In Austin, it was illegal to carry a wire cutter in your pocket. This law was enforced because of disputes between landowners who favored open land and those who chose to enclose their land behind barbed wire. Open rangers are known to cut through each other`s barbed wire fences. The Texas legislature updated the penal code in 1973 and removed the book law. It is now legal to carry wire cutters in your pocket on your own property. It would not occur to anyone that possession of harmless literature, such as the books that make up the Encyclopedia Britannica, would be considered illegal. But in Texas, an eagle-eyed legislator realized that one of the books included a formula for making beer at home, which is illegal in the state. As a result, the state legislature voted to ban books. Under Section 48.02 of the Texas Penal Code, it is illegal to sell human organs. Selling and buying eyes, heart, kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, skin, and other organs or tissues can land a Texan in jail for up to a year and/or fines of up to $4,000! However, his blood and hair can be legally sold in the state. While there are many strange laws that may not make much sense, there are many Texas laws that make a lot of sense and are enforceable. At The Tough Law Firm, we can help you with a variety of areas, including commercial litigation, family law, civil litigation, landlord and tenancy law, and real estate law. If you have a question about filing a lawsuit or if you are a defendant in a case and need an attorney to help you, contact us and let us explain the laws that affect your case and help you with your Texas case.
Forget about marriage – In Texas, you can be considered legally married by publicly announcing someone as your wife/husband by saying it 3 times. Beetlejuice would be proud. There is also a law on marriage by proxy that does not require the groom or bride to be present at the wedding ceremony. In Clarendon, Texas, “it is illegal to dust off a public building with a feather duster.” What for? We are not sure and we are certainly curious why it specifies a feather duster. So a washcloth is ok? Another of the bizarre laws that are still in effect in the state of Texas is that you cannot legally walk barefoot outside your property. Again, it is believed that this is a law implemented for public safety; Helps prevent the spread of athlete`s foot and injuries. If you want to walk barefoot, you will need to buy a $5 permit. Companies don`t have shoes, no service policy, so this law goes a little too far.
The common law provisions on marriage validate a marriage if both parties agree to marry, live as a married couple and tell others that they have married. If you publicly announce three times that the person is your husband or wife, your marriage is legal in the eyes of Texas. A few caveats: Both parties must be at least 18 years old, single and unrelated. It is illegal to carry wire cutters in your pocket in Austin. This law dates back to the days when there was controversy between landowners who preferred open pastures and those who wanted to seal their land with barbed wire. Some supporters of open shooting ranges walked around cutting through the barbed wire. It was difficult to determine who the criminal was, so by creating a law prohibiting the wearing of wire cutters, this discretion was easily avoided and still applies today! In keeping with its namesake, Texas has its own set of rules when it comes to some of the strangest laws they have on books so far. Whether you live in Texas or want to visit the Lone Star State, here are some unusual Texas laws to be aware of.
In the interest of fairness, this upcoming law does not affect too many people. But if you`re a train driver, be careful. According to stupidlaws.com, the law states that if two trains meet at a crossing, each must stop completely, and neither continues until the other has left. The way it works in practice is confusing, but if you want to stay on the right side of the law, be prepared to do so. Texas currently prohibits dusting public buildings with a feather duster. It is not clear whether dusting a building with another tool is legal. Or why the state should prohibit such an obscure act. According to lrl.texas.gov, it is now a crime “to commit a violent crime against the person or property of another without first informing the victim of his or her intention to commit the crime and of his or her rights; provide for penalties. Therefore, if you plan to do nothing right, inform your victim in advance and remember to explain exactly what you intend to do with them. It`s just polite, after all. In Texas, you can legally marry someone if you publicly announce three times that the person is your husband or wife. The only (state) requirements are that both parties must be at least 18 years old, single and unrelated. One of the laws that may make sense, but at the same time does not make sense, is the law that prohibits you from selling your organs.
In the State of Texas, you are not allowed to sell organs, including but not limited to your heart, eyes, kidneys, liver, or lungs. It can be hard to believe that someone would try to sell these organs, but in case you think about it, it`s a no-go. However, they are allowed to legally sell blood and hair in the state. In LeFors, Texas, don`t even think about taking three sips of beer at a time while you`re standing. Over there, sir, it is illegal! Galveston may be a big city, but its laws need improvement. First of all, it is illegal to throw garbage from an airplane. Which is fair enough, although it`s a bit of a mystery how anyone can even do it (don`t crack a window to figure it out). It is also illegal to make offensive gestures at public events, drive a car on Broadway before noon on Sundays, or drink alcohol in a city park without the express permission of the Director of Parks and Recreation. We`ve compiled a list of eight other strange laws in the state of Texas. Some of these laws were created in the early 1800s and 1900s (when they made more sense) – and were simply never changed, while others were revised to match the times. Section 48.02 of the Texas Penal Code prohibits the purchase and sale of human organs. These include the eyes, kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, skin, and other human organs or tissues.
The law does not cover hair or blood. If a person intentionally sells their organs, it is a criminal offence classified as a Class A offence. If you`re thinking about selling your eyes to make quick money, think again: selling your organs in Texas can result in a year-long jail sentence and/or fines of up to $4,000. The Lone Star State is famous for more than its friendly residents and affinity for barbecues. Texas is also home to some of America`s strangest laws. Many have become obsolete and absurd to the modern Texan, but they are still active and applicable. If you`re not careful, you can be condemned for one of those 10 absurd laws you probably didn`t know existed.
