7 Unusual Driving Laws You’ve Never Heard Of

It’s not unusual for local laws to include some outdated or even wacky regulations, and that includes traffic regulations. Here are a few of the most unusual driving laws you’ve never heard of, but it’s probably a safe bet that violating them won’t get you into any trouble.

Running Out of Gas

In Germany, you’re not allowed to run out of gas on the Autobahn, which makes sense when you think about it. The iconic high-speed highway seems dangerous enough without drivers running on empty and putting others at risk.

But what you might find even more surprising is that it’s illegal for drivers to run out of gas in Youngstown, Ohio. If you ever plan on driving through the county seat of Mahoning County, make sure your gas tank isn’t anywhere near empty.

Driving Through Playgrounds

It seems like a no-brainer, but the folks in Dublin, Georgia, apparently felt that local drivers wouldn’t be able to control themselves, which is why they instituted a law against driving through children’s playgrounds. We’d like to think it was just a common-sense precaution rather than a response to drivers hot-rodding around the jungle gyms and swing sets.

Transporting Dead Poultry

In Topeka, Kansas, it’s against the law to carry dead poultry on Kansas Avenue. Yep, just on that one street. And we have no idea why. The next time you buy that frozen Thanksgiving turkey or bucket of fried chicken in Topeka, you’d better steer clear of Kansas Avenue.

Wearing a Housecoat While Driving

In California, where apparently traffic cops double as fashion police, it’s illegal for women to drive while wearing housecoats. Underwear, lingerie, and body-hugging jumpsuits are just fine, however, and you’re likely to see plenty of that around Los Angeles, particularly Rodeo Drive — but frumpy old housecoats are out of the question.

Honking Your Horn at a Sandwich Shop

When in Little Rock, Arkansas, if you ever get the urge to honk your horn in a deli parking lot, you can do so — just be sure to check the time first. Honking your horn after 9 p.m. around a sandwich shop (or any restaurant that sells sandwiches) is considered disturbing the peace.

Driving a Dirty Vehicle

Avid off-roaders might want to steer clear of Minnetonka, Minnesota. This suburban city has a law on the books that forbids vehicles from being excessively dirty. In fact, you could end up getting ticketed for skipping the car wash.

Driving While Blindfolded

For whatever reason, the state of Alabama decided that too many people were attempting to drive while blindfolded, which is why they’ve outlawed the practice. While other states are probably plagued by blindfolded drivers wreaking havoc on their interstates, it’s comforting to know that we won’t encounter such foolishness in Alabama.

These driving laws might sound ridiculous or outdated now, but they make for some interesting trivia. Have you heard of a strange driving law that wasn’t mentioned? Let us know about it in the comments!

Image via Pixabay

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