1.It’s Illegal to Carry an Ice Cream Cone in Your Back Pocket (Kentucky)
At first glance, it sounds like the setup to a punchline: “Why can’t you walk around Kentucky with an ice cream cone in your back pocket?” But this oddball law, still technically on the books in Kentucky—and echoed in Alabama and Georgia—isn’t about sticky pants or dessert etiquette. It’s about horse theft. In the 19th century, when horses were as essential to daily life as cars are today, stealing one was a serious crime. But proving intent? That was trickier. Enter the ice cream cone loophole.
Clever thieves figured out they could lure a horse away from its owner without technically “stealing” it by placing a sweet treat, like an ice cream cone, in their back pocket. The unsuspecting horse would follow the scent, trotting along behind the thief, who could later claim, “Well, it just followed me home.” To close this legal gray area, Kentucky legislators banned the practice outright. According to One Legal, the law was part of a broader effort to crack down on deceptive methods of property theft, particularly in rural areas where livestock was vital.
Though rarely enforced today, the law remains a quirky reminder of how specific—and strangely creative—lawmakers had to be in an era when your livelihood might literally walk off behind someone with a cone.
2.You Can’t Sell a Pickle That Doesn’t Bounce (Connecticut)
Of all the strange laws attributed to American states, Connecticut’s so-called “bouncing pickle law” might be the most delightfully absurd—and misunderstood. The story goes that, in order for a pickle to be legally sold in Connecticut, it must bounce when dropped from a height of one foot. As bizarre as that sounds, there’s a kernel of truth buried in the brine. Back in 1948, two pickle packers in Connecticut were accused of selling pickles “unfit for human consumption.” To spotlight the poor quality, the state’s Food and Drug Commissioner, Fred Zeller, reportedly suggested a rudimentary test: drop the pickle from a foot high—if it bounces, it’s good; if it splatters, toss it.
But here’s the kicker—there is no official law in Connecticut’s statutes that mandates a pickle must bounce to be considered legal for sale. What does exist is a general food safety regulation under the state’s Uniform Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which prohibits the sale of adulterated or misbranded food products. The bouncing pickle test? That was more of a colorful anecdote than a codified rule. Still, the myth persists, even inspiring the Double-A baseball team Hartford Yard Goats to temporarily rebrand as the “Hartford Bouncing Pickles” in 2021—a nod to Connecticut’s most famous food folklore. So while no pickle has to pass a trampoline test today, the legend continues to bounce around American pop culture.
3.Donkeys May Not Sleep in Bathtubs (Arizona)
It sounds like the setup to a joke—“A donkey walks into a bathtub…”—but in Arizona, the punchline is state legislation. Since 1924, it has been technically illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. The law isn’t the result of a legislative brainstorm gone rogue but rather a very real (and very soggy) incident that unfolded near Kingman, Arizona. According to historical accounts, a local rancher had an old bathtub sitting in a dry creek bed on his property. One of his donkeys took a liking to it, regularly curling up inside for a nap. That seemed harmless enough—until a dam upstream burst, flooding the area and sending the donkey, still in its porcelain bed, drifting miles downstream.
What followed was a full-blown community rescue operation. Townspeople, likely more accustomed to cattle drives than bathtub retrievals, spent hours tracking and eventually saving the bewildered animal. The ordeal, while ending safely, was enough of a logistical nightmare that state lawmakers decided to act. The result? A law banning donkeys from catching z’s in tubs—an oddly specific statute aimed at preventing future flood-related donkey dramas. While rarely enforced today, the law remains on the books as a reminder of how even the quirkiest legislation often has roots in real-life events. As far as weird American laws go, Arizona’s bathtub ban might just be the most memorable example of local policy born from one very unexpected bath time.
4.It’s Against the Law to Whisper in Someone’s Ear While They’re Hunting (Delaware)
At first glance, this law sounds like something lifted from a stand-up comedy routine—whispering in someone’s ear while they’re hunting? Illegal? But dig a little deeper into Delaware’s legal code, and you’ll find that while the wording may have been exaggerated for dramatic effect, the spirit of the claim isn’t entirely without merit. Delaware does, in fact, have a statute aimed at protecting lawful hunting from interference, and while it doesn’t mention whispering per se, it does prohibit any willful act that obstructs or impedes the lawful taking of wildlife. That could include shouting, gesturing wildly—or yes, even whispering too close for comfort.
This provision is part of Delaware’s broader “hunter harassment” laws, which were enacted to ensure that hunters can engage in legal activities without disruptive interference. According to Delaware Code Title 7 § 735, such interference qualifies as a Class B environmental misdemeanor, punishable by fines or other penalties. The law’s intent is rooted in safety and respect: firearms, heightened focus, and unpredictable wildlife don’t mix well with distractions. So while no one’s getting cuffed for murmuring about deer blinds, startling a hunter mid-aim could land you in legal trouble. It’s less about volume, more about disruption—and in the woods, silence isn’t just golden; it’s legally encouraged.
5.You Must Smile at All Times in Public (Pocatello, Idaho)
In the long list of America’s oddball ordinances, few are as cheerfully bizarre as the so-called “Smile Law” of Pocatello, Idaho. Passed in August 1948, this feel-good statute technically made it illegal to frown in public—and yes, that includes grimacing, scowling, or any facial expression deemed “gloomy.” But before you imagine grumpy citizens being carted off for insufficient cheer, here’s the twist: the law was never meant to be enforced. Rather, it was a tongue-in-cheek response to a particularly brutal winter that had left the city buried under snow—and its residents in a collective funk.
Mayor George Phillips and the city council enacted the ordinance as a civic morale booster, branding Pocatello “The Friendly City.” Offenders weren’t fined or jailed; instead, they were sent to “smileage stations” to offer a quota of smiles as penance. The law was technically active for just one week in 1948, but it was never repealed—so, on paper, it still lingers.
The ordinance gained new life in 1987 after being highlighted in a Money Magazine ad and again in 2000, when Pocatello officially declared itself the “Smile Capital of the U.S.” Today, it’s celebrated more as quirky civic pride than legal mandate, with annual “Smile Days” events commemorating the law’s legacy. So, if you find yourself in Pocatello, you might want to flash those pearly whites—just in case.
