You Won’t Believe These Weird Driving Laws

States write their own traffic-related laws and so do virtually all cities and towns. One can only assume that at the time any law hit the books, someone, or more likely a committee of someones, thought it was necessary. Unfortunately, however, one also often has to ask, “What were they thinking?” when it comes to weird and wacky driving laws still on the books in various cities and states.

If you want a good laugh, or maybe a good head scratch, take a look at these infractions per state.

People-related Laws

If you’re driving in Alabama, be sure to leave your blindfold at home. It’s illegal to drive blindfolded anywhere in this state. On the other hand, it’s your horn that can get you into legal trouble in Arkansas. Never honk it after 9 p.m. anywhere that serves sandwiches or cold drinks. Someone else’s horn can get you in trouble in Missouri if you honk it yourself.

In Georgia, never spit from your car or while riding a bus. You can, nevertheless, spit from your truck with abandon. While driving in New Jersey, keep your emotions in check, especially when it comes to police officers. Believe it or not, it’s illegal to frown at a police officer in New Jersey.

Keep tabs on your gas gauge anywhere near Youngstown, Ohio. If you run out of gas there, you’ve broken the law. And oh by the way, if you’re planning on committing a crime in any Washington town, you must stop your car at the city limits and phone the local chief of police to inform him or her that you’re entering town. And never, never stick your head through your car’s sunroof while a driver or passenger in Indiana or you’re asking for a ticket.

If you’re driving in New Britain, Connecticut, make sure you put on whatever clothes you want to wear before you get in the car. In this town, it’s illegal to change your clothes inside your car. The law in Fenwick Island, Delaware, is even more strict. Here not only is it illegal to change clothes in your car, but also to “live, dwell, cook, sleep…or use toilet facilities” inside any vehicle.

Animal-related Laws

In both California and Tennessee, it’s against the law to shoot any game from your vehicle — other than whales, that is. Whenever you drive on a country road at night in Pennsylvania, you must, by law, stop every mile and set off a flare or other warning signal. Then you must wait 10 minutes before driving on so as to give livestock sufficient time to clear the road.

When driving in Massachusetts, never let your pet gorilla sit in the backseat. That’s illegal. But apparently, you break no law if you let it ride in the passenger seat. Be very careful how you take your poultry to market in Kansas. It’s illegal to transport dead poultry in your vehicle in Kansas. One can only wonder if this weird law applies to commercial trucks as well as passenger vehicles.

All of these laws only scratch the surface of the thousands of weird driving laws on the books in America’s states and cities. Where’s “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” when it comes to compiling a full list of them?