Old And Peculiar Laws In Rhode Island May Not Last Much Longer

If you live in Rhode Island and you’ve been taking home unlimited amounts of seaweed from the beach to fertilize your garden in Barrington, you may be breaking an old but still technically enforceable law.

According to the Associated Press, Rhode Island State Librarian Thomas R. Evans constructed a list of Rhode Island’s old “strange but true” laws which still have life for one reason or another.

Many of the outdated laws primarily concern livestock. For example, if you don’t have a permit to feed a swine some garbage, you are breaking the law.

House Majority Whip John Edwards wants to repeal old and unreasonable laws. Edwards’ wants to suggest a proposal, based on a model in Kansas, which would foster a joint committee within the General Assembly to review laws and decide which laws are outdated and can be removed.

Edwards claims at the start of each new year that the legislature would consider suggestions of which laws to review.

Technically, boxers aren’t even allowed to fight in Rhode Island. Since about 1798, arranging to meet another person for the purpose of fighting him or her and then fighting him or her is a crime punishable by up to 10 years of time behind bars.

According to the Star Tribune, religious leaders have the right of way when it comes to whether or not people within a mile radius are allowed to sell liquor.

“Whenever any religious society holds a camp, tent, grove or other outdoor meeting, no person without the consent of the religious society shall hawk or peddle any ‘spirituous or intoxicating liquors’ within a mile of the meeting.”

However, the one old law that most people at some point or another would find themselves in trouble with is the law about profane swearing and cursing. If you are found to be guilty of profane swearing and cursing, you may be fined up to five dollars.

“We’re adding, adding, adding new laws every year. It’s time to start reducing the laws that people have to comply with,” Edwards said.

“They’re just burdensome.”

If Edwards has his way, the old laws will not be “burdensome” for too much longer in Rhode Island, but will soon become a part of its unique history.