There are some New York State laws that made the books for good reason, and have managed to pedal through the wheels of time because we just haven’t gotten around to amending them. But there are also some laws that ostensibly serve no purpose but to offer some comic relief to law students.
1. It's illegal to take a photo while touching a tiger.
Adults, don’t even think about updating your tinder profile with a selfie of you and your ferocious feline. And kids, throw out your Frosted Flakes because Tony the Tiger is on the run, trying desperately to avoid incarceration.
2. Flirting on the streets could result in a fine of $25.
Does relentless catcalling not count? Does the woman have to actively flirt back to get the persistent pervert to empty his pockets to the government? Who’s collecting the fines because, ladies, I say it’s time to put on a fake badge and make use of one of the greatest get rich quick schemes in legal history.
3. No person may walk around with an ice cream cone in his or her pocket on a Sunday.
Any other day, though, go ahead. Freeze your privates off by melting sugary swirls of creamy ice in your pants pockets. Do what makes you happy, just don’t do it on Sunday.
4. Urinating on any type of bird is forbidden.
Obviously the individuals who inspired this law did not consider it good luck when bird poop plummeted from the butt of an ignorant pigeon onto their unsuspecting heads one too many times.
5. The penalty for jumping off a building is death.
As if you weren’t feeling distressed enough before, you are now paralyzed, publicly humiliated, and forced to live out the remainder of your sorry days in a jail cell, waiting to choose your last meal (which you probably already ate), before you are inevitably put to death. Maybe a stay in the psych ward or some free therapy would be a more appropriate penalty. Good job, New York.
