Since the very beginning of America’s independence, strange and unusual laws have been crafted. From coast to coast you’ll find odd rules and regulations that exist in both local and state law books.
For example, it was once illegal for women to marry the same man four or more times in Kentucky; Louisiana won’t let you send someone an unsolicited pizza; and in North Carolina you can’t play bingo for over five hours without breaking the law.
You’ll be hard pressed to find any of these obscure laws still on the books, but at some point in our not too distant history, some folks thought they’d be a good idea. The same can be said about the following odd Oklahoma laws.
9 Laws Oklahomans Should Know
If you’re wondering whether these laws actually exist or not, rest assured they do. You can find them listed on the state’s official website: oksenate.gov.
#1 §21-662. Dueling is a Felony
Any person guilty of fighting any duel, though no death or wound follows, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for no more than ten years.
#2 §21-1700. Bear Wrestling & Horse Tripping is a Crime
“Horse tripping” is defined as causing an animal of the equine species to lose its balance or fall by using a rope, stick, pole, wire, or any other object. The term excludes the lawful laying down of a horse for identification purposes or medical reasons.
It is illegal for any person to be engaged in, promote, or be employed at a horse tripping event or bear wrestling exhibition; accept money for admitting another individual to a place where horse tripping or bear wrestling will take place; or offer, sell, possess, or buy a horse for any event involving horse tripping.
Additionally, you can’t train, sell, purchase, or have in possession a bear for any exhibition of bear wrestling; subject a bear to any form of alteration for the purpose of bear wrestling including but not limited to severing tendons or removal of teeth and claws; or inject into a bear any substance, cause ingestion by a bear of any substance, give anything to ingest to a bear with the intent of making it wrestle.
Upon conviction, any person violating these laws are guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for up to a year and/or fined up to $2,000. Furthermore, you’ll have to make restitution and reimbursements for housing, feeding, or providing medical treatment to any animals used or intended for use in violation of this section, the court may also require the violator to pay to the state, any society incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or its political subdivisions.
Upon the arrest of any person under any provision of bear wrestling or horse tripping, all animals in possession of the arrested individual that are the basis for an arrest according to this section’s provisions shall be seized and taken into custody by the arresting law enforcement agency or animal control office. The court, upon conviction, is authorized to order the forfeiture of all seized animals which are central to the conviction under this section’s provisions. A society incorporated for preventing cruelty to animals may take custody of any animals that have been ordered forfeited.
#3 §21-931. Charging a Fee for Fortune Telling is Prohibited
It’s unlawful for anyone professing or pretending to tell fortunes by the use of any device, means, or subtle craft whatsoever, either by clairvoyance, palmistry, or otherwise, plying his or her profession, art or trade within the State of Oklahoma.
You can’t charge for fortune telling, either directly or indirectly, or receive any subscription payment, donation, or gift by any means whatsoever.
#4 §21-1327. Advocating for Sedition on Public School Grounds is Prohibited
The Legislature acknowledges that college campuses and public school facilities present special circumstances, given the large number of people confined to a small area. It recognizes that certain acts committed in these places could detrimentally affect the health and safety of those involved more than if committed elsewhere.
Any individual within the campuses or grounds of public state-supported higher education institutions or public school properties who advocates, suggests affirmatively, or instructs through speech or writings the duty, necessity, expediency, or appropriateness of crime, criminal syndicalism, sabotage; or who:
- Advocates, suggestively affirms or instructs the duty, necessity, expediency, or propriety of committing acts of violence, property destruction or damage, injury to others, or executing any crime or illegal act as a method to achieve industrial, political ends, change, revolution, or for monetary gain;
- Or who edits, prints, issues, publishes, or knowingly distributes, circulates, sells, publicly displays any pamphlets, books, papers, handbills, posters, documents or any written or printed matter in whatsoever form that contains content advocating crime, teaching criminal syndicalism, or sabotage for bringing about any industrial political ends, change, or revolution for profit.
Shall be guilty of a felony and be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not less than two years and not more than 10 years, or by a fine of at least $5,000 but not exceeding $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
#5 §21-837. Intimidating Laborers is Illegal
Every person who uses force, threats, or intimidation to prevent or attempts to prevent any hired foreman, journeyman, apprentice, workman, laborer, servant, or another employed individual from continuing their job or accepting new employment opportunities—or persuades such an employee to quit their job or return unfinished work—is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Similarly, every person who employs force, threats, or intimidation to obstruct or tries to obstruct any farmer or rancher from harvesting, handling transporting or marketing agricultural products is also guilty of a misdemeanor.
#6 §21-838. Intimidating Employers is Illegal
Each individual who, through force, threats, or intimidation, seeks to prevent someone from hiring a person, or forces another to hire a specific person, or influences another to change their business operations method, disrupts business activities or aims to adjust the number of supervisors, journeymen, apprentices, workers, laborers, servants or other employees they have or their wages or work hours, is committing a misdemeanor.
#7 §21-901-§21-903. Blasphemy is a Misdemeanor
Blasphemy involves recklessly speaking or disseminating words that cast scornful disrespect or irreverent mockery upon God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures, the Christian faith, or any other religion.
Discussion serious in nature is not considered blasphemy. Should it be beyond reasonable doubt apparent that the accused used the words in question during a discussion of a serious nature with an intent to communicate or advocate for held opinions, those words do not constitute blasphemy.
#8 §21-904-§21-905. Profane Swearing Costs $1 for Each Offense
In any use of the name of God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost, profane swearing consists either in imprecating divine vengeance upon the utterer or another person, or in speech that is light, trifling, or irreverent.
For profane swearing punishment: A fine of $1 for each offense is punishable to every person guilty of profane swearing.
Obscene language, a misdemeanor, occurs if any individual speaks or utters any word or language that is obscene or lascivious in any public place, in front of females, or when children under 10 are present. If guilty of using obscene language, you could face a fine up to $100 and/or imprisonment up to 30 days.
#9 §21-907-§21-909, §21-911. Sabbath-Breaking Costs $25 for Each Offense
In Oklahoma, the first day of the week is set apart for rest and religious uses. The law forbids certain acts on Sunday, deemed useless and serious interruptions of the repose and religious liberty of the community. A violation of this prohibition constitutes Sabbath-breaking.
Sabbath-breaking, the acts that are forbidden to be done on the first day of the week, whose commission constitutes Sabbath-breaking, are as follows:
- Except for works of necessity or charity, servile labor.
- Manufactures, trades, and mechanical employment.
- All horse racing or gaming, except as authorized by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act.
All manner of public selling, or offering or exposing for sale publicly, of any commodities is allowed except meats, bread, fish, and all other foods which may be sold at any time. Additionally, food and drink can be sold to be consumed on the premises where they are sold. Drugs, medicines, milk, ice, surgical appliances, burial appliances, and all other necessities may also be sold at any point during the day.
In proceedings for servile labor on the first day of the week, it constitutes a sufficient defense to demonstrate that the accused consistently observes another day of the week as holy time, refrains from working on that day, and that any labor complained of was conducted in a way that does not interrupt or disturb others who are observing the first day of the week as sacred.
Punishment for Sabbath-breaking applies to everyone found guilty with a fine of up to $25 for each offense.
