From the earliest days of the state all the way to the early 1940s, it was virtually impossible to do almost anything in public on a Sunday in Delaware. Called the “Blue Laws,” they were rarely enforced, but you could be ticketed or locked up for working, conducting business, or any other number of things. Weird laws in Delaware aren’t a thing of the past, though. In fact, you might be surprised to learn what is actually illegal in Delaware. You may have even (unknowingly) broken the law a time or two. (Don’t worry; we won’t tell.)
- If you want beer, wine, or any other alcohol from the liquor store on a Sunday, you’d better get to the store between noon and 8 p.m.
Dustin O’Donnell Photography / Flickr Until recently, liquor stores weren’t open at all on Sundays!
- Pawnbrokers can’t accept your wheelchair or fake leg or arm for payment or pawn.
Dena Burnett / Flickr So much for reduce, reuse, and recycle!
- If you go to the beach and want to change because there’s sand in your suit, don’t do it in your car OR a public restroom. It’s illegal.
pafotofan / Flickr This makes for an uncomfortable walk around town after a day on the beach.
- No R-rated or X-rated movies may be shown at drive-in movie theaters.
By Kevin [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Some things are not meant to be seen on a screen that size. This law would make more sense if there were still any drive-ins open in the state!
- You’re out of luck if you want to see horse racing on Good Friday or Easter Sunday; it’s illegal on both days.
John Donges / Flickr Horse racing used to be illegal on any Sunday.
- The only hunting you can do in Delaware on Sundays is fox hunting with dogs.
Mike Mahaffie / Flickr Yep, another Sunday law. Limited booze buying, no betting on the ponies, and no guns. Sheesh!
- Of all the weird laws in Delaware, this has got to be the strangest: It’s illegal to PRETEND to sleep on a bench on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.
robert burakiewicz / Flickr What happens if you actually fall asleep???
- Girls under 6 can run around topless at Rehoboth Beach.
Lee Lilly / Flickr Those who are older (and much older) not so much.
- If you get married on a dare, you are legally allowed to get an annulment. (Seems reasonable enough.)
Pixabay.com Wonder if this holds true in Vegas, too?
So, did you know about these weird laws in Delaware? Have you unknowingly broken any of them? Know of any other quirky things that are illegal in Delaware? Tell us!
Dustin O’Donnell Photography / Flickr
Until recently, liquor stores weren’t open at all on Sundays!
Dena Burnett / Flickr
So much for reduce, reuse, and recycle!
pafotofan / Flickr
This makes for an uncomfortable walk around town after a day on the beach.
By Kevin [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Some things are not meant to be seen on a screen that size. This law would make more sense if there were still any drive-ins open in the state!
John Donges / Flickr
Horse racing used to be illegal on any Sunday.
Mike Mahaffie / Flickr
Yep, another Sunday law. Limited booze buying, no betting on the ponies, and no guns. Sheesh!
robert burakiewicz / Flickr
What happens if you actually fall asleep???
Lee Lilly / Flickr
Those who are older (and much older) not so much.
Pixabay.com
Wonder if this holds true in Vegas, too?
Can’t get enough Delaware trivia? Click here for 12 fun facts about Delaware.
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Address: Delaware, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird Laws In Delaware August 13, 2021 Daniella DiRienzo Are there any other strange things about Delaware? Believe it or not, there are a few strange things about Delaware, such as the source of the state’s nickname the Blue Hen State. The origin isn’t nearly as significant as that of The First State, which came about because Delaware was the first state to sign the constitution. Nope, the fowl-inspired moniker goes back to the American Revolution, when soldiers from the Delaware area carried “fighting cocks” with them for entertainment. The bird of choice was the Blue Hen Chicken, which was known for its ferocity and fighting abilities. What are some fun facts about Delaware? There seems to be no shortage of fun facts about Delaware. For example, despite the fact that Delaware is the second smallest state (Rhode Island is the smallest), more than half (67.8%) of Fortune 500 companies are Delaware entities. And that leads us to our second fun fact about Delaware - there are more corporate entities established in The First State than residents. One of the most surprising fun facts about Delaware is that it has only three counties, which is less than any other state. Are there any other weird laws in Delaware? Surprisingly, the laws mentioned above aren’t the only weird laws in Delaware. Turns out, there are a few other illegal things in Delaware that will leave you scratching your head. For instance, it’s against the law to whisper in church or within 300 feet of a church in Rehoboth Beach. The law was originally enacted to discourage and prevent disruptive behavior during church service. Profanity and rude behavior were also banned in houses of worship (which should go without saying).
The OIYS Visitor Center
Weird Laws In Delaware
August 13, 2021
Daniella DiRienzo
Are there any other strange things about Delaware? Believe it or not, there are a few strange things about Delaware, such as the source of the state’s nickname the Blue Hen State. The origin isn’t nearly as significant as that of The First State, which came about because Delaware was the first state to sign the constitution. Nope, the fowl-inspired moniker goes back to the American Revolution, when soldiers from the Delaware area carried “fighting cocks” with them for entertainment. The bird of choice was the Blue Hen Chicken, which was known for its ferocity and fighting abilities. What are some fun facts about Delaware? There seems to be no shortage of fun facts about Delaware. For example, despite the fact that Delaware is the second smallest state (Rhode Island is the smallest), more than half (67.8%) of Fortune 500 companies are Delaware entities. And that leads us to our second fun fact about Delaware - there are more corporate entities established in The First State than residents. One of the most surprising fun facts about Delaware is that it has only three counties, which is less than any other state. Are there any other weird laws in Delaware? Surprisingly, the laws mentioned above aren’t the only weird laws in Delaware. Turns out, there are a few other illegal things in Delaware that will leave you scratching your head. For instance, it’s against the law to whisper in church or within 300 feet of a church in Rehoboth Beach. The law was originally enacted to discourage and prevent disruptive behavior during church service. Profanity and rude behavior were also banned in houses of worship (which should go without saying).
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Believe it or not, there are a few strange things about Delaware, such as the source of the state’s nickname the Blue Hen State. The origin isn’t nearly as significant as that of The First State, which came about because Delaware was the first state to sign the constitution. Nope, the fowl-inspired moniker goes back to the American Revolution, when soldiers from the Delaware area carried “fighting cocks” with them for entertainment. The bird of choice was the Blue Hen Chicken, which was known for its ferocity and fighting abilities.
What are some fun facts about Delaware?
There seems to be no shortage of fun facts about Delaware. For example, despite the fact that Delaware is the second smallest state (Rhode Island is the smallest), more than half (67.8%) of Fortune 500 companies are Delaware entities. And that leads us to our second fun fact about Delaware - there are more corporate entities established in The First State than residents. One of the most surprising fun facts about Delaware is that it has only three counties, which is less than any other state.
Are there any other weird laws in Delaware?
Surprisingly, the laws mentioned above aren’t the only weird laws in Delaware. Turns out, there are a few other illegal things in Delaware that will leave you scratching your head. For instance, it’s against the law to whisper in church or within 300 feet of a church in Rehoboth Beach. The law was originally enacted to discourage and prevent disruptive behavior during church service. Profanity and rude behavior were also banned in houses of worship (which should go without saying).
