornication. No skating down the sidewalk of Main Street in Victoria. Sorry, Willie, but welfares not going to cover those court costs. ", It is illegal to sell peanut brittle on Sundays. Citizens Sodomy is illegal, in general, in Idaho, Utah, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. But before you get celebrating -- and please, no photos -- bear in mind that the Old Dominion still has plenty of laws banning a host of feisty activities that you might have thought would be mostly private matters. It's very much against the law there. Added by IdiotLaws.com Staff | 2 Comments. There are lots of fun facts about Virginia, including the fact that a fungus led to its foray into tobacco production. It could have been ANY disgruntled user, desperate for an upgradeexcept for the part where Snyder left his old Samsung Galaxy behind in the smashed case. Less than 30 days after being admitted to the bar, Jacob launched his own legal practice. A person of color may not be oustide or within the city limits after 7 pm. Eric Nielson / flickr. You are not allowed to us profanity on Atlantic Ave. or on the Boardwalk. For example, when you had to declare your income for taxes, some states had weird laws about how much you had to declare but others didnt. In the early 20th century, x-rays were starting to be used regularly in medicine, and the public was fascinated by the invention. In almost every situation, crossing a highway in a golf cart or other utility vehicle is against the law. Law requires all bathtubs to be kept out in the yards, not inside the houses. Then theres Virginia Beach, where an intoxicated passenger can be charged with DUI. We have tried to cite specific references when available but, we make no guarantees on the validity of these The uniformed driver was from a cleaning supply company and was delivering supplies to the bowling alley. When Dennis Wayne Sullivan of Front Royal planned to steal a cash pick-up from the Bowl America in Prince William County, he had it all figured out. The only catch is that he showed up for court in a stolen car. Strange Law 8: In Richmond, Virginia, citizens cannot flip a coin in a dining establishment to see who gets to pay for coffee.Strange Law 9: It is illegal to tickle women. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Next on the list of dumb laws is bear wrestling. As Virginia residents increasingly turn to online marketplaces, it becomes much more likely for you to accidentally purchase stolen goods. ), he ditched the costume but was later apprehended from video surveillance. He added that he expects SB 349 to lead to legislation in the future that ''does directly what this bill does indirectly, achieving the ultimate goal'' of banning outright the ability of LGBT individuals to adopt. Lets just say its a good thing a lot of these arent strictly enforced. Millcreek Canyon, Utah has made it unlawful to possess an unleashed dog on even-numbered days (8.04.170). Did you know that you can't hunt whales in Utah? Ebbin said that while LGBT individuals can currently adopt using placement agencies that do not have stated or written religious or moral objections to homosexuality, he said that the bill's passage could result in any one of the 81 agencies that currently contract with the state adopting a policy or ''conscience clause'' tomorrow that would essentially ban LGBT individuals from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The Virginia Code criminalizes the removal of such transmitting devices as a crime against property. This site is protected by Strange law 2: Virginian motorists must honk their horns if they are attempting to pass another 15 Undeniable Reasons to Love shsu orglink, The Best Kept Secrets About real estate degree salary, A Productive Rant About oklahoma game warden salary, The 17 Most Misunderstood Facts About gennaro new phoenix police. A number of books and websites purport to list dumb laws. One can only hope being incredibly dumb is a crime in Prince William. Earlier in the week, Alfonseca walked into a Virginia Beach bank and handed the teller a note reading, I need 150,000 Bonds Right NOW!! Remember, kids. As he was on his way out the door, stolen loot in hand, he decided to stuff it down his pants instead. Read More. After William Anderson applied for welfare at the department of social services in Jonesville, a local sheriff noticed something a little odd mainly that he was driving an H2 Hummer. Inventors began looking for practical uses for the x-ray in everyday life. There are also a couple dumblaws.com Washington X-rays may not be used to fit shoes. is a Class 6 felony in Virginia. In West Virginia, it is a crime against the government to display or possess a red or black flag (West Virginia Code, Section 61-1.6). (Passed in 1975, repealed in 1977). Virginia staff writer for Only in Your State, freelance writer and journalist. What Does Life in Prison Actually Mean in Virginia? (Belofsky) 30. WebThe law was passed in 1951 and seeks to reduce fire accidents caused by mishandling of flammable material by untrained personnel, and anyone violating this law is liable for a The lawsuit was filed in federal court It is very unclear why this is, but it is. These weird laws in Virginia arent the only strange things about the state. Sorry. Yeah, its illegal to call someone an asshole or a dickhead in Prince William Country, Virginia. Strange Law 10: Virginians cannot hunt animals on Sundays, except for raccoons. code or county). Both men were in custody by the next day and charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny and, my favorite only because someone must have gotten a laugh out of this one -- wearing a mask in public. You are not allowed to drive past the same location more than once in thirty minutes on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. Supersized McMissile lands woman 2 years in jail, No riding on the handlebars of a bicycle in Virginia Beach. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even under these circumstances, if a person crosses the highway in a golf cart or similar utility vehicle they must also: While this is in the Virginia Code, a locality within the state may also have their own laws allowing or prohibiting golf carts on roadways. We provide transparent flat fees and flexible payment plans in most cases. One of the popular-but-fake-sounding weird laws for Pennsylvania is that you cant catch a fish with your mouth. Thankfully the Supreme Court rejected his application and the legislature repeal of the bill made the issue moot. Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items. You likely have a few times, at least when youve had to get a new auto insurance policy. which makes it illegal to trespass on a cemetery at night. Click here to read about the weirdest places you can possibly go in the great state of Virginia. If you practice law without a license, youll be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In these states, sodomy is only illegal for homosexuals: Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. As he ran, a dye pack exploded and left him in a ratherummmagitated state. Skunks are not allowed to be kept as pets. Doing so is punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor. Bushey was 65 at the time of his conviction and 18 years into a marriage with Cindy Bushey, the town clerk. This includes ATVs and similar vehicles. But many people dont know that there are several outdated and weird laws in Virginia. Or, maybe you know of some other fun facts about Virginia? Nonetheless, their long existence and lawmakers hesitancy to revoke them illustrates Virginia's antiquated legal opinions on private matters. Fill out the form below and well be in touch within 1 business day! The Virginia Code does, however, make an exception for collection agencies. This is the Fairfax Police with a message for Travis Snyder. Oh but wait! But legal observers have come to this interpretation. In 2003 he was convicted of adultery -- "any person, being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any person not his or her spouse shall be guilty of adultery, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor," quoth state code. States fighting to hold on to slavery began tightening literacy laws in the early 1830s. Page County Circuit Court dropped the case after he agreed to 20 hours of community service, but the press howled that prosecuting one affair in a sea of adultery was unfair. Sometimes, these laws are there for a very specific purpose. ( $0.99 ) View State Motorcycle laws from all 50 states using Bike Laws. "Frankly it wouldn't hurt to enforce them more." The starkly explicit sodomy law that helped undo gubernatorial would-be Ken Cuccinelli has been struck down. When will lawyers, judges, and jurys learn that a supersized McDonald drink is not the same thing as an inter-continental ballistic missile. If you don't like these laws, you can kick rocks. Federal courts have scorned state sodomy laws for years. The original settlers intended for Virginia to be a silk colony. His argument to the police? Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods. Wed love to hear them! He pursued an affair with another woman, but when the relationship went south, she called the cops. He was polite, he used his manners to ask for the money and the teller could have said no at any time. Children are technically not supposed to go trick-or-treating on October 31st. Web1. no longer applicable (in regard to current culture or modern law). New Hampshires gross state product (GSP) in 2019 reached $77.9bn, with a growth of 2.3% over the 5-years to 2019. It is illegal to use the telephone to either sell things or raise funds. Strange Law 3: Police are not allowed to use speed radar detectors. The only catch was that the police then had direct access to HER Facebook page, which not only showed pictures of Naecker, but led the police to the couples location. What are your thoughts on these weird laws in Virginia? Below, well outline the 9 sections weve found to be the most interesting. Its illegal to tickle women. A person often a child would put their foot inside. Its against the law to tickle a girl under her chin with a feather duster in order to get her attention. Women cant drive cars..Unless Registering as a married couple at a hotel if not married = legal marriage WebHere's the law that prohibits unmarried persons from having sex. Virginia has some of America's strangest and most restrictive laws regarding its citizens love lives. 2. Despite that, Virginia laws still seem to uphold the institution of marriage. It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. Marriage between persons of same sex. But really, with cell phone plans these days, getting a phone isnt always easy. While preparing articles for our Knowledge Base, we often come across strange code sections that may require explaining. Dumb Virginia laws and humor, relating to many aspects of the state, its weather, Theyre required to act lawyer-like when they escalate an unpaid account to try to get payment. WebBike Laws - US Motorcycle Laws By Elitespark, LLC. State Heres how. There are also a couple of Virginia cities with strange laws. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in California, in which the man was suing the state for being an abusive and unconstitutional government. It is illegal to skate down the sidewalk of Main Street. Finally, when it arrived, he leapt out from behind the building, pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the uniformed driver and, with all the stealth of a ninja, stolea bag of mop heads. Needless to say, his work uniform reading Cedar Woods Apartments with his name embroidered across the front was a bit of a giveaway. A federal judge ruled that the man hadnt actually done anything wrong. Not destroying the earth is good. This list of oddball laws criminalizes actions ranging from duplicating house keys to concealing wills. Apparently, Morris was going big or going home. Copyright 2022, Thomson Reuters. However, it is permissible to kill raccoons. To begin with an incredibly specific one, it is currently illegal to shine a light into a poultry house or similar structure in a way which might cause the animals to panic or become injured. Stupid Laws reports that this stone throwing prohibition is listed in Section 15-53 of the Cumberland penal code. If you find yourself on the wrong side of these laws, make sure to speak with an experienced attorney immediately. WebDumb Laws (List) Alabama: Anniston: You may not wear blue jeans down Noble Street. The same goes for taking a car to a rental car lot. Next, he waited for the armored car in an alley. Ok, it wasnt really a cow, rather a man dressed as a cowand crawling on all fours. 18.1- 363.1 Working or transacting business on Sunday (a.k.a Sunday Closing Laws or Blue Laws) According to this law, the state would basically shut down on Sundays. As an additional note of interest, the Virginia Code groups this law with other miscellaneous code sections. Jacob graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law and was accepted to the Virginia Bar in 2012. Virginia lawmakers passed the Crimes Against Nature Law in 1950 and swept oral and anal sex in with bestiality as prohibited acts. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Even more shocking until an appellate court decision in 2005 Virginia had an anti-fornication law that made it a class 4 misdemeanor for an unmarried person to have "sexual intercourse with any other person.". While it may sound obvious, traps which use deadly weapons are illegal in Virginia. State law prohibits the hunting or killing of any wild animal on Sunday because it is a "rest day for all species of wild bird and wild animal life.". You may be smart, and you may have strong opinions, but you cant go around giving legal advice for a living or practicing law unless youre a lawyer. WebDriving in circles is against the law. Its a fact of life. After hearing the repeated honking (why, Brian? It is legal for a male to have sex with an animal as long as it does not exceed 40 lbs. And there you have itsome of Virginias finest criminal minds at work. Further, such a crime is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor, and you may have to pay civil damages to the owner of the device. One of Virginias Weirdest Laws: The Crimes Against Nature Law. Generally, this means either paying a small fine after an arrest or spending a night sleeping off the alcohol in jail. You must buy a license for 93 cents to sell song books on the street. Until 2:00 AM sidewalk of Main Street in Victoria x-ray in everyday life to slavery began tightening laws! Email, and the public was fascinated by the invention to us profanity on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia including! She called the cops writer and journalist ``, it wasnt really a cow, rather a man as. Honking ( why, Brian regularly in medicine, and jurys learn that a fungus led to its foray tobacco... 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Webbike laws - us Motorcycle laws by Elitespark, LLC places you can possibly in...

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