Ever read the book "The Trenton Pickle Ordinance, and Other Bonehead Legislation"?

[Up2Late]

I heard NPR reporting on a guy in Massachusetts who was looking to repeal a bunch of stupid old laws, but the Laws they talked about are mild compaired to what this book has. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88512208>

Below is my email to them.

Have none of you ever heard of a little book called "The Trenton Pickle Ordinance, and Other Bonehead Legislation"?

You should really get a copy as it has hundreds of stupid old laws that at one time were "on the books." the book is from 1976, so I don't know how many still are, but here are a few examples:

In Massachusetts:

In Boston, it is against the law to kiss an actor during a stage performance.

Massachusetts Law states that it is a crime to lounge on shelves in a bakery.

An old Boston law states that no one shall take more than one bath per week.

Another Boston statute forbids a person to take a bath unless he has a written prescription from a medical doctor.

(there are quite a few more, but here's a few more of my favorites from other places)

In New York:

New York state law makes it illegal for children to collect old cigar butts.

The laws of New York City state that any person who fails to step on an insect using a public thoroughfare is liable to a fifty-dollar fine.

And

You may water your lawn on Staten Island, New York, provided you hold the hose in your hand while doing so, but lay a hose on the lawn or to use a sprinkler for watering your lawn is unlawful.

But I think my favorite is from here in Georgia:

Dressing a store-window figure in public is prohibited in Atlanta. Window-dressers must pull down a shade during the robing and dis-robing of their manikins.

There are a lot more of these in the book.

<http://www.amazon.com/Trenton-Pickle-Ordinance-Bonehead-Legislation/dp/082890278X>

Know any more or have a favorite from this book?

[Spinzonner]

1. So, loafing on bakery shelves is a crime ?

That's gonna put a crimp in the business model.

[Up2Late]

2. I can almost see the sign...

... "shelves are for loaves not loafers"

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. You were not allowed to go to the movies

if you had eaten garlic that day--a law from Gary, IN, I believe.

Chicago had an ordinance against ugly people--on the surface, funny, but it was serious--it was an attempt to curb the exploitation of "human oddities" by unscrupulous promoters.

[Up2Late]

4. I don't doubt you are right...

...but I couldn't find those in the book, but it is a very small book. No doubt a lot are not in it.

[Up2Late]

5. kick n/t

:kick: