What are some laws that are so old they are rarely used?

Question

I need to know some good laws, I'm having a debate soon in school, and I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any good examples.

Answer 1

They are called Blue Laws.

Do a google or, ahem, Yahoo search and you will come up with something like this:

A blue law is one restricting activities or sales of goods on Sunday, to accommodate the Christian sabbath. The first blue law in the American colonies was enacted in Virginia in 1617. It required church attendance and authorized the militia to force colonists to attend church services.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence to support the assertion that the blue laws were originally printed on blue paper. Instead, the word blue was commonly used in the eighteenth century as a disparaging reference to rigid moral codes and those who observed them (e.g., "bluenoses").

Other early blue laws prohibited work, travel, recreation, and activities such as cooking, shaving, cutting hair, wearing either lace or precious metals, sweeping, making beds, kissing, and engaging in sexual intercourse. The Puritans believed that a child was born on the same day of the week on which it was conceived. Therefore, the parents of children born on a Sunday were punished for violating the blue law nine months earlier.

Blue laws have operated to protect Christian business owners from competition on their sabbath. However, they don’t protect those (such as Jews and Muslims) whose sabbath is Saturday from competition on their sabbath. Thus blue laws have established a double standard in favor of Christians.

Although blue laws requiring Sunday church attendance disappeared in the nineteenth century because they violated citizen’ rights to religious freedoms, other blue laws have continued to exist into the modern era. In Texas, for example, blue laws prohibited selling house wares such as pots, pans, and washing machines on Sunday until 1985, and car dealerships in the state continue to operate under blue-law prohibitions. Many states still prohibit selling alcohol on Sunday, although it’s now the second busiest shopping day of the week.

In 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Lord's Day Act of 1906 was an unconstitutional violation of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms It found that there was no true secular basis for the legislation and its only purpose was, in effect, to establish a state religious-based requirement, and was therefore invalid.

Similarly, courts in New York and Connecticut have ruled that, because blue laws were created and propagated by religious groups for religious purposes, they are unconstitutional

Answer 2

In London, taxis used to be called 'hackney carriages'. They were horse drawn, and in the 1900's the law said that every hackney carriage must carry a bail of hay (to feed the horse). When motorised cabs came along, they never repealed the law - so if they wanted to, the police could arrest every cab driver, because I'm pretty sure none of them would have a bail of hay!

There's also a very old law in England (going back to the 1400s I think) that forbids young men to play soccer on Saturdays. That was because Saturday was archery practice day, and all young men were supposed to attend. Now of course, everyone goes to Soccer Matches on Saturdays, but they don't realize they are watching an illegal event!

Answer 3

I did some searching on the net.

Here are some Florida laws:

- If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.

- It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.

- Penalty for horse theft is death by hanging.

Here is a law in Wisconsin

- Whenever two trains meet at an intersection of said tracks, neither shall proceed until the other has.

One of my favorites of California law:

- No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.

Answer 4

that if your neighbour falls off of your roof because you did not build a tall enough wall around the edge you are guilty of murder and must pay the penalty for that. It is in the bible and seems to be the first piece of building code recorded.

Answer 5

The laws are called the Blue crow laws . They are dated back in 1950's and before. Laws get change because cultures change. And instead of delette these laws they hang around. a couple laws
no spitting on the sidewalk..........30 days in jail
no jay walking...........................5 days in jail
No profane words in public.......5 days in jail
ete

Answer 6

The best place is to try the link below. it will give you all of the states and there stupid laws

Answer 7

That if someone's brat climbs the fence into your backyard and gets hurt, his/her parents can sue you and take everything you own, even though the brat was in your yard illegally.

Answer 8

In order for a pickle to officially be considered a pickle, it must bounce in CT.

Answer 9

There is an old one in Connecticut, punishing adultery

Answer 10

Constitution provides for many things but they are hardly relevant to one's daily life! Similarly, the laws are there as protection and deterrent!