FIRST READ

EVERY STATE’S GOT its worth of archaic, weird and outdated laws, and Pennsylvania is certainly no exception.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. ■

BAD DEEDS

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

STATE BLUE LAWS

a/k/a “Sunday Laws,” were established to stop activities from taking place on a day of rest for religious or secular reasons.

• Old blue laws prohibited sports, musical, and theatrical performances before 1 p.m. on

Sundays. But after further review, the play stands. • Pump the brakes on car sales, too. Those

transactions are still off limits on Sundays.

While many of these old, archaic laws have yet to be scrubbed from the record books, rarely are they enforced in the 21st century.

MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS

• Hold your horses if you’re in

Tarentum. It’s illegal to tie a horse

(but not a dog) to a parking meter or streetlight pole. • In Bensalem, bingo is only for

non-felons. You’d only be able to play B4 you were locked up.