10 Crazy Laws In New York That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder
Lisa Sammons
Author
If you look into it, almost every state has some oddball laws that will have you wondering how they even came into existence. The Empire State is no exception. Read on to see what weird laws in New York you may be guilty of having broken!
1. It's illegal to sell dog or cat hair.
2. It's illegal to wear slippers in public after 10:00 pm in New York City.
3. It's illegal to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.
4. It's illegal to release more than 25 helium-filled balloons at a time.
5. It's illegal to walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in your pocket.
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6. Citizens may not greet each other by “putting one’s thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers”.
7. It is illegal to speak to people on an elevator.
8. It's illegal to take a selfie with a tiger.
9. You need a license to hang clothes on a clothesline to dry.
10. Men outside of their home must wear a matching jacket and pants.
Are you guilty of breaking any of these weirdest laws in New York? Have you ever heard of any other funny laws in New York? Tell us all about them in the comments! Also, check out these funny traditions that Empire State residents will defend to the death… almost as if they are laws!
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Weird Laws In New York & Related Info
Are there any stereotypes about New Yorkers that are actually true?
While stereotypes are often false, sometimes - even when folks are reluctant to admit it - they're true. Some stereotypes about New Yorkers that Empire State residents should just accept as fact include:
- An undying devotion to our favorite sports teams
- Being picky about our food
- Avoiding Times Square like the plague
- Shopping out-of-state for lower taxes
- Never admitting that we have an accent
- Spending as much time as possible outdoors
- Having heated arguments over what defines Upstate New York
What are some other of the weirdest laws in New York?
The weird New York laws listed above aren't the only ones. Some others include:
- It's illegal to have a puppet show in your window
- You cannot allow your donkey to sleep in your bathtub
- Men are forbidden from wearing a jacket without matching pants
- One cannot snack on peanuts while walking backward on the sidewalk while attending a concert
- It is illegal to consume food on the street in a residential neighborhood
- You can only drink bottled water at the beach
- One must be holding the hose when watering their lawn
- You cannot parachute out of a plane unless you are either ordered to or your life is at risk
As with the strange laws in New York in the article, it is unlikely you will be cited for performing any of these acts - but it's interesting to learn about them anyway!
Are there any weird things New Yorkers do that out-of-staters just wouldn't understand?
In addition to all of the crazy laws in New York, there are also plenty of weird things New Yorkers do that people from other states just wouldn't understand. Some of them include:
- Looking forward to a Wegmans run after coming back from an out-of-state trip
- Having a slightly unhealthy obsession with salt potatoes
- Refusing to eat bagels, pizza, or wings in any other state
- Being totally unphased by even the most brutal winter weather conditions
- Traveling to the Finger Lakes every chance we get for a big slice of grape pie