Stupid Laws in Rhode Island

Any marriage where either of the parties is an idiot or lunatic is null and void. -SECTION 11-40-1

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Cap guns are illegal.

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Exercising any labor, business, or work, or using any game, sport, play, or recreation, or causing any of the above to be done to or by your children, servants, or apprentices on the first day of the week (Sunday) results in a penalty of $5 for the first offense and $10 for the second.

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Impersonating a town sealer, auctioneer, corder of wood, or a fence-viewer is against the law.

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Impersonating a town sealer, auctioneer, corder of wood, or a fence-viewer is against the law. Penalty: $20 to $100 fine.

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It is considered an offense to throw pickle juice on a trolley.

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It is illegal to challenge someone to a duel, or accept a duel, even it it is never actually fought. Penalty: Imprisonment for one to seven years.

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It is illegal to coast downhill in your car with your transmission in neutral, or with the clutch disengaged.

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It is illegal to place a windmill within twenty-five (25) rods of any traveled street or road.

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One must make a loud noise before passing a car on the left.

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Professional sports, except ice polo and hockey, must obtain a license to play games on Sunday.

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Rhode Island recently applied to the US Government to make all the coastal waters of Rhode Island a “No Discharge Zone”. The ostensible purpose was to prohibit the discharge of sewage by boats into the state’s waters. However, discharge of raw sewage into the state waters was already illegal. What the “No Discharge Zone” actually did was make it illegal to discharge TREATED sewage from a boat into state waters. What now happens is that boats (whose treatment systems far outperform municipal sewage treatment plants) are now required to disable their sewage treatment systems, and carry their sewage to a shore-based facility, which then dumps the partially treated sewage back into Rhode Island’s coastal waters.

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Riding a horse over any public highway for the purpose of racing, or testing the speed of the horse is illegal. Penalty: Maximum $20 fine and imprisonment for 10 days.

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Ropes may not be strung across a highway.

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