# Are there states where something is uniquely illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2021, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195 "2021-08-07T14:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/243 "2022-09-13T17:34:33Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > - If one dealership opens seven days a week, they will all have to or they will lose business to those that open on Sunday. > - Allowing dealerships to open on Sunday won’t increase total sales but will increase overhead, so there will be less profit. Liquor stores had the same argument. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/244 "2022-09-18T23:23:44Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Liquor stores had the same argument. But, as I understand it, a difference is that some church groups, and groups which sought to limit excessive alcohol consumption, have (or had) also been in support of laws against selling liquor on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/245 "2022-09-19T15:17:07Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Still illegal for car dealerships to be open on Sunday. Heaven forbid people be able to spend time shopping for a major purchase on a weekend day. While this is less of a thing with the internet, it is nice to have a day where you can walk around on car lots without getting bombarded by salespeople. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/246 "2022-09-19T15:31:21Z")
Goes to show how different places are- the first thing I thought was ’ How do you walk around the lot if the dealership is closed?" ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/247 "2022-09-19T15:33:09Z")
For me, Sunday has always been the day to go car shopping. Take some notes then stop back during the week. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/248 "2022-09-19T15:41:26Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Goes to show how different places are- the first thing I thought was ’ How do you walk around the lot if the dealership is closed?" I’m not sure I understand, it’s no different than walking around a parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/249 "2022-09-19T16:19:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > While this is less of a thing with the internet, it is nice to have a day where you can walk around on car lots without getting bombarded by salespeople. “I’m just browsing. I’ll come inside if I have any questions or find anything I’m interested in” I think bars used to be closed on election day too. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/250 "2022-09-19T17:44:11Z")
Where I live, the cars are either inside a building or inside a locked, fenced lot - so you can’t walk around _on_ the lot, you can only walk past the front of the lot or building and won’t usually be able to see much from there. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/251 "2022-09-19T19:14:20Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > If one dealership opens seven days a week, they will all have to or they will lose business to those that open on Sunday. Yet, somehow Chick-fil-A has made the business decision of being closed on Sundays without forcing other fast food places to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/252 "2022-09-19T19:39:11Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Yet, somehow Chick-fil-A has made the business decision of being closed on Sundays without forcing other fast food places to do the same. ? That’s really an opposite thing. Chick-fil-A has decided to give up a day of revenue, which helps all the other restaurants. One car dealership being open on Sunday means they sell all of the cars purchased that day. Assuming the law is changed to allow Sunday sales, any dealer who wants to give up that potential revenue is free to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/253 "2022-09-19T19:40:25Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > “I’m just browsing. I’ll come inside if I have any questions or find anything I’m interested in” Which works fine, until it happens a few minutes later when the next person spots you. > [@doreen](#): > > Where I live, the cars are either inside a building or inside a locked, fenced lot - so you can’t walk around _on_ the lot, you can only walk past the front of the lot or building and won’t usually be able to see much from there. 'round here, that’s the the case. They’re either in an [entirely open parking lot](https://goo.gl/maps/Lixb78H8WzcTQYF99) or [they have stanchions around the perimeter](https://goo.gl/maps/gNRdxFLJUYB3BGVx8), presumably so you can’t tow/drive a car out of the lot after hours. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/254 "2022-09-19T19:42:24Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > ? That’s really an opposite thing. Chick-fil-A has decided to give up a day of revenue, which helps all the other restaurants. One car dealership being open on Sunday means they sell all of the cars purchased that day. Assuming the law is changed to allow Sunday sales, any dealer who wants to give up that potential revenue is free to do so. It’s also worthy of note that if Chick-fil-A is closed today, I could get something else and then go there tomorrow. If my local Honda dealership is closed today and I go to a different one, it’s likely going to be years before I’m back (at least to buy a car). ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/255 "2022-09-19T20:03:10Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Assuming the law is changed to allow Sunday sales, any dealer who wants to give up that potential revenue is free to do so. As has C-f-A. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/256 "2022-09-20T00:43:36Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > A couple of years ago we were crossing from Canada back into the US (several times over a period of a few days), and were asked each time if we had any citrus fruit. I guess they were worried about damage to the booming Vermont / New Hampshire citrus industry, or loss of profit because we’d bought some oranges grown in Quebec :D. I can answer this. Citrus fruit can carry many diseases ([citrus canker](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/citrus/citrus-canker) being one of them). It’s not that Canada has a citrus industry, but Canada may not have the same restrictions on importing citrus that the US does and many other citrus producing countries are rampant with these diseases, but will export the fruit anyway. The citrus industry in Florida is in serious decline (and commercial key lime groves have been all but wiped out) due to a combination of canker (which causes the land to be left fallow for several years and then more years until productive) and rising land prices (non-producing land is worth a lot of money, why replant?). ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/257 "2022-09-20T00:48:35Z")
I’m surprised no one has mentioned yet that California is the only state in the US that prohibits pet ferrets. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/258 "2022-09-20T01:02:09Z")
They are also illegal in Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/259 "2022-09-20T01:06:37Z")
Didn’t know that. Thanks. I still don’t think that’s totally reasonable, given that 48 other states don’t seem to have huge issues created by pet ferrets. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/260 "2022-09-20T01:11:26Z")
FYI also not legal in NYC and Washington DC although they are cities, not states ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/261 "2022-09-20T03:18:19Z")
Nevada: Operating a brothel…without a license. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195/262 "2022-09-20T17:14:21Z")
Pet skunks are legal in only a handful of states. I actually got to touch one once - a coworker had just gotten a skunk as a pet (de-stunk, of course!) and brought it in to show it off - this was in Pennsylvania, one of that handful of states. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-states-where-something-is-uniquely-illegal/948195.md?page=14)