Odd Laws Still on the Books
Snakes in church, a challenge to a duel and the slow vehicle emblem: real Kentucky sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the Kentucky Revised Statutes.
Who handles this in Kentucky: Kentucky Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Kentucky directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawSnakes in church | What it saysDisplaying, handling or using any kind of reptile in connection with a religious service or gathering is an offense. | Breaking it$50 to $100 |
| The lawA duel | What it saysChallenging someone to fight with a deadly weapon, or accepting, is a crime, and so is carrying the challenge or agreeing to be a second. | Breaking it$500 and six to twelve months, or $100 and thirty days for the messenger or second |
| The lawReflective tape | What it saysA slow moving vehicle without a motor may use white or silver reflective tape instead of the emblem, with at least one hundred square inches across the back. | Breaking itSee the horses page |
Many laws that sound strange are city or county ordinances rather than state law; this page covers only the Revised Statutes. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Kentucky attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- KRS 437.060 — Use of reptiles in religious services
- KRS 437.030 — Challenge to duel -- Accepting and delivering challenge
- KRS 189.820 — Slow-moving vehicle emblem or reflective tape required
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.