PA's Weirdest Laws: Paintball, Bait Fish, Kids' Bedrooms

PENNSYLVANIA — At Patch, we update you about new laws that are passed in the Pennsylvania statehouse. But, what about those laws that are so old and so...well, odd that you can’t quite believe they’re real pieces of legislation? Let’s take a look at some of the unique and strange laws on the books in the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania is one of several states where all liquor stores must be run by the state, which can be a head-scratcher for visitors looking to purchase alcohol. And, it is still illegal to buy booze in another state and bring it across state lines—but someone living out of state may give liquor as a gift to someone in Pennsylvania for personal use, according to state law.

Speaking of liquor laws, all nonprofits and other organizations must register any alcohol raffles or wine pulls with the Liquor Control Board, even if they are for a fundraiser, as Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba of Allentown explains.

Here are a few other laws we could confirm on the books:

You can't shoot a paintball gun at someone who is not playing paintball. A person who violates this section of Pennsylvania state law commits a summary offense. You also can't carry a loaded paintball gun on the highway, unless you are with a shooting range operator traveling to part of a paintball course, or a similar scenario.

It is illegal to carry certain fish as bait while you're out fishing: specifically, goldfish, koi, comets, and carp.

And, a child's bedroom may not be more than 200 feet from a toilet, as well as a shower or bathtub.

Now, there are plenty more strange-sounding laws that we couldn’t quite track down in the rule books. Several law offices list these, including the law offices of Karp and Hart in Chester County as well as Alberta (Canada)'s Kahane Law Office.

• It's illegal to shoot a big game animal while it's swimming, or to hunt in a cemetery.
• You can't use dynamite to catch fish. You also can't catch one with any body part but your mouth, so no bare-handed catching allowed.
• A wedding officiant can't perform the ceremony if the bride or groom is drunk.