Sometimes one may wonder if certain laws are in place as a result of old-school ways of thinking, backroom political favors, lobbyist strong arming, or simply to make sensible people laugh, shake their head, and say, “what the…”
With that said, these five southern laws may cause you to do a good face palm—especially if you love the outdoors, or just thinking about stealing an alligator.
Don’t shack up on a boat for more than 30 days if you live in Georgia
Even if you’re just passing through, it is illegal to crash on a live-aboard (monohulls, multihulls, houseboats, etc.) for more than a month during a calendar year.
What the law really means: If you love the water, keep Georgia on your mind, but only for 8.33% of the year.
Stealing an alligator could land you 10 years of jail time
According to Mama Boucher from The Waterboy, alligators are ornery because “they have all them teeth and no toothbrush.” According to Louisiana state law, you can spend a decade behind bars (and possibly a $3000 fine) if you steal one of those ill-tempered, bad-breathed creatures.
What the law really means: Florida isn’t the only state with a weird alligator fetish.
Cyclists must leave their bikes outside cemetery grounds
If you happen to be attending a funeral service in the beautiful vacation town of Destin, Florida, don’t dare ride your bike inside a cemetery. This law states that you can’t even lean it against a tree on the hallowed grounds, in the case that someone may trip, or perhaps be offended by the site of a beach cruiser next to their deceased loved one.
What the law really means: Destin keeps it classy when it comes to honoring those who have passed. If only the same could be said when spring breakers take to its shores to shotgun cans of Miller Lite and don short shorts that read “It Ain’t Gonna Spank Itself.”
Don’t fish using a bow and arrow
While it’s completely fine to get lucky in Kentucky, don’t dare use your bow and arrow to catch fish in the bluegrass state.
What the law really means: Yeah, it’s illegal, but the image of someone floating on a boat in a tranquil lake, taking dead aim into the water like he is going for gold in the archery final of the Olympics is kind of awesome. Seriously, you should be able to talk yourself out of this one.
Climate change denying is the law in North Carolina
A law recently passed that restricts local planning agencies from using climate change science to predict rising sea levels.
What the law really means: When you’re no longer able to ride your horse on the shores of the Outer Banks, consider walking your dog through the parks of Charlotte. It may not be the same, but at least nobody will think you’re filming an Old Spice commercial, or mistake you for Vladimir Putin.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
