Posted in North Dakota State Pride May 12, 2022 by

These 8 Crazy Laws In North Dakota Will Leave You Scratching Your Head In Wonder

Get ready to scratch your head, because these weird North Dakota laws are, well, quite confusing. Sure, laws are made to protect us from doing illegal things in North Dakota. However, some of these laws are absolutely ridiculous. These eight crazy laws in North Dakota have been in the law books at one time or another, and some still are. Even though most of them are no longer enforced, they’re real laws. How many of the these funny laws in North Dakota did you already know?

1. In North Dakota, it's illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
flickr/Michael Coghlan
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What if you fall asleep with your shoes on in your house? On the bus? In the hospital? How will anyone know? Just one of those quirky but strange things about North Dakota.
2. In Fargo, you may be jailed if you're wearing a hat while dancing, or if you're wearing a hat at a function where dancing is going on.
flickr/Brendan
It kinds of makes one wonder what lead to this funny law in North Dakota, doesn't it?
3. Beer and pretzels can't be served together in any North Dakota bar or restaurant.
flickr/Kat
Does that include during Oktoberfest? Put one of the strange laws in North Dakota to the test with a visit to this brewing company that also serves - gasp! - huge pretzels.
4. It's illegal to shoot an Indian on horseback in North Dakota, provided you're in a covered wagon.
Wikipedia/Edward S. Curtis
5. In Devils Lake, New Year's fireworks are prohibited from being set off after 11 p.m.
flickr/baron valium
Then how can they be called New Year's fireworks? What does everyone do at midnight on January 1?
6. In North Dakota, it's illegal to keep an elk in a sandbox in your backyard.
Wikipedia/Public Domain
Would an elk even fit in a normal-sized sandbox? And what would compel him to stay there? Just when you think we've got some crazy laws in North Dakota...it gets even crazier.
7. In Waverly, horses are forbidden from sleeping in bathtubs.
Wikipedia/BLW
Have you ever even seen a horse sleeping in a bathtub?
8. Operators of underground coal mines in North Dakota must provide an "adequate supply" of toilet paper for each toilet.
Flickr/raymondclarkeimages
Well, that's not one of the funny laws in North Dakota, is it? Who wants to get stuck underground with no toilet paper?

We sure have some strange laws in North Dakota, don’t we? How many of these weird North Dakota laws did you already know about? Do you know of any others? Join the conversation in the comments! Then, for some more head-scratching moments, check out these seven illegal things in North Dakota.

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Weird North Dakota Laws

August 10, 2021
Beth Price-Williams

What are some silly illegal things in North Dakota?

Let’s talk illegal things in North Dakota. Not the stuff that we’d all expect. No, we’re talking silly things, like not being allowed to keep an elk in your backyard sandbox. That kind of begs the question: Who has ever considered keeping an elk in a sandbox? Keep your swimsuit on if you jump in the Red River between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. After that, you can swim naked, if you want. If you do so between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., however, you’re breaking the law. Sure, a hat may be the perfect complement to your dancing attire, but you have to get rid of it. It’s illegal in North Dakota to wear a hat at a dance or if someone is dancing.

Are there any strange things about North Dakota?

Strange things about North Dakota? Well, there aren’t any to us. However, others might not see it that way. After all, most people rush for shelter indoors when a storm hits. Not us. We’d prefer to stay outside and watch it. We’ll talk to complete strangers, because we’re just that friendly. If you pass us on a dirt road, we’ll wave to you, too. We stand with those who call it pop – not soda, not cola, and not a soft drink. Pop. The first day of hunting season is a special day for most of us, and that means getting out of work or school by whatever means possible.

What are some lesser known fun facts about North Dakota?

North Dakota’s an awesome place to live, even though it’s the least visited of all of the U.S. states. That’s just one of the lesser known fun facts about North Dakota. Those who do visit definitely want to stop by Rugby, the geographical center of North America. We know a little bit about burgers, too. Did you know that the world’s largest hamburger, at 3591 pounds, was consumed in North Dakota on June 26, 1982?