Weird laws in Texas

8 Obscure and Quirky Texas Laws You Won't Believe Exist

Texas is known for its big personality, but some of its laws are downright bizarre! From rules about windshield wipers to banning fish lassoing, here are eight obscure laws still lingering in the Lone Star State, including some that apply in Dallas County. These quirky statutes are either oddly specific, outdated, or just plain puzzling. Let’s dive in!

• 1. Windshield Wipers Required (Even Without a Windshield)

  In Texas, every vehicle must have functioning windshield wipers, even if it doesn’t have a windshield—like some Jeeps. Found in the Texas Transportation Code, this law ensures wiper readiness but feels absurd when there’s no glass to wipe.

  Why It’s Quirky: Mandating wipers for a non-existent windshield is a head-scratcher, making it a classic example of legal logic gone awry.

• 2. No Throwing Confetti, Rubber Balls, or Firecrackers in Borger

  In Borger, Texas, you can’t throw confetti, rubber balls, or firecrackers, especially at the Dome Civic and Convention Center. This oddly specific ordinance likely aimed to prevent litter or chaos but feels over-the-top today.

  Why It’s Quirky: Banning rubber balls and confetti seems like a party-pooper move straight out of a bygone era.

• 3. No Obnoxious Odors in Elevators (Port Arthur)

  Port Arthur bans emitting “obnoxious odors” in elevators, possibly targeting flatulence. This hyper-specific rule is tough to enforce and sounds like it belongs in a comedy sketch.

  Why It’s Quirky: Policing smells in elevators is as impractical as it is hilarious—who’s sniffing out violators?

• 4. Trains Must Stop Until the Other Passes

  A Texas law says when two trains meet at a crossing, both must stop and wait until the other passes, creating a legal standstill. Likely a legislative prank gone wrong, it’s still on the books.

  Why It’s Quirky: It’s a Catch-22 that defies logic—how do either train move if both are waiting?

• 5. No Feather Dusting in Public Buildings

  Using feather dusters in Texas public buildings, like courthouses in Dallas County, is illegal. Possibly due to old hygiene concerns, this rule feels bizarrely specific.

  Why It’s Quirky: Why single out feather dusters when modern cleaning tools dominate? It’s a dusty relic of the past.

• 6. Spittoons Required in El Paso Public Places

  El Paso mandates spittoons in churches, hotels, and stores to “efficiently contain expectorations.” Designed for a tobacco-chewing era, it’s wildly outdated now.

  Why It’s Quirky: Requiring spittoons in 2025 is like mandating hitching posts for horses—utterly obsolete.

• 7. No Lassoing Fish

  It’s illegal to lasso a fish in Texas, whether from a boat, dock, or shore, including Dallas County’s Trinity River. This law likely protected fish populations but sounds like a cowboy’s fever dream.

  Why It’s Quirky: The idea of someone trying to lasso a fish is so absurd it begs the question: why was this law needed?

• 8. No U-Turns in Richardson

  In Richardson, a Dallas County city, U-turns are banned at all intersections. Meant to reduce accidents, this blanket rule feels overly rigid in modern traffic systems.

  Why It’s Quirky: A total U-turn ban seems excessive when a few signs could do the trick.

These laws, whether still enforced or just lingering, remind us how legal codes can capture the quirks of their time. Got a favorite weird law? Check your local Texas ordinances—you might find more! For Dallas County residents, verify these at dallascityhall.com or Texas Statutes.