THE OFFICE OF GOV. TOM WOLF; PHOTODISC/GETTY; ANDREWJOHNSON/GETTY IMAGES; MIHAI ANDRITOIU/SHUTTERSTOCK; DAMIR SPANIC/UNSPLASH
January 2022
City & State Pennsylvania
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VERY STATE’S GOT its worth of archaic, weird and outdated laws, and Pennsylvania is certainly no exception. Here in the commonwealth, there are bizarre laws at the statewide and local levels, and although many of them aren’t enforced, some still remain on the books. Particularly at the municipal level, old statutes and ordinances are kept in place because the repeal process can be time-consuming and expensive. Here are some of the zaniest laws that are still in place in Pennsylvania. You might’ve broken one without even knowing.
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BAD DEEDS
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We dusted off the archives to find out what’s really still illegal in PA and what’s fake news.
STATE REGULATIONS • • • • • •
Don’t be left on the hook. Fishers must not use goldfish, comets, koi and common carp as bait. We bet you didn’t see this coming. Fortune telling for personal gain is illegal. Better not hunt big game when the animal is swimming, or risk drowning in fines. You’re banned from bartering your children. That should go without saying. No accidents here. Your bedroom can’t be more than 200 feet from your bathtub, shower or toilet. Game on? A person is prohibited from firing a paintball gun at another who is not playing paintball.
10 odd laws still on the books in Pennsylvania.
By Harrison Cann
