Posted in New York Fun Facts, State Pride November 10, 2022 by

10 Crazy Laws In New York That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder

If you look into it, most every state has some oddball laws that will have you wondering how they even came into existence. The Empire State is no exception. Read on to see what weird laws in New York you may be guilty of having broken!

1. It's illegal to sell dog or cat hair.
Lisa Sammons
You'll be surprised to learn this is actually illegal in several states! Why would anyone even want to buy it? Apparently, it isn't unheard of to make or stuff clothing out of domestic cat or dog hair. Animal hair is sometimes used industrially to clean up oil spills. Just don't sell "fur, skin, hair, or flesh of a domestic dog or cat" in New York and you'll be fine.
2. It's illegal to wear slippers in public after 10:00 pm in New York City.
Marco Milivojevic/Pixnio
Like most of the crazy laws in New York on this list, it's questionable as to whether you'd actually be cited for this one. Apparently, it's thought that smelly slippers might attract rats and other vermin.
3. It's illegal to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.
Karen Arnold/PublicDomainPictures
This law was originally enacted to protect carnival workers.
4. It's illegal to release more than 25 helium-filled balloons at a time.
warrenski/Flickr
While having such a specific number may seem kind of weird, this one actually makes sense! The releasing of balloons at weddings, gender reveal parties, and other celebrations is extremely harmful to wildlife. All those balloons have to come down somewhere!
5. It's illegal to walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in your pocket.
Adventures of Pam & Frank/Flickr
Interestingly, this one is a law in several other places as well! Legend has it that this was enacted to prevent horse thieves from attempting to entice horses to follow them to follow the delicious frozen treats. We're not sure why it's legal the other six days of the week, though.
6. Citizens may not greet each other by “putting one’s thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers”.
Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent./Wikimedia Commons
This one is a British gesture known as "cocking a snook." It's a sign of derision that is apparently considered so offensive that New York lawmakers had to enact a law to forbid it.
7. It is illegal to speak to people on an elevator.
dangerismycat/Flickr
We aren't sure of the reasoning behind this one, but apparently elevator passengers should silently hold their hands in front of them and face towards the door.
8. It's illegal to take a selfie with a tiger.
Mathias Appel/Flickr
There goes our plans for the weekend!
9. You need a license to hang clothes on a clothesline to dry.
Joey Hamidon/Flickr
This one is a bit contentious. Clotheslines are banned in some areas of the country, as they are considered eyesores that lower property values. Environmental activists say they should be allowed to save money and electricity by drying clothes au natural if they choose.
10. Men outside of their home must wear a matching jacket and pants.
Victor Camilo/Flickr
Gents, better look sharp!

Are you guilty of breaking any of these strange laws in New York? Have you ever heard of any other weird New York laws? Tell us all about them in the comments! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to learn about habits New Yorkers will defend to the death – almost as if they were laws!

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Weird Laws In New York & Related Info

November 14, 2022
Katie Lawrence

Are there any stereotypes about New Yorkers that are actually true? 

While stereotypes are often false, sometimes - even when folks are reluctant to admit it - they're true. Some stereotypes about New Yorkers that Empire State residents should just accept as fact include:

  • An undying devotion to our favorite sports teams
  • Being picky about our food
  • Avoiding Times Square like the plague
  • Shopping out-of-state for lower taxes
  • Never admitting that we have an accent
  • Spending as much time as possible outdoors
  • Having heated arguments over what defines Upstate New York

 

What are some other weird New York laws?

The weird New York laws listed above aren't the only ones. Some others include:

  • It's illegal to have a puppet show in your window
  • You cannot allow your donkey to sleep in your bathtub
  • Men are forbidden from wearing a jacket without matching pants
  • One cannot snack on peanuts while walking backward on the sidewalk while attending a concert
  • It is illegal to consume food on the street in a residential neighborhood
  • You can only drink bottled water at the beach
  • One must be holding the hose when watering their lawn
  • You cannot parachute out of a plane unless you are either ordered to or your life is at risk

As with the strange laws in New York in the article, it is unlikely you will be cited for performing any of these acts - but it's interesting to learn about them anyway!

Are there any weird things New Yorkers do that out-of-staters just wouldn't understand?

In addition to all of the crazy laws in New York, there are also plenty of weird things New Yorkers do that people from other states just wouldn't understand. Some of them include:

  • Looking forward to a Wegmans run after coming back from an out-of-state trip
  • Having a slightly unhealthy obsession with salt potatoes
  • Refusing to eat bagels, pizza, or wings in any other state
  • Being totally unphased by even the most brutal winter weather conditions
  • Traveling to the Finger Lakes every chance we get for a big slice of grape pie