Did you know that there’s a legal statute in Miami, Florida that makes imitating animals illegal? And believe it or not, that’s not the only weird legal statute that can get you arrested for seemingly innocuous things! Here are a few others our law research recently dug up.
No Lions in the Cinema.
MGM’s Leo the Lion and his famous roar might be synonymous with the cinemas, but in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s illegal to take a lion to the movies. Good thing, too, because otherwise daring zoo keepers and lion tamers might get funny ideas and then the city of Baltimore wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
No Playing Randy Newman on the Radio.
In Maryland, it’s illegal to play “Short People” by Randy Newman on the radio, and for a relatively good reason. The song is fairly offensive, claiming that “Short People got no reason / To live.” However, it does not reflect Randy Newman’s own personal perspective, which many have failed to understand. Ultimately, though, there’s a legal statute in Maryland preventing it from being played on the radio.
Let Kids Play in Puddles.
If kids want to play in the rain, it’s a good idea to let them, especially in California. The Golden State has a legal statute making it illegal for people to prevent children from playing in puddles of water. On the downside, though, it’s highly unlikely that Californians will even have the chance to break this weird law, what with the terrifying droughts and all. Still, perhaps someday kids will get to enjoy their legally-mandated non-interruptable playtime.
And to think, these are just some of the legal statutes out there that are not only seemingly devoid of any legislative intent, but can even get you arrested. If your legislative history research has dug up any other peculiar legal statutes, feel free to share in the comments.