How well do you follow the laws? You probably think you’re doing a good job because you drive the speed limit and avoid illegal drugs, but you can’t follow laws that you don’t even know exist!

Here are 8 surprising things that are illegal in Iowa. Don’t be surprised to discover you’re a law breaker!

1. Dancing is sometimes illegal in Des Moines.
Flickr/derek raugh
Love to dance? Chances are you’ve broken the law in Des Moines at least once! If you dance between the hours of 2 A.M. and 6 A.M, cops could legally drag you to jail in your dancing shoes.
2. Playing softball after 10:30 P.M. is illegal in Mount Vernon.
Flickr/vmax137
The lights go off at the softball fields in Mount Vernon at 10:30 P.M. If you want to play after dark, you’re going to have to ask for special permission from the Parks and Recreation Director.
3. Ice cream vendors are illegal in Indianola.
Flickr/Anna
Remember running to the ice cream truck as a kid in the summer? Indianola kids don’t. Ice cream vendors aren’t allowed. Remind me not to visit Indianola in the summer.
4. When picking hops in Iowa, it’s illegal to a use a box that isn’t 36 inches in length.
Flickr/Daniel Spiess
Love picking hops to make your own beer? You better use a box that is 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 23 ¼ inches deep. It preserves hop-growing interests, or so the law says.

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5. It’s illegal for a tanning bed in Iowa not to inform you of the risk of sunburn.
Flickr/Miran Rijavec
Oh, wait… I can get a sunburn from sitting in a tanning bed? That’s weird….
6. It’s illegal for the fire department not to practice firefighting before responding to a real fire.
Flickr/t m
"There’s a fire at your residence? Don’t worry ma’am! We’ll be on our way in 15 minutes, after we get the chance to practice putting out your fire first." It doesn't quite work like that, and practice does make perfect.
7. Picking flowers is illegal in Mount Vernon.
Flickr/citroenverde
Ever picked a flower for your sweetie? If you live in Mount Vernon and got that flower from a city park, you’re a law breaker.
8. It’s illegal to advertise beer in Bettendorf.
Flickr/Pete Zarria
I guess you’ll never know if that store in Bettendorf sells your favorite beer because they legally can’t advertise it with a sign that’s placed outside.

With such strange laws, don’t be surprised to find yourself breaking the law by accident in Iowa.

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