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Robert Abrams
Law
Trivia

The Law of the Dance

by Robert Abrams
March 20, 2002
Important Note: None of the legal information contained herein should be acted upon without the advice of a certified lawyer, although we strongly caution you against wearing hats in Fargo, North Dakota. If you discover the laws described herein have changed, please contact us and we will update the listing.






  • According to DumbLaws.com, the following law is in effect in Lynden, Washington:



    Dancing and drinking may not occur at the same establishment.






  • According to DumbLaws.com, the following law is in effect in Fargo, North Dakota:



    One may be jailed for wearing a hat while dancing, or even for wearing a hat to a function where dancing is taking place.






  • According to DumbLaws.com, the following law is in effect in Monroe, Utah:



    Daylight must be visible between partners on a dance floor.






  • According to DumbLaws.com, the following law is in effect in Los Angeles, California:



    Zoot suits are prohibited.


    Why does this law exist: This law dates back to the 30's and 40's, especially during WWII. Back then good fabric was scarce thanks to the war effort,
    and zoot suits, with their immense use of unnecessary fabric, were seen as unpatriotic. The suit was primarily worn by
    hispanics, known as Pachucos(hence the swing song "Hey Pachuco") and white boys thought that being unpatriotic served
    as a good enough reason to beat up a few mexicans. Thus the song "Zoot Suit Riot." The City of LA, in an attempt to quell
    the rioting, banned zoot suits.






  • According to DumbLaws.com, the following law is in effect in South Carolina:



    Title 52 - Amusements and Athletic Contests

    CHAPTER 13.

    DANCE HALLS

    SECTION 52-13-10. Operation on Sunday forbidden.



    It shall be unlawful for any person to keep open or admit persons to any public dancing hall owned or operated by him or to
    allow any person to continue thereat between the hours of twelve o'clock, midnight, Saturday and twelve o'clock, midnight,
    Sunday, and all such places shall be and remain closed to the public between such hours. The violation of the provisions of
    this section shall subject the offender to a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars for the first offense and for the
    second offense not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for thirty days.



    SECTION 52-13-20. Location near churches and cemeteries forbidden.



    It shall be unlawful to operate or maintain outside the limits of any incorporated town or city within the State a dance hall
    within one fourth of a mile of a rural church with an active congregation or a rural cemetery that is either maintained as a
    cemetery or has been used for the burial of the dead within five years previous to the operation or maintenance of such dance
    hall. Every operation or maintenance of a dance hall within a period of twenty-four hours shall be considered a separate and
    distinct offense if in violation of this section.



    SECTION 52-13-30. Counties not included in provisions of SECTION 52-13-20.



    Notwithstanding the provisions of SECTION 52-13-20, in Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Darlington,
    Florence, Georgetown, Jasper, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Sumter Counties the governing body of the county may,
    in its discretion, grant and revoke licenses for the operation and maintenance of dance halls at any location within the county
    outside the limits of any incorporated town or city and fix license fees for such businesses not to exceed ten dollars per annum
    for each such business. It shall be unlawful to operate or maintain outside the limits of any incorporated town or city within
    any such county a dance hall without first procuring the issuance of such license from the governing body of the county.



    SECTION 52-13-40. Violations.



    Any violation of the provisions of this article other than SECTION 52-13-10 shall be punishable for the first offense by a fine of
    not more than one hundred dollars nor less than twenty-five dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days and for a
    subsequent offense by a fine of not less than seventy-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not
    less than twenty-five days nor more than thirty days.






  • In Reno, Nevada, apparently, staging a marathon dance is illegal, although posting a notice on a fire-hydrant about illegal dance marathons is not illegal. (2000)






  • In Connecticut, apparently, it is illegal to pirouette while crossing the street. (2000)






  • Carmel-by-the-Sea, California has a "high heels" ordinance, inspired by the town's crooked, uneven streets, requiring a permit to wear shoes with heels more than two inches high and with less than "one square inch of bearing surface." (Brown, Patricia Leigh. 2000. New York Times, V. CXLIX, N. 51503, P. A16, 9-6-2000)

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