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Home » Destinations » North America » United States

The 12 Craziest Laws in the United States

Modified: May 21, 2025 · Published: Jan 18, 2017 by Guest Blogger |

Going from one state to another can be fun and exciting, but be prepared for some of the craziest laws in the United States, which you might want to consider to avoid getting yourself in trouble.

It's illegal to take a selfie with a bear in Alaska (photo: Wiki Commons)
It's illegal to take a selfie with a bear in Alaska (photo: Wiki Commons)

In this article, JustFly gives you a sense of the wildest laws in the United States, laws you'll want to remember when you set out on your next adventure.

Table of Contents

  • States
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arkansas
    • Hawaii
    • Maryland
    • Mississippi
    • Nevada
    • Pennsylvania
    • Utah
    • Wyoming

States

Alabama

No one is allowed to wear a fake mustache inside a church for fear that it would amuse people.

Why? Well, we all know that a church is a place of worship and prayer, and it should be respected at all times, so it should be expected that causing a distraction would be prohibited. I'm unsure why anyone would want to wear a fake mustache in a church, but there you go.

In Alabama, it is illegal to bike, roller-skate, skateboard, or inline skate in a commercial area and for a driver to operate a vehicle while wearing a blindfold.

I know that whoever made these rules was thinking about public safety. But really, who is going to be silly enough to wear a blindfold while driving? No one, I hope.

Also, it is against the law in Alabama to wrestle with a bear. Many years ago, bear wrestling was a crude form of entertainment for spectators and punishment for criminals.

Alaska

If wrestling with a bear seemed impossible, maybe taking a selfie with one is not a bad idea. After all, bears look so cute and cuddly, making them excellent photo material.

Have you ever dared to wake a bear that's fast asleep to get a selfie?

If you're in Alaska and thinking about doing that, you'd better stop that thought process immediately. It is against the law in Alaska to wake a sleeping bear to take a photo.

Arkansas

Doing a little research before going to a particular destination is always helpful, especially when visiting sensitive places regarding history and culture.

It is against the law to mispronounce 'Arkansas.' Accordingly, the name and pronunciation of 'Arkansas' (pronounced as ar-kan-saw) reflect the state's heritage.

Technically, it is still illegal to mispronounce it, but there are no consequences, except for some confused sideways looks.

Hawaii

You'd be surprised at what is still illegal in Hawaii (photo: Wiki)

You might want to be a little careful about where you place your change, especially if you are one of those rare individuals who enjoys putting coins in your ears, as it is illegal in Hawaii to do so.

Maryland

It's good to be aware of the dress code in particular locations in advance. What places come to mind? Qatar, UAE, and Maryland!

As it turns out, wearing sleeveless shirts in public parks in Maryland violates park rules. So you can say goodbye to showing off those well-toned biceps, triceps, or upper arm tattoos.

Mississippi

Love using 'colorful' language? You'd better bite your tongue when you go to Mississippi, or you'll be fined up to $100 for using profane language in public places.

If caught swearing in front of two or more people, you could be jailed. This law is thought to have been conceived to protect the public.

Nevada

Keep those camels off the road (photo: AnnicaB, Pixabay)
Keep those camels off the road (photo: AnnicaB)

In this state, "driving" a camel on the highway is against the law, maybe because this violates the minimum speed limit. What do you think?

Some say that this law was made because of camel races that some folks held in the past, which caused unnecessary traffic on the busy highways.

Pennsylvania

Have you ever tried having your fortune told to see if you'll get lucky this year?

Fortunately, the fortune teller might be able to tell you where and when you'll find your pot of gold, but unfortunately for them, it is illegal to be told where to dig for buried treasure.

Utah

It's important to keep hydrated in states like Utah (photo: Wiki)
It's essential to keep hydrated in states like Utah (photo: Wiki)

Love drinking milk? Fantastic - you must have excellent teeth and bones.

If you go to Utah and you're one of those people who find the taste of this white liquid disgusting, you've run out of luck. It is illegal NOT to drink milk in Utah.

I guess they're concerned about the state of calcium levels within residents of the state.

Wyoming

Rabbits are among the cutest animals to see, especially in zoos and forests.

But no matter how fluffy and cuddly looking they are, you're not allowed to take photos of these adorable creatures from January to April without an official permit if you're in Wyoming. Maybe try again in May?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article, which was brought to you by JustFly, an online travel agency. Before planning your next trip, visit their website or read more JustFly reviews.

_________

This story was brought to you in partnership with JustFly.

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About Guest Blogger

This post was written by a guest contributor. Please reference the author's byline in the post above for more information. If you would like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines. For information on advertising opportunities, go here.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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