Antiquated Laws

Is our world any crazier than it ever was? If we look at some of the old laws that are still in existence, but are not invoked, perhaps it isn’t after all.

Canada has old laws on their books that most of its citizens have never heard of and if challenged by either the citizens or the law courts have the potential for problems.

In Canada, it is illegal to pay for anything over 25 cents in pennies. What’s to be done with all the pennies? Perhaps it’s the pennies that should be outlawed.

Citizens cannot publicly remove bandages. If this law were ever invoked, many children would end up behind bars since they are notorious ‘bandage peelers’.

It is illegal to kill a sick person by frightening them. It would be difficult to determine how they were frightened and whether it was the frightening that killed them. Can ‘frightening’ be determined by autopsy?

It is also illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft. The supposition is that it is legal to practice witchcraft as long as you’re not pretending.

In Alberta, Canada, this outdated law has perhaps the most serious consequences if invoked, “if a person is released from prison, it is required that he/she be given a handgun with bullets and a horse so they can ride out of town.’

In Etobicoke, Ontario, a bylaw states that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub. If this law was taken seriously, the cost of officers would certainly increase and be a drain on our system.

In Cobourg, Ontario, it is required that if you have a water trough in your front yard, it must be filled by 5:00 a.m. It would probably be best to dispense with the water trough.

In Oshawa, Ontario, the city laws state that it is illegal to climb trees. This is not a biggie unless the trees are.

In Ottawa, Ontario, it is illegal to eat ice-cream on Bank Street on a Sunday.

Toronto, Ontario laws state you are not allowed to drag a dead horse down Yonge Street on a Sunday. If tested, I’m sure most streets would have the same law enacted.

In Wawa, Ontario the law states you cannot paint a ladder as it will be slippery when wet.

In Nova Scotia, a person is not allowed to water his lawn when it is raining.