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 crazy fast pace. With how fast society seems to move, it’s become incredibly easy for old laws to become outdated and forgotten.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:

1. It's illegal to sell hollow logs in Tennessee, so don't even try.
lunamom58 / Flickr
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!
gamppart / Flickr
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!
StockSnap/Pixabay
4. The only animal that it 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!
Isaac Kohane / Flickr
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!
Szoki Adams / Flickr
6. Spitting on the sidewalk in Lexington is quite solidly illegal.
Sam Javanrouh / Flickr
7. It's definitely not a good idea, but did you know it's actually a misdemeanor to tattoo a minor in Tennessee?
Bob Jagendorf / Flickr

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8. Because holding hands is considered a gateway to sexual activity, it is illegal to do so on school grounds.
Mats Lindh / Flickr
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.
Sean ManEntee / Flickr
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. It is illegal to post images online if they are meant to cause emotional distress unless there is a legitimate purpose to do so. We're not really sure what that one means, so we'll leave you to sort it out.
Laia Ros / Flickr
11. 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.
Flickr freestocks.org
12. As of 2011, sharing your Netflix account password is an illegal thing in Tennessee.
Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar / Flickr
13. Sadly, the art of lassoing a fish is lost to Tennessee cowboys. This is illegal to do here.
Steve Corey / Flickr
How's that for strange laws in Tennessee?
14. 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.
Saurabh Mishra/Flickr
15. It's illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket in Tennessee.
The Adventures of Pam & Frank/Flickr
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 these crazy 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! You can also nominate any other strange laws 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:

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More to Explore

Weird Laws In Tennessee

Lisa Sammons | June 28, 2022

What are some of the weirdest places you can go in Tennessee?

From our odd museums to our bizarre roadside attractions, there are plenty of weird places to go in Tennessee:

  • Giant Wind Chime, Memphis

It's the largest in the state and sounds so amazing!

You can still visit the farm where one of the spookiest urban legends in Tennessee history got its start.

There are over 20,000 pairs to gawk at.

What are some fun facts about Tennessee?

Fun facts about Tennessee include:

 

There's so much to learn about the Volunteer State!

Was Tennessee the first state to do anything?

There are actually a number of firsts in Tennessee that you may not be aware of:

  • Bush's Baked Beans are from Chestnut Hill.
  • Goo Goo Clusters were the first combination candy bar, invented in Nashville!

 

Thank goodness for Tennessee.

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