You’ve heard of “the old south.” Well some things are still, old, and that goes for some of the laws in Southern states. In fact, when it comes to South Carolina, there are several old, obscure S.C. laws still on the books that probably need updated, removed, or at least reworded; and we found 11 of them to show you here.
You can’t go fishing with dynamite
It’s unlawful in South Carolina for any person to use dynamite, gun powder, lime or any other explosive in or about any of the streams or waters to take or secure fish, to cause or to procure the same to be done, or to aid, assist or abet anyone in so doing this.
Pinball is illegal to play if you’re under 18
According to Section 63-19-2430 of the South Carolina Code, it’s unlawful to play pinball if you’re under eighteen. Yep, we said pinball. This peculiarly outdated and laughable law dates back to the early 20th century when pinball when it was still considered a form of gambling. While the gambling underworld hit it hard and started to grow into a real problem around the turn of the 1890s through the early 1900s, modern coin-operated pinball machines emerged in the early 1930s.
No work on Sundays
Your employer can not force you to work on a Sunday, thanks to this unique law which was established to follow the religious Christian notion that God did nothing but rest on the Sabbath. Of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule, including retail, food service, and cleaning businesses. The law, in part, reads “On the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in worldly work, labor, business of his ordinary calling or the selling or offering to sell, publicly or privately or by telephone, at retail or at wholesale to the consumer any goods, wares or merchandise.”
You cannot be insincere in a marriage proposal
Making a false promise of marriage to seduce someone isn’t just uncool, it’s against the law. Section 16-15-50 states that a man over the age of 16 who by deception or promise of marriage, seduces an unmarried woman, is guilty of a misdemeanor with a conviction possibly resulting in a fine or up to one year in jail.
Railroad companies can get in trouble if trains scare your horses
Any railroad company shall be liable for damages for any horse frightened as a result of the violation of the provisions of this particular South Carolina law because railroad companies have a duty of care to those who may be affected by their operations, including landowners and their animals.
You cannot keep an alligator as a pet
This one about alligators is on the same team as having common sense, and does not require any further explanation whatsoever.
No dancing on Sundays
South Carolina has some issues with dancing, too. Title 52 says that dancehalls must have their doors closed at midnight on Saturdays, and they are not permitted to reopen until midnight on Sundays. Violators of this law could face fines ranging from $10 to $100 or even up to 30 days in jail if you happen to love dancing on Sundays and are a repeat offender. This law also most likely stems from religious traditions that emphasize Sundays be set aside as days of rest.
No purchasing silverware on Sundays either
Strangely enough, South Carolina prohibits the sale of silverware, on Sundays. The law also extends to certain items of clothing, tools, appliances, and even musical instruments. Again, Sunday was considered special in the south.
Bring a rifle to church
This South Carolina law specifies that every adult male must bring a rifle to church on Sunday in order to ward off Indian attacks. Well, this one apparently dates wayyyyy back, and it still hasn’t been changed.
Fortune Tellers must be licensed
It’s unlawful for any person in South Carolina to follow the business of fortunetelling in any of the counties of this State, by traveling from place to place, without first obtaining from the clerk of the court of the county in which he wishes to follow his trade, a license permitting him to so do. And, it only costs you $100 to get it!
You can’t give a tattoo to anyone under 18, even if their parents say yes
Tattooing a person who is under 18 years of age is considered to be unlawful, regardless of whether or not the minor has received permission from their parent or legal guardian. Even if they agree, the tattoo artist is still in violation of the law, potentially receiving a fine of up to $2,500 or possibly imprisonment. Up until recently, like very recently, tattoos used to be completely illegal in South Carolina. Tattoo parlors did not become legal in the state until 2004, when the S.C. Legislature passed a law legalizing the practice if both the artists and their parlors meet a set of requirements
Law, or Urban Legend?: It’s legal to hit your wife on the courthouse steps on Sundays
This one may be more of an urban legend than a law, or perhaps it was once a law that got taken off the books for obvious reasons, but we can’t find where this one is officially on the books. Legend says that a man can beat his wife only on Sundays on the courthouse steps and only with a stick. We’ve heard it countless times, people say, “did you know that it is legal to beat your wife on the courthouse steps on Sundays in South Carolina?”
Needless to say, we’ve never heard of this actually happening either. And, that’s a good thing.
