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Crazy Laws
Jennifer Schneider
November 13, 2000
If you live with children then an awkward and neglected young boy with a funny lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead has probably begun to weave his way into your bedtime story hour. Harry Potter has sparked a cultural phenomenon. He has also, unbeknownst to most of us, inspired people of all ages to break the law.
That's right! Every time fans celebrated the arrival of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by attending a release party, or even a birthday party, where the staff and customers dressed in robes and wizards caps and armed themselves with wands made of unicorn hair, they were performing an illegal act. A very old law prevents individuals from even pretending to partake in witchcraft.
This law-although it would find millions people guilty of pretending to practice witchcraft--is one of those "weird laws" that, because of civil rights issues and cultural expectations, would never be enforced. However, it is not likely that this law will ever be expunged from our legal code because of the time and money that would be required.
There are other strange legal restrictions embedded within our structure of justice that seem just as absurd. Two web sites, Law Guru.com (http://www.lawguru.com) and Crazy Laws (http://wallofjokes.te-c.net/Crime_Law/CrazyLaw.shtml) are just two of the hundreds of sites that list other examples.
Consider that if you lived in Alabama, you could be arrested for wearing a fake mustache that causes laughter in church. You would be in trouble in the state of Florida if you sang in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. Next time you doze off in the park be sure to kick off your sandals--officials in North Dakota could hunt you down for falling asleep in public with your shoes on.
Have you broken a law lately?
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