1. No Driving Blindfolded (Alabama)
It’s hard to believe anyone needed to be told this, but Alabama made it official: driving while blindfolded is illegal. The idea of someone getting behind the wheel and deciding to test their daredevil skills like a real-life stuntman is both ridiculous and terrifying. Maybe it was inspired by a bored teenager trying to impress their friends, or perhaps someone genuinely thought they had honed their other senses enough to navigate traffic like a bat. Either way, lawmakers felt the need to step in and spell it out for everyone. While this law seems like common sense, it makes you wonder what happened to prompt it in the first place. Was there an actual incident where someone tried it? If so, that must have been one chaotic police report says the Zebra.
Even without a blindfold, plenty of drivers already act like they can’t see what’s in front of them. Between people texting, fumbling with their coffee, or digging through their glove compartment at full speed, the roads are dangerous enough. If someone still wants to test their skills, maybe they should try an escape room instead. At least in there, the worst that can happen is running out of time, not causing a multi-car pileup. Hopefully, no one has ever tried to argue their way out of a ticket by claiming they had night vision or “felt the road.” But if this law exists, there’s a good chance that somewhere, somehow, someone actually tried it.
2. It’s Illegal to Drive with an Uncaged Bear (Missouri)
Most people’s biggest backseat concern is keeping their kids or pets under control, but Missouri had to take it a step further. Apparently, at some point, it was enough of a problem that they passed a law banning uncaged bears from riding in cars. You have to wonder how often this happened for it to require actual legislation. Were people just tossing bears into their passenger seats like oversized golden retrievers? Maybe someone figured a bear would make for the ultimate car security system, but that’s a gamble no insurance company would ever cover. It also raises the question—was there an acceptable way to cage a bear inside a vehicle? Because that sounds just as terrifying says Legal Zoom.
Even if someone managed to get a bear into a car, the real nightmare would be keeping it there. Imagine sitting in traffic, glancing over, and seeing a bear casually poking its head out of a sunroof like a dog enjoying the breeze. That’s enough to make anyone swerve off the road. Whether this law was based on real events or just lawmakers getting ahead of potential chaos, it’s comforting to know that Missouri has officially drawn the line at free-range bears in traffic. That’s one less thing to worry about during rush hour.
3. You Can’t Drive in a Housecoat (California)
California is known for its laid-back lifestyle, but apparently, they draw the line at wearing a housecoat while driving. This law specifically targets women, meaning there was a time when officials thought robe-clad ladies behind the wheel were a major public threat. Was there an epidemic of exhausted moms hopping in the car for emergency grocery runs, still half-asleep in their fluffy robes? If so, you’d think their driving would be the least of their problems explains Autobytel. The logic behind this rule is a mystery, especially since people wear far worse things while driving today—looking at you, pajama pants and slippers.
If comfort-based laws were strictly enforced, half of us would probably lose our licenses. There’s something oddly personal about this one, as if someone in power had a vendetta against housecoats specifically. Meanwhile, people drive in flip-flops, platform heels, or even barefoot, all of which seem far more dangerous. Maybe this was a misguided attempt at maintaining public decorum, but considering everything else happening on California roads, a cozy robe should be the least of anyone’s concerns. If anything, we should be more worried about people applying a full face of makeup at 70 mph.
4. You Must Have Windshield Wipers—Even if You Don’t Have a Windshield (Texas)
Texas lawmakers must have scratched their heads over this one because it seems like a law designed for a very specific type of vehicle. The state requires all cars to have windshield wipers, even if they don’t have an actual windshield. That means if you’re driving an old-school dune buggy or any other open-air vehicle, you still need wipers—just flapping uselessly in the wind. It’s unclear how they expect this to improve safety, but it’s probably one of those “better safe than sorry” situations. Maybe they were just trying to keep repair shops in business.
The irony is that Texas weather is so unpredictable, windshield wipers barely stand a chance anyway. Between sudden downpours, blinding dust storms, and scorching heat, most drivers are too busy dealing with the elements to worry about whether their imaginary windshield is getting wiped. If anything, they should focus on making sure everyone actually uses their turn signals. But hey, at least if someone ever decides to attach wipers to an invisible windshield, they’ll be in full compliance with the law.
5. It’s Illegal to Honk at a Sandwich Shop After 9 PM (Arkansas)
Nothing says “small-town drama” like a hyper-specific honking law aimed at late-night sandwich seekers. In Little Rock, Arkansas, it is illegal to honk your horn near a sandwich shop after 9 PM. This sounds like the result of one too many impatient customers leaning on their horns while waiting for their midnight snack. Maybe someone thought they could speed up the sandwich-making process by blasting their horn outside the shop. Spoiler: It didn’t work. Instead, they got a law passed ensuring peace and quiet for all late-night deli workers.
It’s funny to imagine the chain of events that led to this becoming official legislation. Was there one notorious honker who kept waking up the neighborhood over a missed pickle? And why just sandwich shops? Did pizza places and burger joints somehow avoid the chaos? Whatever the case, if you ever find yourself in Little Rock late at night craving a sub, just be patient. Otherwise, you might find yourself explaining to an officer why your love for turkey and Swiss got you a ticket.
6. You Can’t Read Comic Books While Driving (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma decided to take a stand against multitasking in the weirdest way possible by specifically banning comic book reading while driving. This raises an immediate question—was reading any book while driving allowed, and comic books were just too distracting? It’s not like Oklahoma is known for its bumper-to-bumper traffic, so maybe people thought they could sneak in some light reading on long stretches of highway. But let’s be honest—if someone is bold enough to read anything while driving, they probably weren’t stopping at comics.
While this law makes sense for safety, it’s hilarious to think lawmakers singled out comics. Did they imagine drivers getting so engrossed in superhero battles that they forgot to look at the road? It’s almost flattering to the power of good storytelling. But in a world where people scroll through social media, eat full meals, and even shave while driving, a comic book seems like the least of our worries.
7. It’s Illegal to Run Out of Gas on the Autobahn (Germany)
While this one isn’t from the U.S., it’s too absurd not to mention. In Germany, running out of gas on the Autobahn isn’t just inconvenient—it’s illegal. Their reasoning? Stopping on the Autobahn for any reason other than an emergency is prohibited, and running out of gas is considered preventable. So if your fuel gauge dips too low, you’d better hope there’s a gas station nearby.
It’s a tough rule, but it makes sense considering how fast traffic moves. Imagine pulling over at 90 mph because you didn’t plan ahead—that’s not just dangerous, it’s terrifying. Maybe this law is just Germany’s way of ensuring people pay more attention to their fuel levels. Either way, if you ever find yourself driving there, make sure to gas up before hitting the road.
8. It’s Illegal to Swear from a Vehicle (Rockville, Maryland)
If you’ve ever muttered some choice words while stuck in traffic, you might want to avoid Rockville, Maryland. This town has a law making it illegal to swear from a vehicle, which means no yelling profanities at bad drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians—even if they totally deserve it. Road rage is practically a universal language, but in Rockville, you’re expected to keep it PG. You have to wonder how they enforce this—are there officers just waiting to pull people over for dropping an F-bomb at a red light? It’s probably safe to assume that rolling down your window and screaming at someone is a bad idea anywhere, but in Rockville, it could actually get you fined.
The law raises a lot of questions. Does it apply if your windows are up? What about muttering under your breath? And most importantly, what qualifies as swearing? If someone gets creative with their insults, are they still in the clear? Given how frustrating traffic can be, this might be the hardest law to follow on the entire list. Sometimes, letting out a well-timed curse is the only thing keeping people from completely losing it. But in Rockville, it’s either keep your cool or risk getting written up for a verbal violation.