TNB Night Owl – Weird State Laws IOWA

Let’s take a drive through Iowa to find some weird state laws! Tune in next Friday to see this weekend’s comment highlights!

  • In Marshalltown, horses are forbidden to eat fire hydrants
  • In Fort Madison the fire department is required to practice fire fighting for fifteen minutes
  • In Ottumwa, Iowa, “It is unlawful for any male person, within the corporate limits of the (city), to wink at any female person with whom he is unacquainted.”
  • One-armed piano players must perform for free
  • Kisses may last for no more than five minutes
  • In Indianola, The “Ice Cream Man” and his truck are banned
  • Tanning bed facilities must warn of the risk of getting a sunburn
  • You may shoot Native Americans if there are more than five of them on your property at any one time
  • Ministers must obtain a permit to carry their liquor across state lines
  • It is illegal to hunt from an aircraft
  • In Mount Vernon, one must obtain written permission from the City Council before throwing bricks onto a highway
  • All boxes used to pick hops must be exactly 36 inches long
  • An owner or employee of an establishment in Iowa that sells alcohol can’t legally consume a drink there after closing for business
  • In Bettendorf, liquor stores may not place advertisements for beer outside the store
  • In Cedar Rapids, It is illegal to read peoples palms in the city limits
  • In Indianola, The “Ice Cream Man” and his truck are banned.
  • Dancing is sometimes illegal in Des Moines
  • BONUS! The Iowa Legislature once passed a resolution ordering the state cafeteria to start serving cornbread.

“You may shoot Native Americans if there are more than five of them on your property at any one time” Those pesky Native Americans walking on their property that we stole… With the kissing is does that mean a kiss that you kind of come up for air on, or are there legit people doing staring contest esque kissing for five whole minutes? “Dancing is sometimes illegal in Des Moines.” So we only sometimes have to act out the plot to Footloose?

Questions of the night:
  1. What are your best theories to explain these weird laws?
  2. If you were dictator for a day, what law would you create?
  3. If you were dictator for a day, what law would you abolish?

Sources: Forest Grove Strange LawsFun Laws 50 Weird Laws

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