Activities That Are Actually Illegal In Some States, Including MA (2024)

While perusing the world wide web recently, I came across some very interesting(and fun!) reading that I felt was so cool and strange that I just HAD to share it with my fellow Berkshire County residents.

Some of the folks over at FoxNews.comput together a wildly entertaining list of the most bizarre laws in each state across the country. The list includes lots of strange laws that either existed at one time in the past or ones that are still in effect today!

Here's a really strange one for California: It's OK to eat frogs...unless it's a frog that died during a frog jumping competition. Then it's NOT OK. How does that make any degree of sense?

A certain four-legged nostril offender is part of a strange Tennessee law that states that unless you have a permit, you are not allowed to have a skunk for a pet. Personally, I have nothing against skunks but having one as a pet? C'mon.

In Utah, you are not allowed to purchase beer in containers larger than 2 liters. That means no keggers! In Pennsylvania, it is against the law to use explosives(???) at a wedding. No firing a gun at a wedding, either.

In Kansas, kids that are over 14 years old are not allowed to use playgrounds, for crying out loud. One of the weirdest(and therefore, one of my favorites!) laws comes out of New Mexico. In New Mexico, you are not allowed to dance while wearing a sombrero.

Hold on, wait a minute. You don't think for one second that New England doesn't have any strange laws, do you? Think again. In Maine, it's against the law to gamble at the airport. I know. Weird.

Activities That Are Actually Illegal In Some States, Including MA (1)

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In Connecticut, you're not allowed to sell "silly string" to a minor unless that minor is accompanied by an adult. And here's a law that's pretty "out there" even for this list. In New Hampshire, you are not allowed to collect seaweed at night. Wait, what?

This brings us to Massachusetts. Admittedly, Massachusetts has a few strange laws that once were or still are in effect, but this one is probably the strangest: If you have a strong desire to sing the National Anthem out in public somewhere, you better commit to it. In other words, once you start singing it, you've got to sing the whole thing. If you stop singing halfway through, you could be fined $100 bucks.

And that's just a few of the strangest laws across the country. Do yourself a favor and bring a smile to your face by checking out the full list at Fox News' website here. Trust me. Quite an interesting read!

And speaking of laws, the following article is pretty interesting too. Read on:

LOOK: What major laws were passed the year you were born?

Data for this list was acquired from trusted online sources and news outlets. Read on to discover what major law was passed the year you were born and learn its name, the vote count (where relevant), and its impact and significance.

Gallery Credit: Katelyn Leboff

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

LOOK: Baby names that are illegal around the world

Stacker scoured hundreds of baby name databases and news releases to curate a list of baby names that are illegal somewhere in the world, along with explanations for why they’re banned.

Gallery Credit: Annalise Mantz

How Many in America: From Guns to Ghost Towns

Can you take a guess as to how many public schools are in the U.S.? Do you have any clue as to how many billionaires might be residing there? Read on to find out—and learn a thing or two about each of these selection’s cultural significance and legacy along the way.

Gallery Credit: RACHEL CAVANAUGH

Activities That Are Actually Illegal In Some States, Including MA (2024)

FAQs

What is considered an illegal activity? ›

Illegal Activities means: Actions performed for unlawful aims, breaching public safety, welfare regulations, or infringing [governing law].

What is legal in some states but illegal in others? ›

For example, it is legal to smoke marijuana in Washington, but not Idaho. In Utah it is illegal to sell hard liquor on the weekend while in most other states it is legal. In Nevada it is legal to build a casino anywhere, while in most other states they cannot be built anywhere on state land.

What are some funny Massachusetts state laws? ›

In Massachusetts you must have a license to wear a goatee. In Massachusetts, if you get caught eating peanuts in church, you can be jailed for up to one year. In Provincetown, Mass., it's illegal to sell suntan oil until after noon on Sunday. It is illegal to frighten a pigeon.

Is it illegal to play the fiddle in Massachusetts? ›

So, you must carry a shotgun across Boston Common, but don't you dare play the fiddle, which is illegal in Boston (Nero would not be welcome in this city). On Sundays, you may engage in a “duel to the death on the common,” as long as the governor is there (there was no mention of dueling on other days of the week).

What is illegal but not a crime? ›

For example, driving past the speed limit is an illegal activity, but it is not a criminal activity. On the other hand, committing a homicide is both a criminal activity and an illegal activity. So, to sum up, illegal activities are all those activities that are punishable by law in a certain way.

What are the illegal actions in the US? ›

Other federal crimes include mail fraud, aircraft hijacking, carjacking, kidnapping, lynching, bank robbery, child p*rnography, credit card fraud, identity theft, computer crimes, federal hate crimes, animal cruelty, violations of the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), obscenity, tax ...

What are 5 things the states are prohibited from doing? ›

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title ...

What are some silly U.S. state laws? ›

We broke down the weirdest laws in every state below.
  • Alabama: No Dominoes On Sunday. ...
  • Alaska: No Drinking At A Bar, Basically. ...
  • Arizona: You Need A Permit To Feed Garbage. ...
  • Arkansas: No Pinball Winning Streaks. ...
  • California: Destroy That Frog. ...
  • Colorado: Don't Mess With The Weather. ...
  • Connecticut: It's Their Junk – Not Yours.

What state has no laws? ›

Slab City, California

It is just a hundred miles east of San Diego. It is a free alternative living community that was a World War 2 base, Marine Barracks Camp. The name Slab City was coined from the concrete slabs that were the remains of the military base after it was abandoned.

Is it illegal to go to bed without a bath in Massachusetts? ›

Massachusetts law also regulates other aspects of bedtime and bedroom activities. It is illegal in the state to go to bed without taking a bath first. This could make sense for people who snore since they will be closed up in the bedroom all night without any windows open.

Is it illegal to scare a pigeon in Massachusetts? ›

People who willfully "kill or frighten" them can be imprisoned for up to a month or receive a fine of $20.

What are some fun facts about Massachusetts? ›

Statewide – Famous Firsts
  • First state to legalize same-sex marriage (2004)
  • Newburyport is the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard.
  • The first public beach in the United States is in Revere.
  • Provincetown is America's oldest continuous art colony.
  • Boston Public Garden – first public botanical garden in the United States (1837)

Is sleeping in your car illegal in Massachusetts? ›

In Massachusetts, the act of sleeping in your car isn't illegal, but where you decide to do so makes all the difference. Always be mindful of signage, especially in areas that might be private property. Rest areas, on the other hand, serve as a safe haven for those needing a break from the road.

Is it illegal to pick lady slippers in Massachusetts? ›

The Lady Slipper, like all orchids, is protected from picking by a Massachusetts state law passed in 1935. Lady Slippers are listed as endangered or threatened in New England.

Is it illegal to dance to the national anthem in Massachusetts? ›

whoever plays, sings or renders the ''Star-Spangled Banner'', or any part thereof, as dance music, as an exit march or as a part of a medley of any kind, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars."

What is considered illegal behavior? ›

Illegal behavior refers to actions that are considered criminal and are detected by the criminal justice system, such as those reported to or detected by the police. It includes offenses for which individuals are arrested, convicted, and/or imprisoned.

What are unlawful activities? ›

Defined in U.S.C. Title 18, Section 1956(c)(7): This section outlines various categories of criminal activities that can be considered SUAs. The list is extensive, covering a broad range of crimes that include but are not limited to drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, bribery, fraud, and smuggling.

What is considered an illegal act? ›

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires, "illegal act" means an act or omission that violates any law or any rule having the force of law.

What would be considered an illegal search? ›

The Fourth Amendment prohibits the United States government from conducting “unreasonable searches and seizures." In general, this means police cannot search a person or their property without a warrant or probable cause. It also applies to arrests and the collection of evidence.

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