Laws are put in place for the protection of citizens. But sometimes, the rules and regulations can seem bizarre.
According to dumblaws.com, these laws are still on the books:
1. Singled out? Missouri has a law stating men between the ages of 21-50 who are single must pay an annual tax of one dollar.
2. So many questions. In Kansas City, bathtubs with feet resembling animal paws are unlawful.
3. Don't even try it. In Kansas, there's a law that states you are not allowed to catch fish with your bare hands.
In 1928, Kansas City, Mo. had interesting city ordinances. Here are three that we found at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch.
4. No taking baths in the Missouri River. And, in case you need to use the river for a bath, make sure you do it at night.
Sec. 242. Bathing in the Missouri River, etc. No person being naked or insufficiently clothed, shall bathe, wash, or swim in the Missouri River, or in any other water course, pond or pool within the City limits, between the hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset, thereby causing improper exposure of a person.
5. Sounding Gongs. Sorry, you’re not going to be able to bang your gong in Kansas City, Mo.
Sec. 290. Sounding of Gongs. No person shall sound or cause to be sounded, any gong in or upon any street, avenue , alley, sidewalk, park, public square or other public place, or in or upon any piazza, porch balcony, steps or platform over, upon near or adjoining any such street avenues, alley, sidewalk, park, public square or other public place.
6. No flying kites, it scares the horses
Sec. 378. Sports Likely To Scare Horses. No person shall, in or upon any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk public square or park, fly a kite or engage in any sport or exercise likely to scare horse or embarrass, obstruct or interfere with the passage of vehicles of pedestrians.
We spoke with Rick Usher, Assistant City Manager of Kansas City about the ordinances and what happens when they become dated.
WATCH: See more in the video player above!
What happens to laws and ordinances that aren’t relevant anymore?
"When we find ordnances on the books that aren’t relevant any longer, first thing we look at is how they might be negatively effecting somebody in business or in residence. We would want to introduce an ordinance to take those off the books."
Why were these laws ever put into place?
“That would be an interesting study because those kind of laws are typically created because someone did something that offended, in those case probably, a good number of people or an elected official at the time if it’s a hundred years old or so."
Are these ordinances still in affect?
"We’ve done a bit of research to see what kind of things are still on the books I believe we still have a fee for coal peddler permit and we don’t have any coal peddlers anymore. Mainly we try to find ordinances that are affecting someone’s ability to do business or live or work in the city today and when we find those, they do have an impact, so we do try to make some changes to the code to stay with the times as well."
