Dumb laws are, well, just dumb, if really true
Dumb laws are, well, just dumb, if really true
The Internet probably is one of the slickest tools to come along in a long, long time. On the other hand, we think it probably leads to wasting a good portion of much of the time it saves.
For one reason or another, we were tipped off to several dumb laws that remain on the books in Montana, at least according to www.dumblaws.com
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Our tipster has the ear of the publisher and both sent us to that Web site.
We figure we are in good company wasting a little time on the Internet. Plus, we are getting a column out of it.
So, according to www.dumblaws.com:
In Montana, it is illegal for married women to go fishing alone on Sundays, and illegal for unmarried women to fish alone at all.
We are not sure why this would be a crime, unless our legislators at one time or another thought it unwise to have married women away from their homes on Sundays. They must have thought it wise, too, to keep single women out of the woods and off the streams.
In Montana, it is a felony for a wife to open her husband's mail.
There are some later city ordinances - not state laws - that might have a reason behind them, such as:
In Helena Frisbee golf, also known as "folf" is restricted. The ordinance - 5-13-2: Folfing Prohibited - states that "No person shall play or engage in the game of folf or throw a golf disc at nighttime in any area within the business improvement district that has not been sanctioned as a designated folf course by the city. (Ord. 2797, 6-23-1997).
In Billings: Sec. 4-304. Raising rats states "It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, harbor, raise or give away rats as pets, toys, premiums, novelties, or for any other purpose except as feed for reptiles or birds of prey or both, or as hereinafter set forth; or to bring or transport the same into the city. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the keeping of rats in proper facilities by people engaged in a legitimate scientific research project or educational programs." (Code 1967, ? 8.04.090; Ord. No. 90-4829, ? 1, 5-7-90)
But, not so fast here.
We wanted to double check these to see if they really are still on the books.
Lynn Solomon, a spokesman at the attorney general's office, said that while the Montana Code Annotated is on line, the codification of Montana law from 1947 until 1978 was called the Revised Code of Montana, or the RCM. That codification of Montana law is not available on line.
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, a staff attorney at the Montana Legislative Branch, said she researched the supposed law against women fishing alone and could find no such reference.
"I looked all the way back to the first territorial laws in 1879 and found nothing like this," she said. "In fact, in 1879 there was a law on resident fishing licenses defining resident as any PERSON living in the state for six months. You'd think they'd say any MAN living in the state if that were the case."
Mecklenberg Jackson said she has researched these kinds of things before and found that oftentimes these "dumb laws" are a reference to some little weird ancient city ordinance someplace, which is virtually impossible to track down."
There are a lot of other "dumb laws" listed under the Montana section at www.dumblaws.com and if you want to read them, you have to go there on your own. Some of them are pretty stupid, some are racist and others are just plain, well, dumb.
Reach Tribune Outdoor Editor Michael Babcock at triboutdoors@greatfallstribune.com, at 406-791-1487 or 800-438-6600.
The Internet probably is one of the slickest tools to come along in a long, long time. On the other hand, we think it probably leads to wasting a good portion of much of the time it saves.
For one reason or another, we were tipped off to several dumb laws that remain on the books in Montana, at least according to www.dumblaws.com
ADVERTISEMENT
Our tipster has the ear of the publisher and both sent us to that Web site.
We figure we are in good company wasting a little time on the Internet. Plus, we are getting a column out of it.
So, according to www.dumblaws.com:
In Montana, it is illegal for married women to go fishing alone on Sundays, and illegal for unmarried women to fish alone at all.
We are not sure why this would be a crime, unless our legislators at one time or another thought it unwise to have married women away from their homes on Sundays. They must have thought it wise, too, to keep single women out of the woods and off the streams.
In Montana, it is a felony for a wife to open her husband's mail.
There are some later city ordinances - not state laws - that might have a reason behind them, such as:
In Helena Frisbee golf, also known as "folf" is restricted. The ordinance - 5-13-2: Folfing Prohibited - states that "No person shall play or engage in the game of folf or throw a golf disc at nighttime in any area within the business improvement district that has not been sanctioned as a designated folf course by the city. (Ord. 2797, 6-23-1997).
In Billings: Sec. 4-304. Raising rats states "It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, harbor, raise or give away rats as pets, toys, premiums, novelties, or for any other purpose except as feed for reptiles or birds of prey or both, or as hereinafter set forth; or to bring or transport the same into the city. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the keeping of rats in proper facilities by people engaged in a legitimate scientific research project or educational programs." (Code 1967, ? 8.04.090; Ord. No. 90-4829, ? 1, 5-7-90)
But, not so fast here.
We wanted to double check these to see if they really are still on the books.
Lynn Solomon, a spokesman at the attorney general's office, said that while the Montana Code Annotated is on line, the codification of Montana law from 1947 until 1978 was called the Revised Code of Montana, or the RCM. That codification of Montana law is not available on line.
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, a staff attorney at the Montana Legislative Branch, said she researched the supposed law against women fishing alone and could find no such reference.
"I looked all the way back to the first territorial laws in 1879 and found nothing like this," she said. "In fact, in 1879 there was a law on resident fishing licenses defining resident as any PERSON living in the state for six months. You'd think they'd say any MAN living in the state if that were the case."
Mecklenberg Jackson said she has researched these kinds of things before and found that oftentimes these "dumb laws" are a reference to some little weird ancient city ordinance someplace, which is virtually impossible to track down."
There are a lot of other "dumb laws" listed under the Montana section at www.dumblaws.com and if you want to read them, you have to go there on your own. Some of them are pretty stupid, some are racist and others are just plain, well, dumb.
Reach Tribune Outdoor Editor Michael Babcock at triboutdoors@greatfallstribune.com, at 406-791-1487 or 800-438-6600.
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[8D]-Well DUH !!
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
Still against the law for a citizen to carry a firearm on the train, concealed carry permit or not. Can't even have one cased and checked in as luggage. [B)]
Jim
--That was only because of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid !!!
--[:I][:o)]--JIMBO0 -
This has to worry others ...
Seven or more Indians are considered a raiding or war party and it is legal to shoot them.0 -
How about the illegality of selling liquor to Indians in some western states? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HobbyGuy
quote:Originally posted by FEENIX
This has to worry others ...
Seven or more Indians are considered a raiding or war party and it is legal to shoot them.
I don't think we can get away with that today though. [;)]
[:D]
Me t[:D][:D]!0 -
State of Maine still has a Law requiring all able bodied men and boys to carry their muskets when going to church. What would happen if I took mine with me? [:0] 0
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