Odd Laws Still on the Books
No pet chicks, a $25 fine, and horses on the highway in three counties: real Maryland sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the Annotated Code.
Who handles this in Maryland: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maryland directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawChicks as pets | What it saysNo one may sell, barter or give away a chick, duckling or other fowl under the age of 3 weeks as a pet, toy, premium or novelty, or dye or change its color. | Breaking itA misdemeanor with a fine of up to $25 |
| The lawHorses on the highway | What it saysNo one may ride a horse or drive a buggy on a divided highway posted over 35 miles per hour or on a controlled access highway, except in Charles, Worcester and St. Mary's counties. | Breaking itA traffic violation |
| The lawNo pet raccoon | What it saysFoxes, skunks and raccoons are on the same banned list as bears, alligators and big cats. | Breaking itA misdemeanor, up to $1,000 |
| The lawGround glass | What it saysWillfully and maliciously giving a dog poison or ground glass, or leaving it out for one, is its own crime. | Breaking itA misdemeanor, up to $100 each time |
Many laws that sound strange are county ordinances rather than state law, and those differ from place to place; this page covers only the Annotated Code. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-614 — Sale or dyeing of chicks
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-104 — Riding animals and animal drawn vehicles
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-621 — Importation, sale and possession of dangerous animals
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-618 — Giving poison or ground glass to a dog
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.