Bizarre Louisiana Laws Still on the Books in 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Louisiana's law books are filled with a variety of bizarre, only-in-the-Bayou-State rules that have remained on the books for decades. These include prohibitions on bringing catfish into bars, stealing crawfish, mocking firefighters, and riding bicycles without hands on the handlebars.

Why it matters

These quirky laws, rooted in Louisiana's distinctive cultural history, continue to exist on the books, even if their enforcement is rare today. They provide a unique glimpse into the state's past and the types of issues that lawmakers have felt compelled to address through legislation over the years.

The details

Some of the strange Louisiana laws still in effect include: banning the mocking of boxing contestants, prohibiting public gargling in Lafayette, outlawing the use of snakes in religious ceremonies, making it illegal to steal crawfish, and classifying biting someone with natural teeth as 'simple assault' (but biting with false teeth as 'aggravated assault'). There are also laws against robbing banks with water guns, making false promises of marriage, and letting hogs roam the streets in certain towns.

• These laws have remained on the books in Louisiana for decades, with some dating back to the state's early history.