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Collins & Hepler, PLC
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10 Weird Laws Still on the Books in Virginia

1/7/2016

1 Comment

 
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A successful defense attorney who grew up in Waynesboro, Virginia, once told me that in Waynesboro, it is still illegal for a woman to drive a car up Main Street unless her husband is walking in front of the car and waving a red flag.  I can only imagine there must be some kind of story behind the passing of this law many years ago, and I wish I knew what that story was.  Here are 10 more weird laws that are still on the books in Virginia:

1.     Expectorating in public places

Yes, that means spitting.  Spitting in any public area in Virginia, such as a sidewalk or a public stairwell, is categorized as a Class 4 misdemeanor.

2.     Prohibition against the use of substances injurious to fish

Apparently, it is illegal to use explosives to catch fish in Virginia.  Doing so could slap you with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

3.     Fornication

It is still illegal for unmarried persons to make whoopie in the Commonwealth.

4.     Only genuine Smithfield hams are to be labeled or advertised as such

That’s right.  If it ain’t from Smithfield, it’s unlawful to label your salted pork a Smithfield ham.

5.     Sale of speleothems

Speleothems, such as stalagmites and stalactites, are mineral deposits formed in caves.  Limestone speleothems grow extremely slowly- usually less than 10 centimeters every thousand years- so it kind of makes sense that if you break and sell one of these bad boys, you’ll be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

6.     Underwater property recovery

It is illegal to remove any underwater historical specimen without a permit, including at underwater refuse sites or shipwrecks.

7.     Shooting birds for amusement and renting premises for such purposes

This law is not about hunting.  This law makes it illegal to keep live birds, such as pigeons, for use as targets during target practice.  Apparently this was enough of a problem in the past to make it a criminal offence.

8.     Flame throwers and smoke screens on motor vehicles

It is a Class 6 felony to attach a smoke screen or a flame thrower to one’s vehicle which may be a hindrance or obstruction to traffic.

9.    In Richmond, it is illegal to flip a coin in a restaurant to determine who pays for coffee.

10.    In Culpepper, it is illegal to wash one’s mule on the sidewalk.
1 Comment
Todd Snead
8/24/2020 11:17:32 am

Due to the covid-19 you have to make an appointment to visit the DMV you have to wear masks in most public areas everyone in the federal government including the president himself is trying to make laws to help prevent people from getting evicted because of the situation and their grappling over a new relief package to Aid the people that have suffered during this pandemic I deliver bread to restaurants well we all know what's happened to the restaurants some City Utilities departments are not cutting off service due to the employment crisis but the commissioner of Revenue of Waynesboro Virginia decides they want to garnish people's wages for past property tax!
something that belongs to me and I have to pay them money because I own it?
just one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard but then on top of it all the commissioner of Revenue decides at this moment to garnish wages for $139 after estimating my 99 Buick as being worth approximately $3,000.
Any car dealer that reads this and will tell you a 1999 buick Century with dents and 150,000 mikes is no where near $3,000 it's more like $700 I don't see the commissioner revenues name on my title what entitles her to charge me tax on something that belongs to me in the first place it's something that I have never understood . that they feel they are owed money on that they have no rights to.
But apparently she needed that $139 so desperately that she hunted down my employer to garnish my wages during a pandemic to a guy that delivers bread to restaurants in was approved for partial unemployment but never received any checks because they said I made too much money to receive anything from them so I lost $4,800 over this .
I think its downright ridiculous and and heartless that the Waynesboro Virginia government tax agency would garnish someone's wages in this situation that we're going through right now.
Is that how Waynesboro was paying for the flowers that I'm seeing the street ?
Who knows but I just thought I would mention this cuz someone that is struggling in the first place get to slap in the face over property tax that doesn't even belong to the City it belongs to me what little bit it is in the first place.
Maybe the more fortunate of Waynesboro should think about how the little man is struggling around here

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