These Are Some of the Craziest Laws in the United States, as Well as Some that Were Totally Made Up

These Are Some of the Craziest Laws in the United States, as Well as Some that Were Totally Made Up

Larry Holzwarth - February 17, 2019

These Are Some of the Craziest Laws in the United States, as Well as Some that Were Totally Made Up
At one time the citizens of Boston required a prescription in order to bathe legally. Wikimedia

2. Massachusetts has some strange laws regarding bathing

The City of Boston is one of the oldest in the United States, and it has laws in force which thankfully for Bostonians and visitors are not enforced, though they remain on the books. Some of them regard the act of bathing and seem somewhat contradictory. Boston was the cradle of the American Revolution, but evidently not the cradle of cleanliness because the city chose to enact a law requiring that people bathe before retiring for the night. However, another law required Bostonians desirous of taking a bath first consulting a physician and obtaining a prescription for bathing. At one time bathing on Sunday was prohibited in Boston, which would seem to mean a person could not retire legally on Sunday night.

Massachusetts’ cities and towns other than Boston have their own unusual – to use a polite term – laws. In Concord the sale and distribution of bottled water are illegal. Hopkinton’s town commonly welcomes horses and even cows by law, but dogs are not allowed to frolic on the grounds. Woburn has a law making it illegal to mingle in a bar or tavern; or at least one cannot move around while carrying a drink. Marlborough has a law on the books which specifically prohibits the detonation of a nuclear device within the city limits. And back in well-bathed Boston, women are prohibited from wearing heels exceeding three inches in height while strolling through Boston Common.

Advertisement