The Law Library staff has put together a "Wellness Collection" located on the New Book Shelf, as well as, a brand new Law Student Wellness Guide for all to use for their benefit and well-being.  As "laughter is the best medicine" this week's column will attempt to bring you a chuckle or two.  What follows are quotes from a book in the library's collection dealing with the lighter side of the law.

Trouble is our humorist is obviously not a lawyer.  The author gives us little or nothing in the way of citation or provenance.  Most of these laws are likely from a bygone era.  No matter, as the Old Doctor says: "take it with a grain of salt."

• If your billy goat is running loose in Wisconsin, you'd better be prepared to pay $5 to the person who finds it. p.46
• In Alaska, it is against the law to disturb a grizzly bear for the purpose of taking its picture. p.45
• In Washington D.C., it is illegal to punch a bull in the nose. p.45
  
• In Arkansas, it is illegal to blindfold cows on public highways. p.45
• In Roderfield, West Virginia, only babies are allowed to ride in baby carriages. p.17
• You need a cheesemaker's license to make cheese in Wisconsin.  But to make Limburger cheese, you must have a master cheesemaker's license. p.22
• The sale of ice cream was banned on Sundays in Ohio, because it was deemed frivolous and luxurious.  Merchants, therefore, began topping the ice cream with scoops of fruit thereby deeming the dish healthy and nutritious.  Lo and behold, the "ice cream sundae" was invented. p.28
• The New York State Assembly passed a law outlawing the tango, the rumba, the mambo, and the cha cha. p.35
• In San Antonio, Texas, you can't honk a horn. p.43
• In Belvedere, California, an ordinance states: "No dog shall be in a public place without its master on a leash." p.53
• Vermont doesn't approve of painted ponies.  If you're found painting yours, you will be arrested. p.56
• In South Foster, Rhode Island, should your dentist make the mistake of pulling the wrong tooth, he can be penalized by being required to appear at the village blacksmith to have the corresponding tooth removed from his mouth. p.59
• In Elkhart, Indiana, a barber cannot threaten to cut off the ears of kids. p.62
• There ought to be a law: Patients who are kept waiting in a doctor's waiting room may charge the doctor for their time. p.78
• In the state of Vermont, it is illegal to whistle underwater. p.80
• In Iceland, anybody can practice medicine, providing he/she hangs out a sign that reads Scottulaejnir, which means "Quack Doctor." p.89
  

Source: Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts, Loony Laws & Silly Statutes, New York : Sterling Publ. (1994) / Call number: K184 L56 1994

Submitted by Eric Taylor, Evening Reference Librarian on October 17, 2018

This article appears in the categories: Law Library