According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, “blue laws” are laws that are or once were “on the books,” yet are not enforced due to their absurdity. Various situations caused these laws to go into effect, but today they sound too ridiculous to be real. Plenty of these blue laws exist throughout Greater Cleveland, and you won’t believe the ridiculousness of these laughable legal statements.
- In Bay Village, it’s illegal to walk your cow down Lake Road.
Martin Bingisser/Flickr It’s amazing to consider that, at some point, a cow on Lake Road must have caused enough ruckus or distracted enough drivers to turn this anomaly into a law.
- Throughout Greater Cleveland, it’s illegal for more than five women to live in a single house.
Mraz Center for the Performing Arts/Flickr This state-wide law, as you’ve probably guessed, isn’t typically enforced.
- Are you going fishing on the Rocky River or on Lake Erie? Awesome! Just don’t you dare get a fish drunk.
Jen Goellnitz/Flickr Throughout the state, it’s illegal to get a fish drunk.
- It’s illegal to catch mice in Cleveland without a hunting license.
Ryszard/Flickr Hunting licenses are issued to promote public safety, protect wildlife, and contain the spread of animal-borne diseases. Perhaps it was the latter concept that inspired Cleveland to bring this oddity into law?
- In Cleveland, it’s illegal for women to wear patent leather shoes.
Housing Works Thrift Shops/Flickr The concern apparently stems from seeing the reflection of a lady’s underwear in the shiny surface of the material, as everyone knows that just makes your morning stroll to work particularly awkward. This law doesn’t forbid men from rocking a super shiny pair of patent pumps, so at least someone is able to be fashionable in Cleveland.
- Whether you’re in Greater Cleveland or elsewhere in Ohio, keep in mind that it’s illegal to fish for whales on a Sunday.
Wyland Foundation Website Ohio is home to some of the best-preserved shark fossils in the world, but you’ve probably noticed that our ancient ocean (and, presumably, our whale population) is long gone.
- In Fairview Park, it is illegal to excessively honk your horn.
Fairview Park Recreation Department at the Gemini Center/Facebook …Actually, this should be a law everywhere. We can destroy road rage one beep at a time.
- The book “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller was once banned within the city limits of Strongsville.
Matthew Rogers/Flickr This book contains language that concerned citizens viewed as indecent. It was banned in 1972, but the ban was lifted in 1976. The memory of this literary law is often recognized by local students during Banned Books Week.
- Planning a sword fight, gunfight, or even an Agni Kai in the name of honor? Forget it. Dueling is illegal in Ohio.
Pasi Välkkynen/Flickr We’re actually quite glad this is a law - it’s the most reasonable of the bunch!
Hopefully, you never get a fish in patent leather shoes drunk on a Sunday while you’re fishing for whales or hunting for mice, because you could be in a world of legal trouble… that is, if these laws were taken seriously. Which surprised you the most?
Martin Bingisser/Flickr
It’s amazing to consider that, at some point, a cow on Lake Road must have caused enough ruckus or distracted enough drivers to turn this anomaly into a law.
Mraz Center for the Performing Arts/Flickr
This state-wide law, as you’ve probably guessed, isn’t typically enforced.
Jen Goellnitz/Flickr
Throughout the state, it’s illegal to get a fish drunk.
Ryszard/Flickr
Hunting licenses are issued to promote public safety, protect wildlife, and contain the spread of animal-borne diseases. Perhaps it was the latter concept that inspired Cleveland to bring this oddity into law?
Housing Works Thrift Shops/Flickr
The concern apparently stems from seeing the reflection of a lady’s underwear in the shiny surface of the material, as everyone knows that just makes your morning stroll to work particularly awkward. This law doesn’t forbid men from rocking a super shiny pair of patent pumps, so at least someone is able to be fashionable in Cleveland.
Wyland Foundation Website
Ohio is home to some of the best-preserved shark fossils in the world, but you’ve probably noticed that our ancient ocean (and, presumably, our whale population) is long gone.
Fairview Park Recreation Department at the Gemini Center/Facebook
…Actually, this should be a law everywhere. We can destroy road rage one beep at a time.
Matthew Rogers/Flickr
This book contains language that concerned citizens viewed as indecent. It was banned in 1972, but the ban was lifted in 1976. The memory of this literary law is often recognized by local students during Banned Books Week.
Pasi Välkkynen/Flickr
We’re actually quite glad this is a law - it’s the most reasonable of the bunch!
If you enjoyed these quirky fun facts, just wait until you visit these odd places in Cleveland.
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