The rules of the road are typically there for our protection and make logical sense, but a few crazy traffic safety laws have slipped through the net.
Some states have driving laws so comical and baffling that we’re honestly scratching our heads in confusion. Though sadly some of the greatest laws out there are actually urban legends that have taken on a life of their own.
Here are some of the strangest traffic safety laws that remain on the books today, and could still technically land you in hot water.
1. No driving with a blindfold
Alabama has it written down that it’s illegal to drive while blindfolded.
Why would you? That’s an entirely different question and we can’t think of one solid reason.
2. No driving with a dog on the roof
Alaskans treat their dogs differently to the rest of us, they are workers more than pets. But the state decided that it had to step in and stop people strapping them to the roof of the car.
We’re on-board with this one.
3. Don’t spill your margarita
You have to wonder about the hedonistic life at Hermosa Beach, CA. Anywhere that feels the need to pass laws about spilling margaritas from a moving car… well, we have no words, except these four: Don't drink and drive.
4. Don’t drive with dead chickens
In Topeka, KS, it is technically against the law to transport dead poultry along Kansas Avenue. We guess the local cops will give you a pass for stopping off at Kentucky Fried Chicken, but the law is still in place.
5. Don’t jump out of a moving car
Glendale, CA, literally outlawed the act of jumping out of a car at high speed.
We’re not sure what motivated this Draconian measure. But if you’re prepared to jump out of a speeding car, then the distant thought of legal trouble probably isn’t going to change your mind.
6. Don’t swear
In Rockville, MD, the language in the high street is strictly PG. If you swear in your car, you can be charged with a misdemeanor. It’s an unusual way for a small community to uphold its standards, but it’s probably a nicer place to be than downtown New York.
7. Gorillas cannot be passengers in your vehicle
You wouldn’t think people would need to be told it’s a bad idea to have an unrestrained gorilla in the car. They are 450-lb. mountain apes and they really aren’t the best option for carpooling.
Well, it turns out they don’t. This “Massachusetts Law” is an urban legend that has spread across the web and become a part of motoring folklore. It’s even on the DMV’s own site.
It’s here because we still want it to be true.
8. Don’t honk somebody else’s horn
In University City, MO, it’s a misdemeanor to honk somebody else’s horn The police must have got tired with the locals’ shenanigans, but it seems like a tough one to prove.
9. Don’t drive a camel on the highway
Nevada has some of the most arid and inhospitable roads in the world, including the infamous Death Valley. So a camel makes some sort of sense, but they clearly don’t move at highway speeds.
The wobbly dromedaries are officially banned from Nevada’s highway network, which would be weird just about anywhere else. If we run out of fuel, though, expect this law to fall by the wayside and camels to rule the Nevada roads.
10. Don’t let your pet molest a car
In Kentucky, you’ll face a fine if your pet molests a vehicle. That’s a pretty vague description and we like to think it means that you’ll be fined if your pet causes damage to a car or motorcycle. The alternative is just too dark to think about.
