New Hampshire’s Most Stupid Law Will Have You Scratching Your Head

You don't need this writer to tell you the importance of obeying the law. But what about stupid laws?

Now, hear us out. By "stupid" laws, we don't mean random ones that you choose to disregard cause they don't align with your personal philosophy or how you're feeling in the moment. Laws serve a purpose, and it's important that they be respected and followed.

That said, some laws created back in the day are humorously unnecessary in 2023.

Take Nevada, for instance. Did you know it's illegal to drive a camel on the highway? If you make an "ugly" face at a dog in Oklahoma, you could face jail time. And of course, if you have a donkey in Arizona, be sure it's not sleeping in your bathtub.

But what is the strangest law in New Hampshire? According to World Population Review's list of the most stupid laws by state, that would be the rule stating that collecting or carrying away seaweed at night is illegal.

At first glance, this might not be the most unreasonable of laws. After all, seaweed plays a valuable role in coastal ecosystems. According to Aquarium of the Pacific, seaweed:

...plays many important roles in coastal ecosystems. Seaweed provides food and habitat for other marine species, cleans coastal waters by removing excess nutrients from runoff, and absorbs carbon dioxide from the water which protects shelled animals (like oysters) from ocean acidification.

With that in mind, one might argue that New Hampshire's strange seaweed law was created to help protect the environment. But here's the thing: the rule only prohibits seaweed removal at night, "between daylight in the evening and daylight in the morning", according to Fish and Game. So, there's nothing stopping you from theoretically taking it away during the day.

At the end of the day, we're left with more questions than answers, but one thing's for certain: there are plenty of strange laws out there. Let's look at some odd ones in Massachusetts.