I, too, have spent a lot of time checking into the "Dumblaws" site and the
books mentioned, usually as a result of a student's question. None, repeat,
none that I have checked out were on the books. Many were extrapolations
such as when the law reads (and I'm making this up) "Thou shalt not keep
farm animals within city limits", the "dumb law" folks would state it as:
"Thou shalt not chain a giraffe to a lamppost downtown." Other "dumb laws
on the books" were repealed centuries ago.
One student said her professor *saw* a law which says that in Vermont, it is
illegal to whistle underwater. (!) I told her that if the professor could
provide me with a citation or a copy, I would give him my car.
Sites like the dumb laws site foster confusion and contempt for the law and
lawyers, and make our jobs much more difficult. Of course there are "dumb"
laws on the books, but I encourage my patrons to exercise a little common
sense.
My two, or three, cents,
Paul Donovan
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu]On
Behalf Of Ron Huttner
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 10:22 AM
To: law-lib@ucdavis.edu
Cc: Bill Draper
Subject: Re: Silly Lawws ? - The "Dumb Laws" Website Is
*Definitely*Unreliable
I'd *certainly* endorse the caution expressed by Bill Draper as to the
reliance that can be placed on the "Dumb Laws"website to which he refers at
the URL http://www.dumblaws.com/index.shtml. Just for fun, I checked out
the purported dumb Australian laws, and in particular the alleged dumb
Victorian laws, as that is the State in which I am admitted to practice.
Not a single entry was found by me to be correct !!! They were all utter
nonsense. I was particularly amused at the alleged fine of "10 pounds" for
one alleged "offence", as we in fact abolished pounds, shillings and pence
a mere 35 years ago, and have had dollars and cents since February 1966 !!
Sure we do have a few laws that might on one view or another be considered
silly, but the ones itemised are most certainly not amongst them.
'Avagoodday !
Ronald S Huttner LL.B (Hons)
Barrister And Solicitor
Consultant And Trainer In Computer-Assisted Legal Research
Lecturer In Advanced Computerised Legal Research,
Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne (02.10.95 to 02.10.98)
"vidElex - See The Law" - http://videlex.com
rshutt@netspace.net.au (Principal E-Mail Address)
rshutt@pocketmail.com.au (Mobile)
Ph: (03) - 9509 - 7023 (Home/Business)
Ph: 0402 - 459 - 103 (Mobile)
Lesser Known Legal Definitions:-
"Caselaw - Mexican coleslaw"
Bill Draper wrote:-
>***Hi Sandy,
>
>There are at least a few books out there.
>
>e.g, Loony laws & silly statutes / Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts ;
>illustrated by Myron Miller (New York : Sterling Publ.,
>1994),
>Loony laws : that you never knew you were breaking / Robert
>Wayne Pelton (New York : Walker and Co., 1990), Funny laws &
>other zany stuff / Lindsell-Roberts, Sheryl. ; Miller,
>Myron,; 1948- (New York : Sterling Pub. Co., 1999), and I
>think there's a new one that's not in our catalogue yet.
>Try Law -- United States -- Humor in OCLC FirstSearch.
>
>Then there's a website:
>http://www.dumblaws.com/index.shtml However, an effort last
>summer to verify a few of the laws listed on the site didn't
>pan out.
>
>Have fun.
>
>All the best,
>
>Bill
>--
>Bill Draper e: bdraper@law.upenn.edu
>Reference Librarian and Lecturer v: 215.898.3059
>Biddle Law Library f: 215.898.6619
>University of Pennsylvania
>3460 Chestnut Street
>Philadelphia PA 19104-3406
>
>
>Sandy Placzek wrote:
>>
>> Good Morning -
>>
>> A student has asked if there is a way to find a listing of "silly",
>> "absurd" or "goofy" laws (from any jurisdiction) - I was wondering if
>> anyone knows of any resource that would be a good starting place. Maybe
>> an article or a compilation that discusses some of the "odder" ducks on
>> the books?
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated!
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Sandy
>>
>> ----------------------------------------
>> Sandra B. Placzek |
>> Head of Public Services |
>> Assistant Professor of Law Library |
>> Marvin & Virginia Schmid Law Library |
>> University of Nebraska College of Law |
>> Lincoln, NE 68583-0902 |
>> splaczek@unlserve.unl.edu |
>> 402.472.8261 (p) |
>> 402.472.8260 (f) |
>> ----------------------------------------
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