Laws That Make You Go, “WTF?!”

Hope everyone is having a spectacular day today!

In searching for ways to be more efficient with water and power in my household, I came across something COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS this morning that I wanted to share because I have a feeling that most people do not know this.

Did you know…

That there are freaking clothesline bans in the majority of states in the U.S.??? Homeowners Associations basically can dictate whether people can have clotheslines, purely because of aesthetic reasons. So, if people choose not to waste energy and money one summer by boycotting the use of a power-hogging dryer where ever possible, they might not be allowed to do so and would be forced to use a machine.

That’s right.

In fact, there are only 20 states that you CAN legally go outside, string up a clothesline, and hang up your own clothes, in your own yard, and let them air dry, in any residential location. These states either already had a law in place, can slide by in referencing vague verbiage in their solar laws, or have enacted a Right-to-Dry law to overturn such HOA bans.

Those states where you ARE allowed to have a clothesline regardless of HOA restrictions are:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

More info on the specific bills outlining Right-to-Dry permissions here on Sightline! If you were ever hassled by an HOA in any of these states, you can refer to these statutes which protect your own rights.

Is this absolutely crazy to anyone else?! Who cares? Why do people ALWAYS have to be soooooo bothered with what others choose to do? I am trying really hard to understand it from both sides, and as annoying as HOAs are, I know that the whole “give an inch, they’ll take a mile” thing is real. People are gross sometimes, and might leave multiple ropes strewn across their property with old moldy clothes hanging from them that no one took down in an appropriate manner. But I don’t think it’s cool to tell people trying to be responsible with their money and carbon footprint that they can’t air dry their clothes in their backyard either.

I decided to do a little digging and have fun with this one because I know, thanks to a very lively college professor my friends had at Virginia Tech, and also thanks to the incredible game Balderdash, that there are some really REALLY crazy laws out there.

For one thing, I found this article on the Surge where 15 such laws are shown in pictures. Can you imagine being thrown in jail for any of those things?

Here are a few more winners from across the web!

1.In Kansas, it is illegal to serve wine out of a teacup.

Can someone please tell me who was the first person to get offended by drinking wine out of a teacup? I would imagine it must have been some super judge-y, prim and proper woman who was also influential in some politician’s life to get a law like this passed. She obviously never ran out of wine glasses before! Desperate times call for desperate measures, man. Don’t judge one’s method of delivery for the Holy drink! Can anyone imagine what would happen if these people saw us slapping the bag or pouring wine out of a box?? We’d be put away for our whole lives!

I imagine the carriage ride home conversation was some snooty version of, “Darling, can you BELIEVE that Ingrid just SERVED me wine in a TEACUP? The actual horror! I am personally offended, and that really ought not to be allowed anywhere else I might happen to dine in the entire STATE!”

2. In Gainesville, Georgia, you are not allowed to eat fried chicken with anything other than your fingers. 

I can totally get down with this. Although I guess if you were missing fingers, you’d just be forced to faceplant into your KFC bucket.

#FirstWorldProblems

3. In Wyoming, it’s illegal to sell garbage to drunk people. 

This is like being able to claim temporary insanity for willingly purchasing that old used diaper from someone during your blacked out drunk march home from the bar last night. Can I see the definition list for what classifies as “garbage”, please? Just curious! There could be some real grey area here.

4. In Rhode Island, you may not sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday. 

I can’t even process what it being Sunday has to do with one’s personal dental hygiene, but I guess buying both in one day was just far too much work and really violated that “day of rest” thing. One or the other, guys. We just do NOT have the energy for both today.

Do they have warning signs on the windows urging citizens to stock up on their toothbrushes and toothpaste in advance, saying something like “Don’t get caught unprepared on Sunday!”

Do the stores offer bundle packages with both paste and brush?

5. In Indiana, it’s illegal to attend a public event or use public transport within 4 hours of eating onions or garlic. 

In a way, I like where this is going, but can we please extend this to not wearing deodorant, or being an asshole, or talking about veganism or Crossfit, or something practical?

Please?

6. In Wyoming, you can’t take a picture of a rabbit between January and April without a permit. 

That’ll be $17.50 for your right to photograph the Easter bunny.

You know, cuz he’s a bunny. In April.

7. In Washington, it’s a felony to harass Bigfoot. 

I’m just gonna leave this one right here…

But I would REALLY like to know how many people have been convicted?

I’d probably pay good money for their mugshots, just out of curiosity.

8. It is a federal crime to injure a government-owned lamp.

Do NOT try to recreate that scene with the printer from Office Space with a lamp, so-help-you-God.

I just always wonder what must have POSSIBLY happened in order for these laws to be written into effect? I’m pretty certain you sign paperwork promising not to deface anything of government property when you sign on to the job. What made lamps so special that they got their own law? And I love how they don’t get defaced, they get “injured”.

Do you love lamp? Do they have feels?

9. It is a federal crime to sell onion rings resembling normal onion rings, but made from diced onion, without saying so.

How did this GET here???? This is a message to the nation, people! Rings only. Do not screw this up!

10. It is a federal crime to say something so annoying to someone that it makes them hit you in a national forest.

This one here is like a gift from the gods.

Any really serious Trump supporters wanna go hiking tomorrow?

Had to 😀

Feel free to let me know in the comments any other ridiculous laws that I didn’t mention! I’m especially interested in hearing about actual conflicts with the law over this kind of stuff. Has anyone had any run-ins or know anyone who has over laws that make you go, “WTF?”