When the worlds of love and law collide it becomes a very messy business. However, there are situations where the law needs to get involved. With Valentine’s Day approaching, we’re taking the opportunity to look at some of the weird and wonderful love, sex and relationship related laws from across the globe.
Written by Editorial Team. Published 10 February 2021. Last updated 13 February 2026.
The weird
In 1771, the small town of Truro on Cape Cod passed an order that “every single man in the township shall kill six blackbirds or three crows, and shall not be married till they comply with this requisition.” In the early 1700s crows and blackbirds destroyed corn crops, so this rule was put in place to keep the population under control. Nonetheless, this is likely anecdotal as no primary source exists for this law.
In Logan County, Colorado it’s illegal to kiss the lips of a sleeping woman. However, we're unsure whether there’s an exception for acting. Either way, we would recommend avoiding theatre productions of Sleeping Beauty there, just in case.
It’s illegal for a woman to have sex with a man while riding in an ambulance in Tremonton, Utah. As well as criminal charges, the woman's name will be published in the local newspaper. They seem to ignore the fact that it takes two to tango and the man involved doesn’t get a mention.
Similarly, it’s illegal to have sex in a vehicle with flat wheels in Cottonwood, Arizona. You could receive a fine, one that could be doubled if you have sex on the back seat.
A French law passed during World War I allows women to marry deceased men. It was likely introduced to allow fiancées and girlfriends to obtain death benefits. The law was clarified in 1950 and new rules made it much harder to marry posthumously; only allowing it with permission from the President of France. Proof is also required that the deceased planned to marry you before they passed away.
It’s illegal for men with moustaches to kiss women in Eureka, Nevada. Whilst they can be scratchy, this takes things a little too far in our opinion.
The wonderful
It’s often circulated that forgetting your wife's birthday is a crime in Samoa. Whilst this is probably something worth considering for wives and husbands worldwide, this one appears to be an internet myth.
Wichita, Kansas has a law that makes it compulsory to be nice to your mother-in-law meaning people “can divorce their spouse for mistreatment of their mother.” That said, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief as this appears to be nothing more than a humorous anecdote.
In Idaho it’s illegal to give your sweetheart a box of chocolates weighing less than 50 pounds (over 22.5 kg). Very generous, but how on earth are you meant to carry it all home? Again, this is likely just anecdotal.
In Alexandria, Minnesota, no man is allowed to make love to his wife with the smell of garlic, sardines or onions on his breath. Furthermore, if his wife requests it, local ordinance mandates that he must brush his teeth.
The understandable
Until recently weddings in England and Wales had to take place in a structure with a solid, permanent roof with a designated licence. However, recent reforms have made it legal to get married outdoors meaning people have more flexibility when it comes to choosing a wedding venue.
If you’re at an Australian wedding, don’t pipe up during the “speak now, or forever hold your peace” pronouncement. Disrupting a wedding or funeral is illegal under the Summary Offences Act 7A and can lead to a fine of up to $7,700. If you’ve got something to say, do it before the wedding.
In Newcastle, Wyoming, sex inside a walk-in meat freezer is prohibited. Whilst it’s fun to wonder about the events that led to this requiring a law, however, it appears this might be a myth.
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