Even out here in the “Wild West”, most of us try to live as law-abiding citizens. Occasionally, you come across a law that’s so bizarre, it strains the imagination to wonder why the law made its way onto the books to start with. And worse, why is it STILL on the books. Here are some things you probably didn’t know were illegal in Arizona.

No Spitting in This AZ City. Credit: Canva
No Spitting in This AZ City. Credit: Canva
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It’s Illegal to Spit in Public Places

I wish this law was a thing everywhere, not just in Goodyear, Arizona. Nothing turns my stomach faster than some oblivious dude spitting nearby. If you happen to be wandering around the fine city of Gilbert, keep in mind that it’s illegal to spit on public walkways, sidewalks, highways or in crosswalks.

And if you spit outside of a public building, like city hall or the library, you could be fined up to $2,500 or spend up to six months in prison, if convicted. All this seems a little extreme but considering we all became hyper-germ-aware during the pandemic, I think this is a law worth exploring in the rest of our state.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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It’s Illegal to Keep a Sleeping Donkey in Your Bathtub

This is one of those strangely specific laws that make you wonder why in the world it came about.

According to the website Horse & Man, the story began when a rancher in Kingman, Arizona let his donkey sleep in an abandoned bathtub on his property. The donkey was quite fond of his tub-bed, and though it was odd, no one was hurt by sleepy bathtub donkey, so what was the harm?

The trouble started in 1924 when a nearby dam broke. The town, including the rancher’s property, flooded. The runoff swept the donkey and his now bathtub-boat down the wash and into a basin.

A lot of resources and manpower went into trying to rescue the donkey, and the townsfolk were so miffed, they declared ‘never again!’ – and passed this very narrow law.

No more than 6 women in one home in AZ. Credit: Canva
No more than 6 women in one home in AZ. Credit: Canva
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In Phoenix, No More Than 6 Unrelated Women Are Allowed to Live Together

Thankfully, this is not illegal in the entire state of Arizona, only in Maricopa County – which means if you go to ASU, no sorority house for you!

Alright, this law is gone, although it was widely believed to still be on the books until the 1960s. I couldn’t find any evidence that this law still exists now, however. It seems this law was enacted in the late 1800s and was intended to discourage brothels or houses of ill-repute, so the 6-lady-limit was enacted.

Is it legal to feed your pig garbage? Credit: Canva
Is it legal to feed your pig garbage? Credit: Canva
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In Arizona, It’s Against the Law to Feed Garbage to a Pig

Anyone who’s ever owned a pig or known a pig (ex-boyfriends excluded), knows pigs will eat anything and everything. Most pig-owners gather their table scraps and add it to pig slop to supplement their feed. It’s also a pretty good way to get rid of kitchen waste and keep it out of a landfill. But don’t do it in Arizona, unless you have a permit.

According to the Justia US Law website, 2013 Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 3 – Agriculture § 3-2664 Permit to feed garbage to swine; exception, states:

  1. No person shall feed garbage to swine without first obtaining a permit from the associate director. All permits shall be renewed during January of each year.
  2. This article shall not apply to any person who feeds only his own household garbage to swine which are raised for his own use.

Okay, so private pig owners: Slop Away. Public pig raisers: Get a Permit.

Pigs. Credit: Canva
Pigs. Credit: Canva
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Who Thinks of These Laws?

It’s funny to imagine some of the reasons these silly laws exist, and I wonder if it’s worth spending time and energy to reverse some of the outdated ones.

That spitting law, though. I can definitely endorse that one.

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