Washington
State Pride|Fun Facts

Not Many People Realize That These 10 Things Are Actually Illegal In Washington

Washington State has several unusual laws that are both amusing and surprising.

Updated Jan 5, 2023

Written by 

Jessica Wick

Every state has its own crazy laws, and Washington is definitely no exception. And while it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be arrested for breaking a crazy rule that no one knows about, it’s still fun to learn all about these laws and wonder exactly how they got on the books. There are several weird laws in Washington, and listed below are 10 things that are illegal to do.

1. Attach a vending machine to a utility pole without prior consent from the utility company.

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oddharmonic / Flickr

So, make sure that you always ask for permission first.

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2. Buy a mattress on Sunday.

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Mike Mozart / Flickr

Not a problem! That seems like more of a Saturday thing anyway.

3. Spit on a bus.

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PROCanadian Pacific / Flickr

It’s not clear whether that means spitting as a bus passenger or spitting on the bus itself. Just to be on the safe side, you should avoid doing either.

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4. Buy meat on Sundays.

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Henry Faber / Flickr

Apparently, Washington lawmakers really want you to stay home on Sundays.

5. Paint polka dots on the American flag.

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Julian Carvajal / Flickr

They'd clash with the stars and stripes anyway.

6. Display a hypnotized person in a store window in Everett.

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flickr/Andy Nystrom

Please keep all hypnotized people in Everett away from the windows.

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7. Harass Bigfoot.

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Bob Doran / Flickr

Just leave Bigfoot alone, please.

8. Walk around with the common cold.

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flickr/Allan Foster

Wouldn’t it be so nice if this law was actually enforced?

9. Entice girls away from the Maple Lane School.

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WFSE/AFSCME C28 / Flickr

Luckily, this school closed in 2012, so you’re probably safe.

10. Change lanes or turn without using your turn signal.

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flickr/Doug Kerr

We’re not actually sure if this is truly a law, but it would sure prevent a lot of road rage if it is.

So, as you can see, here in Washington, weird laws do exist. Did any of these weird Washington laws surprise you? If so, please let us know in the comments below which one(s) surprised you the most.

Sure, there are several weird laws in Washington State. However, it's still a wonderful place to call home. For 10 reasons why Washington is a great place to live, be sure to take a look at the following article: 10 Ways Living In Washington Ruins You For Life.

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State Pride|Fun Facts

Some People Don’t Know That Washington Was The First To Do These 10 Things

Washington state introduced several notable firsts, including the first brewpub post-Prohibition and the first floating bridge.

Updated Jul 10, 2024

Written by 

Nikki Cleveland

Washington has introduced several notable inventions to the world along with other Washington firsts you may not be aware of. After all, you can thank us for Pickleball that has taken the country by storm. But there are so many more things invented in Washington state that will surprise you. Here are 10 Washington state inventions that might help to improve your score on trivia nights.

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1. After Prohibition, we opened the first Brew-Pub in the U.S.

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RicardoImagen / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Yakima Brewing & Malting Co., also known as Grant's Brewery Pub, opened in 1982 and was the first in the country after Prohibition ended.

Learn a little more about Yakima Brewing & Malting Co. and its founder Bert Grant in this video from WashingtonBeerTV:

2. We were the first to broadcast news in HD!

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Cutlass Supreme at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

KOMO TV was the first station in history to broadcast daily local news in digital high definition television (HDTV) in May 1999 to the Seattle area.

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3. Washington is home to the first floating bridge.

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zingersb/Flickr

The Lacey V. Murrow Bridge carries the eastbound lanes of I-90 across Lake Washington and is the first floating concrete bridge in the world.

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4. In 1926 Bertha Landes was elected mayor of Seattle, which made her the first female mayor of any major American city.

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Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

She served as mayor from 1926 to 1928 and pushed for civil service hiring, the city’s first traffic code, and tighter regulation of nightlife.

Watch this video from the Seattle Channel talking about Bertha Landes, the first female mayor of Washington:

5. We had the first Red Robin!

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bobbyt/Flickr

The first location of many opened here in our state and has served up some appetizing burgers since it was founded in 1969.

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6. Speaking of deliciousness...we also created the first Cinnabon.

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Jasmine/Flickr

In 1985 the first location opened at the SeaTac Mall and the only option on the menu was the "Cinnabon Classic" cinnamon roll.

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7. The first shopping mall in the United States was the Northgate Mall in Seattle.

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Northgate Station/Google

While you're shopping here, a trip to Red Robin for a burger is never a bad idea.

8. Washington was the first state to allow ballots to be e-mailed to our military and overseas voters.

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usarmyafrica/Flickr

Every vote counts - especially residents who are actively serving in the military!

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9. The first Costco Warehouse was opened here.

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Mike Mozart/Flickr

In 1983, the first warehouse club store was opened in Seattle where you could find great deals on bulk items.

10. Washington was the first state to pass a law banning texting while driving.

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Lord Jim/Flickr

Not only is this illegal, but also highly dangerous. It can wait!

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For even more Washington fun, watch this video featuring 101 facts about Washington:

We were also the first to celebrate Father's Day - in Spokane - as we detailed in our inventions in Washington article! This state is so innovative... what are some other things invented in Washington state that you've heard about? Or tell us about your favorite things about living in Washington state.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/wa-inventions/

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State Pride|Fun Facts

Did You Know Washington Is Home To The Quietest Place In America?

Published Apr 22, 2024

Written by 

Andrea Verschuyl

From Hell's Canyon to the ghost forests of Copalis, the Evergreen State contains places of spectacular and utterly unique beauty. However, there's a natural wonder in Washington that I bet you've never heard of. Scientists say that the emerald-green Olympic Peninsula rainforest may contain the quietest place in America.

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If you were going to find the country's quietest place, it would make sense to find it in the Peninsula's Hoh Rainforest. This iconic Washington spot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of just a few places worldwide where high precipitation coexists with a temperate climate.

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Andy Wong/Google Reviews

Paradoxically, however, this otherworldly beauty attracts bevies of tourists — around three million annually. These visitors bring noise, which can impact the fragile habitat.

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Samuel Nutter/Google Reviews

The mission to find America's quietest places arose through the conservation work of Emmy Award-winning acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. Called "One Square Inch of Silence," his project uses decibel readings to identify areas with practically zero noise pollution.

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Abigail Bruce (Abbie)/Google Reviews

Hempton hopes that identifying the country's quietest places will help people see quiet as a natural resource worth protecting. The same hopes informed the creation of America's national parks, where the public was encouraged to appreciate nature for its beauty, not just its utility. In the Hoh Rainforest, this quiet spot is left intentionally non-descript, only marked by a small, red pebble.

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One Square Inch/Facebook

Silence may be intangible, but its disappearance has very real effects on people and the environment. Drawing visitors' attention to this tranquil spot encourages hikers to make less noise, reducing their impact on the surrounding habitat.

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Mark Aloisio/Google Reviews

Of course, even if tourists are quiet, there's still a lot to hear in the Olympic National Park. This is a key feature of the One Square Inch project. By reducing anthropogenic noise, hikers can experience the sounds of water, wind, and wildlife, all of which are proven to improve human health.

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John Wilson/Google Reviews

There are only 11 similar "quiet zones" in the United States, and the Hoh Rainforest's One Square Inch is the quietest of them all. But this peace requires protection. Though most visitors respect the project's mission, some don't. Despite protests, the US Navy conducts training in the airspace above. Keeping this place and others like it free of noise pollution will require continued effort from those who believe quiet is worth fighting for.

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A. van Beek/Google Reviews

One Square Inch of Silence is a natural wonder in Washington that deserves more attention. I recommend visiting it yourself! All you need is a pair of hiking shoes and an appreciation for nature's solitude.

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