Odd Laws Still on the Books
Digging through a trash can, a soldier's tobacco age and no horses on a limited access highway: real Pennsylvania sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
Who handles this in Pennsylvania: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Pennsylvania directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawDigging through a trash can | What it saysScattering or disturbing the contents of a receptacle holding ashes, garbage or rubbish is the same offense as littering. | Breaking itA summary offense the first time |
| The lawA soldier's tobacco age | What it saysService members and honorably discharged veterans may buy tobacco at 18, while everyone else waits until 21. | Breaking itSee the tobacco page |
| The lawHorses on the highway | What it saysNo one may ride an animal or drive a buggy on a limited access highway. | Breaking itSet by the vehicle code |
Many laws that sound strange are municipal ordinances rather than state law; this page covers only the Consolidated Statutes. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- 18 Pa.C.S. 6501 — Scattering rubbish
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3103 — Persons riding animals or driving animal-drawn vehicles
- 18 Pa.C.S. 6305 — Sale of tobacco products
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.