Weird Laramie Laws – Our Top Five

9.12.240 - Throwing stones. "No person shall, within the city, throw, hurl, thrust or in any manner propel any stone, stick or any missile, article or thing of any kind, character or description, at, upon, or toward any house, church, public or private building or at, upon, toward or against any telegraph or telephone post, pole, wire, machinery, fixture or appliance or at, upon, toward or against any electric lamp, light, wire, fixture, apparatus, machinery or appliances or at, upon, toward or against any person or any domestic animal or any vehicle, wagon or means of conveyance." Obviously, this is for safety reasons. But reading this particular ordinance is more than painful enough for it to make this list. And let's add in the fact that throwing stones at people and animals is toward the end of this very long list of nouns you cannot throw stones at.

8.24.010 - Generally. "No person shall spit upon any public sidewalk or upon the floor of any theater, hall, assembly room or public building." So maybe it's the fact that I've been to way too many restaurants that have a sign warning about spitting on sidewalks, but it took me a moment to realize that it was real. This one is for hygiene purposes. I mean, no one wants to have to hop over spit, especially if there's chewing tobacco involved. I guess I simply figured that laws about spitting went to the wayside in the early 20th century.

10.32.220 - Speed—Limitation. "No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than the posted speed limit or greater than that which is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing." Okay, be reasonable on your bicycle, I get it, it's a safety thing. But seriously, if I got pulled over on my bike for going too fast, that ticket would be framed and hanging on my wall as soon as I got home.

10.36.250 - Diagonal spaces—Parking procedure. "In any diagonal parking space the vehicle shall be headed in to the space and within the lines confining the parking space, with one tire within one foot of the curb. Backing into a space shall be prohibited." Upon reading the last sentence I immediately wondered, "Who did such a horrible job backing into a diagonal parking space that they had to make it illegal?" I realize that backing into such a space presents many challenges and there is potential for a lot to go wrong, such as holding up traffic and hitting every object in a 30 foot radius. I've never tried it because it didn't seem worth the hassle, but when I was considering it, I didn't think it was against the law.

6.04.060 - At Large. "a. 'At large' includes any animal which is off the premises of the owner upon public or private property without permission of the property owner. Dogs, cats and potbellied pigs are not at large when they are under control by means of a leash held by a person capable of managing the animal." So just in case you missed this in the animal ordinance overhaul from last fall, the leash law not only applies to dogs, but also to cats and potbellied pigs. The city council was recognizing that it has become more popular to have domestic potbellied pigs and as such they were put in the same category as cats and dogs. By the way, if I see you walking a pig on a leash around town I will most likely point and laugh and take a picture.