Oh Those Strange Wisconsin Laws

It is illegal in Wisconsin, which is known for its dairy products, to serve butter substitutes in state prisons, and such a substitute may not be served anywhere if it is yellow. In addition, margarine may not be substituted for butter in any restaurant unless a customer requests the substitution. Margarine was at one time illegal in the state. Those are not the only laws deemed strange by some in Wisconsin, there are a variety of others, including one which grants the right-of-the-way on a public road to all livestock.

The law which makes serving butter substitutes in state prisons also makes it illegal to serve a substitute to patients or students in any state institution. The superintendent of such institution, however, may order such a substitution if a physician in charge of a patient or inmate deems it necessary for health's sake. The reason yellow butter substitute is banned is that people used to smuggle it in from Illinois.

Another law in Wisconsin, which some deem to be strange, requires anyone who makes Limburger cheese to have a master cheese maker's license. In fact, anyone who makes any cheese in the state must have a license.

It is illegal in Wisconsin to kiss on a train.

At one time condoms were considered obscene and had to be hidden behind a pharmacist's counter.

It two trains meet at an intersection, by law neither may proceed until the other has.

At one time it was illegal in the state to serve apple pie in a restaurant unless it had cheese on it.

It is illegal to camp in a wagon on a public highway. If you do, you may be fined as much as $10 and will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

If you wave a burning torch in the air, you will be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. According to the text of the law doing so constitutes negligent handling of burning material.

You will be breaking the law if you throw rocks at railroad cars. The law also specifically makes it a crime to destroy, tamper, change, or damage a railroad track, bridge, switch, tunnel, trestle, signal, or any railroad property, especially if such an action would cause a derailment, injury, or accident. The law also specifically makes it a crime to shoot a firearm at a train.

It is illegal in Wisconsin to murder your enemies.

All urinals in buildings in the state must manually be flushed.

Several cities in Wisconsin have strange laws.

In Brookfield you will be breaking the law if you get a tattoo, unless it is for medical reasons. You will be breaking the law if you knowingly allow another to use your phone in the city for prank phone calls.

In Hudson you will be breaking the law from May 1 to October 1, if your windows do not have screens. You also will be breaking the law if you put your litter into someone else's trash receptacle, without that person's permission.

Citations:

Dumb Laws in Wisconsin, no author listed, dumblaws.com

Stupid Laws in Wisconsin, no author listed, stupidlaws.com