The Dumbest Laws in America (That Are Actually Real)

You've probably seen those lists of crazy American laws. No donkeys sleeping in bathtubs. No whispering in a bear's ear.

A lot of those are completely made up. But these ones are real. And some of them are still on the books today.

Kentucky's Duel Oath

In Kentucky, before many officials take office, they swear an oath. And part of it says they have never fought a duel with deadly weapons.

Not just fought one. They also swear they never sent or accepted a challenge to a duel, or helped anyone else with one.

It's written right into the state constitution. So in modern Kentucky, new officials are still promising they've never been in a pistol duel.

Wisconsin's Butter Rule

Wisconsin is dairy country. And it takes butter very seriously.

By state law, a restaurant can't serve margarine as a substitute for butter, unless the customer specifically asks for it.

For decades, colored margarine was banned there completely. People used to drive to Illinois to buy it. The full ban ended in 1967, but the restaurant rule never went away. A 2011 attempt to repeal it failed.

California's Frog Law

In California, frog jumping contests are a real tradition. And there's a law just for them.

Anyone can keep any number of live frogs for a frog jumping contest. But if a contest frog dies, it has to be destroyed as soon as possible.

And the law says that frog may not be eaten, or used for any other purpose. Apparently, somebody had to write that down.

The Bigfoot Law

In 1969, Skamania County, in Washington state, passed a law protecting a very specific creature. Bigfoot.

In 1984, they updated it, declared the Sasquatch a local endangered species, and made the county a Sasquatch refuge. Today, killing one can mean a year in jail and a thousand dollar fine.

And there's actually a reason. Officials worried that an excited Bigfoot hunter might shoot a real person, like a hiker, or a prankster in a costume.

New Jersey's Gas Pumps

In New Jersey, you can't pump your own gas. It's been the law since 1949.

The state says it's about fire safety. Gas stations can be fined if drivers fill up themselves.

Oregon loosened its ban in 2023, which made New Jersey the only state left with a full ban. And polls have shown a lot of New Jersey residents actually like it that way.

The Mattress Tag

And finally, the most famous warning of all. That mattress tag that says, do not remove under penalty of law.

Here's the truth. That law is for the sellers, not you. The tag tells buyers what's inside, so stores can't secretly sell used or mislabeled stuffing.

Once you buy it, you can rip it right off. Newer tags even say it. Not to be removed, except by the consumer.

The Short Version

No duels, no margarine, no eating contest frogs, no hunting Bigfoot, and no pumping your own gas in New Jersey.

Which law is the weirdest?