Arizona was once considered the “Wild West”, but these days, most of our residents do their best to live as law-abiding citizens. Occasionally, though, you come across a law that’s so bizarre that it leaves you wondering how the law even made its way onto the books.
One fundamental legal principle, “Ignorantia juris non excusat” (Latin for ‘ignorance of the law excuses not’), underscores the importance of legal knowledge. It reminds us that no matter how bizarre a law may seem, it must be followed.
Jeff GOULD Law is the Attorney in YOUR Corner, and our mission is to ensure you’re informed of every law so that you can make informed decisions about your legal rights. We understand the intricacies of the legal system and can help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize your chances of a successful outcome during legal proceedings.
Continue reading to learn more about nine wacky and bizarre Arizona laws you never knew existed!
Table of Contents
1. Watch Where You Spit!
Thanks to Arizona State Law, specifically Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-601, spitting in public is illegal in Arizona, particularly on sidewalks, crosswalks, and in public buildings. The statute classifies spitting as a public nuisance and deems it potentially dangerous to public health. If caught spitting in public, you could be fined up to $2,500 or spend up to six months in prison, if convicted.
2. No More Than 6 Ladies in The House
It seems this law was enacted in the late 1800s to discourage brothels or houses of ill repute. The law was not statewide. It only applied to Maricopa County and stated that no more than six unrelated women were allowed to live together. Luckily, this law was removed from the books sometime in the 1960s. Otherwise, ladies attending ASU would be denied entrance to sorority houses!
3. You Can’t Feed That to Your Pig!
Anyone who’s ever owned a pig knows pigs will eat anything and everything. Most pig owners gather their table scraps to supplement their pig feed. It’s also a pretty good way to eliminate kitchen waste and keep it out of a landfill. But don’t do it in Arizona, unless you have a permit.
According to Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 3 – Agriculture § 3-2664: No person shall feed garbage to swine without first obtaining a permit from the associate director. All permits shall be renewed during January of each year. This article shall not apply to any person who feeds only his own household garbage to swine that are raised for his own use.
So private pig owners: slop away. Commercial pig raisers: get a permit.
4. Only Real Drug Please
According to Arizona Revised Statutes §13-3453, it is illegal to manufacture imitation drugs.
The creation, possession, or distribution of imitation drugs, often created to deceive others into thinking it’s the actual drug, is a Class 6 felony.
Claiming ignorance or holding the belief that you were indeed dealing with a real drug does not serve as a viable defense under any circumstance, according to said law – even if it did, you’d be guilty of dealing actual drugs. Simply put, whether you believed it was a real drug or not, it is against the law.
5. Leave the Saguaro Alone
The saguaro cactus is revered by most as a beautifully iconic plant. A saguaro can live for over 90 years and grow over 50 feet tall. Furthermore, most saguaros won’t grow their first arm until they are 50-75 years old.
Here in Arizona, saguaro cacti are protected under the Arizona Native Plant Law. According to Arizona Revised Statutes §3-906, this protection makes it illegal to harm, destroy, dig up, or move a saguaro cactus.
You could face up to 25 years in prison for this offense if caught in the act without proper permitting.
6. Don’t Trip the Donkey
In the State of Arizona, any person who intentionally trips an equine, defined as a horse, pony, mule, donkey, or hinny, is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. (§13-2910.09) If convicted, you’ll serve a minimum of 48 hours in jail and pay a fine of at least $1,000.
7. The “Stupid Motorist Law”
Arizona’s Revised Statutes §28-910, nicknamed the “Stupid Motorist Law,” holds drivers liable for the costs of emergency rescue services if they become stranded on a flooded road after bypassing barricades.
8. Don’t Rig The Game
According to Arizona law 13-3312, interference with crane games – those claw machines found in amusement arcades or recreational spots – is strictly prohibited. The law states that it is unlawful for a person to alter or maintain a crane game so that the claw is physically unable to grasp exposed prizes. You are also not allowed to misrepresent the value of the prizes in the game or use cash or currency as prizes in crane games.
9. Your Donkey Can’t Sleep There
According to this now outdated law, keeping a sleeping donkey in a bathtub is illegal. This is one of those strangely specific laws that make you wonder why it came about in the world.
According to Horse & Man, the story began when a Kingman, Arizona, rancher let his donkey sleep in an abandoned bathtub on his property. However, a nearby dam broke while the donkey slumbered, and the runoff swept the donkey in his bathtub-bed, turned bathtub-boat down the wash and into a basin. After the town used up many resources and manpower trying to rescue the donkey, the townsfolk declared ‘never again!’ – and this very specific law was passed.
Keeping on the Right Side of Bizarre Laws
No matter how bizarre a law may seem, it is crucial to remember that the law is the law, and ignorance of it won’t keep you out of trouble. At Jeff GOULD Law, as the Attorney in YOUR Corner, we are committed to informing our community about even the most seemingly trivial laws. We are also ready to fight for you when things get serious.
If you’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident, experienced a motorcycle collision, been bitten by a dog, or are facing drunk driving charges, we are here to help you secure a maximum payout and obtain your rightful compensation through detailed evidence analysis and superior representation.
After an accident, you deserve to get your life back on track, and we can help you restore normalcy faster than you could on your own.
Don’t DELAY: Call Jeff GOULD Law, the Attorney in YOUR Corner – TODAY!
DISCLAIMER: The information on this blog/site is not intended to be legal advice. It is for general informational use only. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your situation. Further, this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.