These 15 Utterly Absurd And Strange Laws Are Only In South Carolina
Gwen Tennille
Author
Every state has rules, regulations, and laws that are set in stone. While some of them are societally necessary or basic common sense, many others aren’t and have become forgotten – lost in the books of time, nestled between their brittle yellow pages and never to be thought of again. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the internet came to be and then nothing was ever lost again. I dug up a few buried oddities hiding in our state’s lawbooks. These South Carolina laws are a speck weird, slightly nonsensical, and somewhat wonderfully hilarious. Listed below are 15 of these weird laws in South Carolina.
1. It is an offense to get a tattoo.
2. Horses may not be kept in bathtubs.
3. Railroad companies may be held liable for scaring horses.
4. A permit must be obtained to fire a missile.
5. A railroad may not remove itself from a town of more than 500 people.
6. When approaching a four-way or blind intersection in a non-horse vehicle, you must stop 100 feet from said intersection and discharge a firearm into the air to warn horse traffic.
7. Every adult must bring a rifle to church on Sundays in order to ward off Indian attacks.
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8. Nothing must be sold on Sundays except light bulbs.
9. You must be at least 18 years old to play pinball.
10. It is illegal to urinate in the waters of any South Carolina park.
11. People may not change clothes in a gas station without permission.
13. Horses are to wear pants at all times.
14. It is illegal to dance in public in Lancaster, South Carolina.
15. Eating ripe and juicy watermelon in the Magnolia Street Cemetery is forbidden.
South Carolina is not alone in that odd laws still inhabit the books. I’m wondering, however, if these weird South Carolina laws are still punishable. If some are still upheld, would they indeed be honored in the court of law? Only one way to find out…
These South Carolina laws may be a little “out there,” but then again, SC is a state that’s full of history – what else could we expect? Check out some of our favorite historical landmarks around the state the next time you’re out and about. Or, how about perusing through these historic towns? Then, make your way to this delightful home in Harleston Village to cozy up before perusing the sights!
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Weird Laws In South Carolina
What are some fun and interesting facts about South Carolina?
There are many fun facts about South Carolina that you may of may not know. How many of them were you already familiar with?
- The state of South Carolina was named after King Charles I and King Charles II of England.
- South Carolina's beautiful beaches attracts millions of tourists to the state each year.
- The leading producer of peaches east of the Mississippi River is South Carolina and not Georgia, which many people assume.
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is home to around 50 golf courses, which is why it's considered the "Miniature Golf Capital of the World."
- The loggerhead turtle is South Carolina’s state reptile. It can grow up to 400 pounds and live around 50 years.
- The Angel Oak in South Carolina is around 500 years old, making it one of America's oldest trees.
- South Carolina is believed to be where barbecue got its start.
- The official state drink of South Carolina is milk. (And some of our most iconic foods too!)
- Standing at around 420 feet tall, Raven Cliff Falls in Cleveland is South Carolina's highest waterfall.
- Spread over 17 days, South Carolina's Spoleto Festival USA is one of the nation's largest festivals.
What are three strange things you'll find in South Carolina?
There are a surprising number of strange things and places in SC, including the fact that it's home to several strange attractions. Listed below are three attractions that you won't find anywhere else. They're also some of the strangest attractions you'll ever see.
- Edisto Mystery Tree: The Edisto Mystery Tree is located right off Highway 174 in Edisto Island, South Carolina. It's filled with a variety of quirky decorations that locals and vacationers have left behind. The decorations tend to change throughout the year depending on the season it is.
- UFO Welcome Center: The UFO Welcome Center is located in Bowman, South Carolina in the backyard of Jody Pendarvis. It consists of a 42-foot-wide structure that resembles a flying saucer with a 20-foot-wide structure also resembling a saucer. Pendarvis built the structure for aliens to rest after a long journey on UFOs.
- Boneyard Beach: Boneyard Beach is located on the northern end of Bull Island, a little-known island in South Carolina. While on this beach, which consists of the remains of a water-stranded forest, you'll discover lots of driftwood, shells, and wildlife. There are also many miles of trails on this island.