There are a lot of curious laws on the books, often written in simpler times when it may have been necessary for the local constabulary to point out that citizens are not permitted to hitch their horse outside a brothel until after dusk. These can be forgiven simply for being so old. But traffic laws are a relatively modern thing, so it’s kind of surprising to learn that there are, in fact, laws about cars and driving that are just this ridiculous. We scoured the internet for some of the most bizarre - are they all real or are some urban legends?
1. In California, no car may drive in excess of 60 mph if there is no driver in the vehicle. So rest assured, if you get hit by a car going 65 and there’s no one it in, someone is absolutely going to jail. If they can find someone.
2. Before you leave California, make sure you don’t do any driving in a housecoat, if you’re a woman. Because California will not tolerate that.
3. In the town of Hilton Head, South Carolina you are officially committing a nuisance if you let too much trash pile up in your car.
4. Fort Thomas, Kentucky is looking out for your vehicle’s safety. As such, dogs and other animals are prohibited from molesting it.
5. In Manila, the Philippines, if your license plate ends in a 1 or a 2, you cannot drive on Mondays. Similarly, if it ends in a 2 or a 4, your day off is Tuesday. This continues on through Friday, covering every number from 0-9. Undoubtedly there’s an awesome reason for this but we can’t begin to imagine what it is.
6. In Little Rock, Arkansas, you can’t suddenly stop or start your car at a drive-thru restaurant. Furthermore, you better not honk your horn, or cause any horn to be honked while you’re there.
7. In Switzerland, if you have snow tires on your car, you are legally required to have a sticker on your dash board warning you not to exceed 160kph, which is about 100mph, which is probably going to kill you if your car needs snow tires.
8. City employees in Harker Heights, Texas are required to obey traffic laws. It’s about time someone made that stipulation.
9. In Rockville, Maryland you can think whatever you like of their highways but you better not swear while you’re out there. If a cop happens to be in the car with you when you swear to hear it, you’re in trouble.
10. Keep your eyes open in Utah, birds have the right of way on all highways.
11. In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho if you happen to be having a romantic encounter in the backseat of your car and a cop spots you, he’s required to either honk or flash his lights, then wait three minutes before approaching. Use those three minutes wisely.
12. Fayette County, Tennessee wants to ensure the state stays pretty, so you can’t have more than 5 inoperable vehicles on your property at any time.
13. In the city of San Francisco, it is illegal to try to clean your car with used underwear. Clean only, please.
14. You can’t pump your own gas in New Jersey. You just can’t. So don’t try.
15. In Australia, taxis have to carry a bale of hay in the trunk. Just in case they pick up a really hungry horse or some such.
16. In Marietta, Georgia it is illegal to spit from a car or a bus. However, you’re OK if you feel like spitting from a truck.
17. Hopefully if you’ve ever been caught for drinking and driving you’re not the creative sort, as a DUI conviction means you will never again be allowed to have personalized plates in New Jersey.
18. Public transit is civilized in Massachusetts where it’s been deemed illegal for taxi drivers to have sex in the front seat of their cabs while they’re on the clock. Thank God you don’t have to worry about that any more.
19. In Milford, Massachusetts you can feel secure in your vehicle as peeping in the windows of cars is forbidden.
20. In New Jersey, if you plan on passing another driver on the highway, you have to let them know you’re going to do it ahead of time. Good luck with that.
21. If you’re planning on driving to Washington to commit crimes, you need to stop at the outskirts of the town in which you wish to commit crimes and phone the chief of police to let them know you’re coming. Presumably if you’re on foot, you’re free to go as you please.
22. In Germany, if your car runs out of gas on the Autobahn, you’ve just committed a crime. Hopefully we’ll hear news one day of gangs of young German punks who only fill up a quarter tank then go for joy rides.
23. In Detroit, Michigan you cannot have sex in your car. Unless you park it on your property. Then you can let the good times roll.
24. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, red cars can’t drive down Lake Street. Probably Lake Street had a bad break up with a red car once and it brings back too many memories.
25. Dunn, North Carolina has decided to protect pedestrians and has expressly forbidden driving cars on the sidewalks. Good luck getting any tourists that way, Dunn.
26. The town of Oxford, Ohio will not allow you to drive around the town square more than 100 times in a single driving session. So when you hit 99, take a break, have a snack, then get back to it.
27. Youngstown, Ohio, has decided they’ve had enough of people catching cabs and then sitting on the roof. So no, you may not ride on the roof of a taxi.
28. The state of Virginia is out to ruin your fun on a Friday night by making it illegal to park your car on the rail road tracks.
29. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, if you drive by a place on Atlantic Avenue, then drive by it again within a half hour, you’ve just committed a crime.
30. Oregon does not allow you to test your physical endurance in a vehicle while driving.
31. Also in Oregon, you better find a reasonable place to store your baby, because you can’t place them on the hood of your car while you’re driving.
32. The reign of terror in Oregon continues with car doors, as you are committing a violation if you leave your door open longer than is necessary.
33. If you’re still not sick of Oregon, you should know that in Portland you cannot hitch your sled to a passing vehicle for the purpose of being dragged through town.
34. It’d be great to find people who stick to the letter of this law, but apparently in Pennsylvania anyone who drives on a country road at night has to stop every mile and send up a signal flare to warn livestock and allow the animals 10 minutes to clear the road before continuing.