OH LAW'd

Parents of children in an Alabama elementary school district were surprised when their children brought home permission slips, checking whether the school could physically discipline their children.

Interestingly enough, there’s no law prohibiting corporal punishment in Alabama and there isn’t one in Indiana either. That made us think of what other goofy legal situations
leave American citizens scratching their heads.

Mississippi Slavery

Though this is no longer the case, you likely didn’t know slavery wasn’t made illegal in Mississippi until February 2013.
It seems the state accidentally forgot to pass the law that explicitly said you couldn’t own another person. It’s scary to think when employees in Mississippi complained about their “slave-driver” bosses, they weren’t far off-base.

No vomiting in a taxi

If you want to get home from the Chicago night scene, you better be ready to hold down your dinner.
If you throw up in the back of a taxi, a law passed in 2012 demands a fine of $50.
Of course, you could also save money by either walking home or opening the window. The law apparently doesn’t prohibit puking on the car next to you.

Sunday Liquor Sales

It’s a rite of passage for a 21-year-old to walk into a grocery store trying to purchase alcohol, just to discover that it’s Sunday.
You can’t do that in Indiana.
Since just after prohibition, liquor sales have been illegal on Sundays for religious reasons. Though the law is outdated and rather senseless, it still prevents any and all Indiana natives from getting their alcohol on God’s day.
So you better stock up on Saturday if you want to get your drink on for the Colts’ game.

Foreign Influence

Americans aren’t the only ones who face ridiculous restrictions.
Other countries boast all sorts of crazy laws, including not feeding the birds in Venice, not running out of gas in Germany and not chewing gum in Singapore. So before you sign up to study abroad, make sure you check your destination’s laws. We would hate to see you spanked when you get home.

— opinion@idsnews.com
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