Strange & Unusual Laws

Explore Beyond the Enigma as we delve into astonishing federal laws that are still on the books. Discover bizarre, obscure, and outdated regulations that may surprise you. Uncover astonishing facts and quirky regulations that continue to puzzle us all. Bring to light the curious and quirky regulations that have stood the test of time.

Here is a cornicopia of laws not attached to a certain state and more into the realm of federal additions.

• 18 USC 1821 makes it a crime for non-dentists who make false teeth to ship their product out of state. This jaw-dropping law was enacted decades ago, but doesn’t have much teeth to it.

• 18 USC 711 and 18 USC 711a make it illegal to use Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl or their slogans, “Only you can create forest fires” and “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute,” for commercial purposes or for profit without government permission.

• 18 USC 1657 makes consulting, corresponding, or providing a pirate with provisions a felony offense.

• 40 USC 6133 makes it a federal crime to climb a tree at the Supreme Court.

• 18 USC 336, issuing a check, note or token for less than $1 can cost your freedom.

• 40 U.S.C. §8103(b)(4) makes it a federal crime to “injure” a government-owned lamp.

• 36 CRF 2.20 prohibits rollers skates, skateboards and coasting vehicles in a national park unless there is a specifically designated area where you’re allowed.

• 9 CFR 381.171 d strictly prohibits labeling the words “Turkey” or “Ham” in different sizes, fonts and color on a Turkey Ham.

• 18 USC 2074 makes knowingly giving a false weather report a federal crime.

• 42 CFR 71.56(a)(3) and CFR 1240.63 make it illegal to bring African rats into the United States without permission from the CDC unless they are fully taxidermied or properly processed.

• 18 USC 1857 makes it a federal crime to knowingly let pigs, cattle, horses and other livestock enter a fenced-in area on public land, where they might destroy the grass.

• 18 USC 707 makes it a crime for people who are not associated with the 4-H youth organization to use or display the emblem, sign, insignia or words.

• FAA-2016-9288 makes it a federal crime to carry the Samsung Note 7 on a plane in any manner after a series of mishaps resulted in the phone blowing up and catching on fire.

•  21 U.S.C. §333 and the associated 21 Code of Federal Regulations §102.39 makes a criminal out of anyone who sells onion rings resembling normal onion rings, but which are made from diced onion, without saying so.

• 16 U.S.C. §551 and 36 C.F.R. §261.16(c). It is a federal crime to wash a fish at a faucet if it’s not a fish-washing faucet.

• 18 USC §1865 & 36 CFR §7.96(b)(3) It is illegal to harass any golfer who is at any of the national parks in Washington, D.C.

• 7 USC §8313, 9 CFR §§93.400 & 93.414 If you take home milk from a quarantined giraffe or any other cud-chewing animal, you’re committing a federal crime.