We all know there are dumb laws everywhere, sometimes still in existence but not enforced. Here is a selection related to shirtlessness or barefooting, sometimes a bit loosely. Just read and enjoy.
| State or Country | State Laws | City Laws |
| Alabama | It is illegal to drive barefoot | Mobile : It is unlawful to wear women's pumps with sharp, high heels (dumb question : does that apply to *men* only ?). |
| California | Removing your clothes in a bath house is against the law. | |
| Colorado | Durango : It is illegal to go in public dressed in clothes "unbecoming" on one's sex. | |
| Delaware | Lewes : It is illegal to wear pants that are "form fitting" around the waist. | |
| Florida | It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. It is considered an offense to shower naked. |
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| Illinois | Chicago : It is legal to protest naked in front of city hall as long as you are under seventeen years of age and have legal permits. | |
| Kentucky | No female shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within this state unless she be escorted by at least two officers or unless she be armed with a club. -KRS 436.110 (Repealed in 1974) | |
| Maryland | Baltimore : It is a park rule violation to be in a public park with
a sleeveless shirt. $10 fine. This would include joggers that go shirtless.
(1898) Ocean City : A law from the early 1900's prohibits men from going topless on the Boardwalk. (Repealed) |
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| Massachussetts | Tattooing and body piercing is illegal. | |
| Michigan | It is illegal to sleep naked. All men driving motorcycles must wear shirts. |
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| Nebraska | Omaha : A man is not allowed to run around with a shaved chest. | |
| New Jersey | Caldwell : You may not wear shorts on the main avenue. | |
| New York | New York City : Women may go topless in public, providing it is not being used as a business. | |
| North Carolina | Charlotte : Women must have their bodies covered by at least16 yards of cloth at all times. | |
| Ohio | Cleveland : Women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes,
lest men see reflections of their underwear. Ironton : Cross-dressing is against the law. Oxford : It's illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man's picture. |
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| Oklahoma | Tattoos are banned. | Ada : If you wear New York Jets clothes you will be put into the
state penitentiary (dumb question : is the penalty reduced if you're wearing
the pants or shorts only ?). Schulter : Women may not gamble in the nude, in lingerie, or while wearing a towel. |
| Oregon | One may not bathe without wearing "suitable clothing," i.e.,that which covers one's body from neck to knee. | |
| Pennsylvania | Connellsville : It is against the law to drop your pants so low that ones underwear shows, or 5 inches below the waist. | |
| Rhode Island | Providence : It is illegal to wear transparent clothing. | |
| South Carolina | It is considered an offense to get a tattoo. | Fountain Inn : Horses are to wear pants at all times (dumb question : what are *people* supposed to wear ?). |
| Texas | A person cannot go barefoot without first obtaining a special five-dollar permit | |
| Virginia | Driving while not wearing shoes is prohibited. (Repealed) | |
| Washington | You are not allowed to breast feed in public. | |
| Australia | State of Victoria : You must have a neck to knee swimsuit in order to swim at Brighton Beach. | |
| Canada | Repentigny : It is forbidden to strip off in a bus or board a bus shirtless. | |
| France | Not a law, but a nationwide sports rule, also enforced in international competitions : it is forbidden to play pétanque (the French "boule" game) shirtless and/or barefoot. | Cannes : It is forbidden to be shirtless in any part of the city,
except beaches and places in direct contact with beaches. Four other cities on
the French Riviera issued similar city laws in the early nineties on the
grounds that shirtless people on the streets were "detrimental to their
image". This resulted in a public outburst of laughter but the regulations
are still enforced. A similar regulation exists in Paris, but it is not
enforced, believe my personal experience. Versailles : It is forbidden to enter the Chateau grounds shirtless and/or barefoot. This also applies to outdoors spaces. |
| Italy | A man may be arrested for wearing a skirt. | |
| Singapore | You may not walk around naked while in your home. It is considered to be pornography. | |
| Thailand | You must wear a shirt while driving a car. It is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear. |
Find more about all sorts of dumb laws on the Dumb Laws site.