Strange State Laws in Texas and Arkansas – Oh, And Don’t Do This in Texarkana

Laws. We live by laws. As a general rule, laws are pretty good. Then there are the strange laws that for some reason became a law and are actually still in the books.

I guess the really strange thing about some of these laws is that someone had to have actually done the act for someone to write a law and say "Hey, you can't do that! It's against the law now."

I checked out some state laws in Texas and Arkansas that are pretty silly and are still actual laws.

5 Strange Arkansas Laws:

1. It's against the law to mispronounce "Arkansas." This law went into effect in 1881. Just so you know, the correct pronunciation is "are-can-saw." My husband, who is from England, wonders why it's not pronounced Ar-Kansas. My sophisticated and highly educated response is "just 'cause."

2. Did you realize that it's against the law for the Arkansas River to rise higher than to the Main Street bridge in Little Rock? Um, bad, bad river!

3. School teachers that bob their hair will not get a raise.

4. It's against the law for alligators to be kept in bathtubs. Really?

5. It is illegal for a man to beat his wife more than once a month! What?

5 Strange Texas Laws:

1. It's against the law to milk someone else's cow.

2. A criminal must give their victims 24 hours notice. Yes! Orally or in writing and explain why the crime will be committed. Excuse me?

3. Hope you don't have any of these evil things around the house. The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in the state of Texas. Why? It has a formula for making beer at home.

4. While we are on the subject of beer, it is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.

5. Oh, and here's a good one. When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop and neither shall proceed until the other has gone. Okay, think about that one for a while.

But wait! In Texarkana do not do this! I believe this is actually only for Texarkana, Texas. If you want to play it safe then just don't do this on the Arkansas side either. It is against the law in Texarkana for horse owners to ride them at night...wait for it... without tail lights. Huh?