All images by Olivia Locher. Used with permission.
If you live in the United States, you’ve probably come across or are already familiar with the many bizarre, ridiculous, and at times, totally unnecessary laws of its individual states.
In Alaska, for example, there’s a law that prohibits a drunken person to enter a bar and remain on the premises, which in some ways defeats the purpose of a bar. In Florida, commercial establishments that sell alcohol are not allowed to hold any sort of recreational activity that exploits any person with dwarfism, which makes you think just how many recreational activities involving little people do those Floridians participate in to prompt its creation. And in my home state of California, a perplexing law that forbids any person to eat or use for any other purpose a frog that dies in a frog-eating contest is still in effect.
These weird state laws, whether factual, mythical, or just misinterpreted, have held such fascination for and have promoted laughs, jokes, and head scratching from many. They generate such interest, in fact, that entire websites like DumbLaws.com were built for the sole purpose of collecting them!
It’s Manhattan-based photographer Olivia Locher, however, who had the brilliant idea of recreating these bizarre laws and capturing them on camera in her funny and law-breaking series fittingly called I Fought the Law.
According to Locher, the series started when she realized that we still have abundance of these peculiar laws.
“With my ongoing series I Fought the Law I depict America’s most unusual laws. Some of them are still on the statute books. After doing some initial project research I quickly discovered that there wasn’t a shortage of interesting laws. A light bulb went off and I knew it would be a great photography project with a hint of sarcasm. Using early pop art as inspiration, I intend to defy rules and regulations across all the remaining US states.”
Locher had captured America’s quirky and at times ridiculous side, from California all the way to Maine, like never before. Complete with dildos, desserts, and a bike in water, I Fought the Law is a vivid and witty series that pokes fun at our legislations.
Locher’s goal is to create more of these satirical photos and eventually publish them in a book so there’s definitely more to see from this ongoing series in the near future. Follow it on Locher’s site and scroll down to see some of the photos on it.
In Alabama, it is illegal to have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at all times.
In California, nobody is allowed to ride a bicycle in a swimming pool.
In Maine it’s unlawful to tickle women under the chin with a feather duster.
In Utah, no one may walk down the street carrying a paper bag containing a violin.
In Rhode Island, it is illegal to wear transparent clothing.
In Delaware, it’s illegal to wear pants that are “form-fitting”around the waist.
In Tennessee, hollow logs may not be sold.
In Wisconsin, it is illegal to serve apple pie in public restaurants without cheese.
In Arizona, you may not have more than two dildos in a house.
In Texas, it is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts.
In Hawaii, coins are not allowed to be placed in ones ears.
In Oregon, one may not test their physical endurance while driving a car on the highway.
In Kansas, it’s illegal to serve wine in teacups.
In Connecticut, pickles must bounce to officially be considered pickles.