Have you ever wondered "What is illegal in Tennessee?" Well, the times, they are a-changin', as the old song goes, and they are moving at a fast pace. With how fast society seems to move, it's incredibly easy for old laws to become outdated and forgotten. Sometimes, new, weird laws in Tennessee get put on the books that make us scratch our heads. We've gathered up a few strange laws in Tennessee for you. It's unlikely that you'd be prosecuted for many of them, but you do have to wonder what happened to even put them on the books to begin with! There are plenty of strange things about Tennessee, and these definitely belong on the list: So without further ado here are some of the weirdist laws in Tennessee.
1. It's illegal to sell hollow logs in Tennessee, so don't even try.
Supposedly, the reasoning behind this is that unscrupulous log dealers may sell them to unsuspecting buyers as solid wood, which burns better and longer.
2. Carrying a skunk across state borders is a huge no-no. Of course, this is a hobby you probably want to avoid unless you want a stinky car, anyway!
This law may sound a little odd, but it does have sound reasoning behind it. Animals brought over from other states could easily out-compete native Tennessee animals and lead to problems with invasive species.
3. In Oneida, it is technically considered illegal for a woman to call a man up on the phone and ask him out on a date. That's bad news for all those independent ladies out there!
4. The only animal that is legal to shoot out of a moving car via the window is a whale. Good luck finding one of those in land-locked Tennessee!
Of all the weird laws in Tennessee, this just might be the strangest.
5. Feel free to move in with your girlfriends, ladies - but not too many of them. If eight or more women are living together in Tennessee, the house is considered a brothel. Yikes!
6. Spitting on the sidewalk in Lexington is quite solidly illegal.
7. It's definitely not a good idea, but did you know it's actually a misdemeanor to tattoo a minor in Tennessee?
8. Because holding hands is considered a gateway to sexual activity, it is illegal to do so on school grounds.
Incredibly, this is not a long-standing law: this one was just passed in 2012!
9. Does that roadkill look appetizing to you? Go for it! It's completely legal to pick up some roadkill on the way home and fry it up for supper.
Note that this only applies to non-protected species and that you are required to notify TWRA or law enforcement if the animal in question is a deer.
10. In Oneida, the song "It Ain't Goin' To Rain No Mo" is actually outlawed. Make sure not to hum that tune too loudly if you're in the city! We guess someone got it stuck in their head one too many times.
11. As of 2011, sharing your Netflix account password is an illegal thing in Tennessee.
12. Sadly, the art of lassoing a fish is lost to Tennessee cowboys. This is illegal to do here.
How's that for strange laws in Tennessee?
13. Just in case this is something you were planning on doing, it is illegal to drive in Tennessee if you are asleep. Though it might make traffic jams more bearable.
14. It's illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket in Tennessee.
This one may sound odd, but it actually did once have a reason. Ice cream in your back pocket was supposedly an effective method of stealing a horse, who would be tempted by the sweet treat. Incidentally, it is still technically on the books that you can be hanged for horse theft in Tennessee, so you probably don't want to be stealing any horses.
Admittedly, most of the weirdest laws in Tennessee are old and completely unenforced now, but it makes you look at this beautiful Southern state a bit differently, hey? Who knew Tennesseans had a thing against skunks? Let us know which of these weird laws in Tennessee you found most shocking in the comments!
Life in Tennessee is always interesting, so you can also nominate any other weird things in Tennessee that you know of for a chance to see them featured in an upcoming article.
These laws might leave you scratching your head, but do you know what isn't weird? The views from the Raven Rock Trail at Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee. Check out this beautiful hike in this YouTube video by us at OnlyInYourState then grab some maps from AllTrails+ to start exploring:
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!