Claude, could you please discuss maybe twenty of Florida’s most outrageous laws?

  1. Unmarried women can’t parachute on Sundays – supposedly they could face jail time or fines, though this is never enforced.
  2. It’s illegal to sing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit – in Sarasota specifically.
  3. You can’t skateboard without a license – in some Florida municipalities, you need a permit.
  4. Elephants can’t be left tied to parking meters – unless you pay the parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
  5. It’s illegal to fart in a public place after 6 PM on Thursdays – in one Florida city, though enforcement is virtually non-existent.
  6. Doors of all public buildings must open outward – this one actually makes sense due to hurricane safety.
  7. It’s illegal to sell your children – oddly specific state law that needed to be explicitly written.
  8. Men can’t be seen publicly in strapless gowns – in certain Florida cities.
  9. You can’t break more than three dishes per day – or you could technically face a fine.
  10. It’s illegal to have sexual relations with a porcupine – yes, this needed to be codified.
  11. Penalty for horse theft is death by hanging – technically still on the books but obviously not enforced.
  12. If you hit a pedestrian, you’re fined $78 – specific fine amount in some jurisdictions.
  13. Shower naked and you risk arrest – there’s an old law against being naked in your shower, though privacy laws override this.
  14. You can’t fish while driving across a bridge – makes practical sense but oddly specific.
  15. It’s illegal to molest a trash can – in Pensacola specifically.
  16. Women who fall asleep under a hair dryer can be fined – as can the salon owner, in some cities.
  17. Oral sex is illegal – technically still on the books statewide, though the Supreme Court has ruled such laws unconstitutional.
  18. You need a license to sell ice cream from a truck – and you can’t play music louder than certain decibels.
  19. It’s illegal to roll a barrel on any street – in several Florida municipalities.
  20. Corrupting the public morals is illegal – a vague catch-all law that’s rarely defined or enforced.

As I noted before, many of these are archaic laws that remain on the books but are never enforced, while others may be local ordinances that vary by city or county. Some may also be urban legends rather than actual laws!

Scroll to Top