Jail for "Living in Sin"

In Florida, unmarried couples who live together can face a $500 fine and up to 60 days behind bars.

“If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together… they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.” — This provision, enacted at the end of the 19th century, is still formally in force in Florida in 2011.

There are quite a lot of these moral criminals. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, at least 554,000 residents of the Sunshine State admit to living with a partner without being married.

Hence, Republican Ritch Workman filed a bill that would repeal this archaic law. In addition, the politician wants to abolish the provision which still provides for a penalty of $500 and 60 days in jail for cheating spouses.

“What you do in your bedroom is your business,” said Workman Thursday, emphasizing that archaic laws are rarely enforced anyway.

It is not, however, certain whether he will manage to overturn the 19th-century law, because, as the daily newspaper Sun Sentinel points out, the most important politicians in the state keep their lips sealed. “I’m not ready to give up on monogamy and a cultural statement that marriage still matters,” said Dennis Baxley, Workman’s fellow Republican, in turn.

And although sheriffs nowadays peek into Americans’ bedrooms much less frequently, this law is still sometimes used. A few years ago, the police arrested an unfaithful husband when his wife invoked the archaic provision. Marital infidelity is still considered to be an offense in the state of New York.

Another 19th-century law was used last year by Lynn Ancara from North Carolina, who was cheated on and left by her husband. Thanks to the provision which makes it possible to prosecute the lover for causing the cheating husband or wife to stop loving their spouse, she won the case in court and received $5.8 million. A similar law is also in force in seven other states. Pasadena lawmakers, as a precaution, forbade secretaries from interacting one on one with their bosses.

Archaic or strange provisions deal not only with customary issues

In Pennsylvania a special enactment is still in force which prohibits wives from sweeping dust under the carpet. In Massachusetts it is against the law to go to sleep without bathing. In Globe, Ariz., it is unlawful to play cards in the street with Indians, whereas in Alabama, a person may be penalized for putting on a fake mustache to amuse worshippers at church.

The King Law Offices law firm also reminds us that in Utah it is against the law to swear in a deceased person’s presence. And in Alaska it is forbidden to wake up bears just to take their picture. In Sarah Palin’s home state one can also be penalized for whispering to a person who is hunting a moose.

In California, as well as Cleveland, Ohio, you have to receive a hunting license before you set up a mouse trap. In Florida, a law is in force which states that, if an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, one has to pay for it just like they would a car. Of course you can then try to convince the court that an elephant is not a vehicle.