Things You Think Are Illegal but Aren’t

Slide 1Overview
Even the most law-abiding citizen doesn’t know all the laws out there by heart, so
most people use common sense when it comes to determining what’s legal and
what’s not. That’s why you will be surprised to find out these some things that
sound like they would definitely be illegal are actually not. Also, check out
these weird laws that you probably break all the time.
Having a
pet
In real life, you can’t have a pet monkey anywhere in New York, Alaska, Georgia,
Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah,
and Vermont. That said, good news for wanna-be monkey parents: It’s legal in all the
38 other states. In fact, in Oregon, you can have a monkey as a service animal,
should your needs require it.
Owning other
exotic
animals
Think you can’t have a bear for a pet? You’re wrong if you live in Massachusetts,
where you can legally purchase your very own living, breathing, mauling teddy. Want
a pet giraffe? You can have one in Florida. Pet tiger? You can have one in Delaware, as
long as you obtain a license. Pet cheetah? Pet lion? Oklahoma is fine with both!
Fat-free chips
made with
Olestra
For a while, the FDA required warning labels on Olestra-containing foods, but not
since 2003. Despite the fact that it also negates the body’s ability to absorb essential
vitamins, Olestra is still fully legal in the U.S., which is why you should always read
packaging. However, it is banned in Canada and all the countries in the European
Union.
Foods
containing
arsenic
Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin,
bladder, and lung cancers, as well as heart disease, reports the FDA. The FDA has
released statements about the presence of arsenic in rice, apples, and all organic fruits.
But unlike the countries of the European Union, the U.S. has no ban on arsenic in our
food.
Baby
walkers
Medical experts have found that they impair baby’s mental and physical development,
giving them mobility beyond their age-appropriate capabilities, and preventing them
for learning essential skills (and developing essential muscles along the way) like
crawling, pulling themselves upright, and eventually walking. They have also proven to
be dangerous and even fatal, since they can help a baby go to places they shouldn’t,
like the top of a staircase.
Spanking in
school
If you were never spanked in school, perhaps it’s because you grew up in New Jersey,
where corporal punishment in schools has been illegal since 1867. However, corporal
punishment is permitted in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.
Spanking at
home
Spanking in school is legal in many states, but spanking at home is legal in all states. So
is kicking, slapping, and whipping, as long as it’s considered “reasonable discipline” by
a parent or caretaker. What is reasonable discipline? That’s determined by case law, so
if you’re accused of “child abuse” when you thought you were engaging in “reasonable
discipline,” your local judge will get to decide what’s reasonable and what isn’t.
Marrying your
cousin
Although some view it with a negative stigma, the fact is you can marry your cousin
in every state in the United States. The only issue is which cousin. At least 25 states
go so far as to allow you to marry your first cousin, which is your aunt/uncle’s kid.
Backyard
burials
In most states, it’s perfectly legal to bury your loved ones right in your backyard.
Just be sure to pay attention to zoning laws (for example, laws which say how close
to a body of water a burial may take place), and it’s always a good idea to consult a
specialist.
Removing
that
mattress tag
Bought a mattress? Go ahead, and remove that mattress tag. It’s not illegal. The tag is
there for commerce purposes. Its removal is illegal only before purchase by the
consumer
Sleeping in
your car
In at least 14 states, it’s perfectly legal to sleep in your car at a rest stop (you’d think
it would be more, right?). But it’s not really illegal to sleep in your car anywhere,
unless your car is parked illegally or if you’re too drunk to be driving (if your blood
alcohol content is above the legal limit, you should not be in your car at all).
Driving while
drowsy
One-third of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by over-tired drivers.
However, it’s not illegal to drive a car while drowsy except in New Jersey and
Arkansas. And most states that have attempted to put such a law on the books have
failed thus far.
without a good
night’s sleep
One would hope a surgeon had a good night’s sleep before opening anyone up on an
operating table. Unfortunately, despite widespread knowledge of how sleep
deprivation impairs cognitive performance and motor skills, there’s no law that says a
surgeon must have had a good night’s sleep or even any opportunity to sleep before
performing surgery.
Recording a
conversation
In one-party consent states, such as New York, you can legally record a conversation
with someone who has no idea you’re recording the conversation. For the most part,
all states are one-party consent states, except for these 10: California, Delaware,
Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,
and Washington.
Refusing to
off
If a police officer asks you questions at a roadblock, you don’t have to answer, although
you’ll likely extend the stop by being obstinate.You don’t have to tell the
officer where you’re coming from or where you’re going. In fact, you can stay mostly
silent, so long as you provide your license and proof of insurance when prompted. If a
traffic stop really isn’t going well, you can even make a rude hand gesture. You’ll
almost certainly receive a citation for whatever you were stopped for, but the officer
can’t arrest you for making the gesture; they can’t even pull you over
Owning a
Tank
You can totally buy a fully functional tank. In this context, “functional” means
“moving.” The heavy artillery does throw a wrench in the works; you have to get the
cannons registered, which means getting your local sheriff to sign off on the
project.
Flamethrower
Check with your local jurisdiction before going all Mad Max, but there’s no federal
law against owning a flamethrower, and the Washington Post reported that commercial
flamethrowers are legal in 48 states. Not only that, but flamethrowers have several
totally legitimate uses, as they’re awesome for clearing out desert brush, melting
snow, and killing weeds.
Eating
Roadkill
Well, unless you’re in Texas, Washington, or California. Otherwise, “roadkill cuisine”
is apparently a thing, and although it’s a great way to save money, it’s also a great way
to pick up various diseases and parasites.
Other things
•In the UK you can buy Cannabis seeds but germinating them is illegal, this feels like a
setup.
•There is no “one free phone call.” By law, the police have to give you as many phone
calls as you need to contact an attorney.
•It is legal to buy and sell tickets to R rated movies to those under 17. The policy is a
self-regulation imposed by theaters and movie distributors.
•Having a poker/card game where you’re playing for money. A lot of people think it
needs to be a clandestine thing. But in many (all?) U.S. states, it’s not illegal to gamble
for money in your own home as long as “the house” isn’t taking a cut. (My certainty
about this is restricted to New York.)
Other things
•Jaywalking in the UK. In fact, there is no such thing as jaywalking, you can cross the
street whenever you want.
•Chewing gum in Singapore.It’s perfectly legal, it’s just the sale and distribution of it
that is illegal.
•It’s not illegal to wear military uniforms. It’s not even illegal to lie about serving.
It’s only illegal if you use it to manipulate/gain/profit in your favor.
•In Texas, picking bluebonnet flowers. It’s not illegal at all. Pick some, take them
home and put them in a vase if you like. That’s just something moms told their kids
so they wouldn’t literally pick ALL of them out of the yard.
Other things
•Counting cards at the casino – you won’t be arrested for it, but anyone who’s ever
seen the film Casino knows you may wish you had.
•Being a cannibal it’s illegal to kill someone, destroy a dead body etc., etc, but it
isn’t illegal to do the act of eating human flesh. just that in order to do it you need to
break 12 other laws.
•Minors smoking cigarettes. Only buying them is illegal.
•Defacing money. As long as you don’t try to change the value, you’re fine. Go ahead
and draw those mustache and Ray Bans on G.W.
Conclusion
So, while most people are well-informed about this stuff, please don’t use this as
actual legal advice. Some of these “legal activities” are only legal in certain areas.
Some should definitely be illegal and are not advisable under any circumstances.
Some of these things that are not illegal are only really legal because of some weird,
tiny loophole in the law that should definitely not exist.