There are laws in North Carolina that we all know that should not be broken. You can’t drink and drive, you’re not allowed to assault another person, and you’re not allowed to steal things that aren’t yours… well, those aren’t allowed anywhere.
But every state has weird laws that are still on the books, and there’s a good chance you’ve broken at least one of them.
“These laws can date back hundreds of years, but don’t worry, most of them aren’t enforced in today’s world,” says Thomas Bumgardner, an attorney at the Law Office of Thomas D. Bumgardner, PLLC. “We may never know the real reason some of these laws went into effect, but we do know that they are strange!”
No Costumes at Board Meetings
If you schedule a meeting on Halloween, you may want to move it to November 1st.
North Carolina State Law states, “No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person’s face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, hold any manner of meeting, or make any demonstration upon the private property of another.”
This basically means you can’t wear a mask or costume that disguises your face or voice during a meeting.
Time Limit on Bingo
No marathon bingo tournaments are allowed here!
Bingo games in North Carolina are not allowed to be longer than 5 hours, according to North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement. The only time it is allowed to go past the 5-hour limit is if the bingo game is held at a fair.
It’s also important to note that no alcohol is allowed to be served during bingo games either.
No Singing Off Key
In North Carolina, it’s against the law to sing off key! So pretty much anyone who has sung at a karaoke bar has broken this law.
The origin of this weird law dates back to the 19th century. Legend has it that a man in Lumberton, North Carolina was fined for singing loudly and poorly. The case is more about disturbing the peace than bad singing skills, but could be useful if you have a neighbor whose singing is unbearable.
Do Not Steal $1,000 of Grease
It’s something that many of us have thought about doing before, right? Stealing $1,000 worth of kitchen grease?
This is actually one of the most recent odd laws we’ve come across. This law went into effect in 2013. It turns out that the U.S. Department of Agriculture considers “yellow grease” a valuable commodity and is worth 30 to 40 cents per pound.
According to WRAL-TV in Raleigh, grease collectors and restaurants went to state legislators and told them about the problem with grease theft and that’s how it became a law.
If You’re Not Married, You Can’t Stay In the Same Hotel Room
If you and your significant other go away for the weekend to the mountains or the beach, then get two different bedrooms.
“Any man and woman found occupying the same bedroom in any hotel, public inn or boarding house for any immoral purpose… shall be deemed guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor,” says the North Carolina General Statute Section 14-186.
The law also states that you can’t lie about being married while at the hotel or inn.
No Happy Hour Drinks
Have you ever noticed that there aren’t happy hour drink specials in North Carolina? If you go to a restaurant, there are happy hour specials on food, but not drinks.
That’s because North Carolina’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission does not allow for a restaurant to sell the drink for a period of time that is less than one full business day. So businesses can’t sell $3 beers from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. It must last the full day.
It’s not just North Carolina that has weird laws. Our neighbors to the south have a few odd rules, like no dancing on Sundays. Dance halls in South Carolina are not allowed to be open. Does someone have to call Kevin Bacon and his Footloose team to change this law?
It’s fun to make fun of these odd laws, but getting arrested is no laughing matter. Our law office wants to represent you and your loved ones when tough times hit you. We’re experienced in personal injury law, family law and traffic law and have your best interest at heart. Contact us online for a free consultation or give our office a call at (704) 870-4779.