Stupid State Laws Daily – Iowa
In this special series on the Stupid Patrol we are bringing you the truly stupid laws that exist in the USA, and around the world.
We hope you knowing these stupid and relatively unknown laws will give you a laugh, keep you informed on the idiocy that can be law, and help keep you out of jail – for being Stupid.
As they say “ignorance of the law is no excuse” and as we say stupidity must be a real good excuse!
Today we discover – Iowa
Sheriff: For all those who know me personally, you know how much I loved my time and experiences in Iowa, and the quirks I discovered there. 
- It is a violation of the law to sell or distribute drugs or narcotics without having first obtained the appropriate Iowa drug tax stamp.
- Kisses may last for no more than five minutes.
- Tanning bed facilities must warn of the risk of getting a sunburn.
Full text of the Law
136D.4 Warning signs–written warning statements.
1. A tanning facility shall post the following warning signs that describe the hazards associated with the use of tanning devices:
a. A warning sign in a conspicuous location readily visible to persons entering the establishment. The signs shall comply with rules adopted by the department.
b. A warning sign for each tanning device, in a conspicuous location readily visible to a person preparing to use the device. The sign shall comply with rules adopted by the department.
2. A tanning facility shall provide each customer with a written warning statement that complies with rules adopted by the department.
Section History: Recent form
90 Acts, ch 1220,4
- A board was created to regulate among other things, hearing aids.
Full text of the Law
154A.2 – Establishment of board.
A board for the licensing and regulation of hearing aid dealers is established. The board shall consist of three licensed hearing aid dealers and two members who are not licensed hearing aid dealers who shall represent the general public. Members, who shall be residents of the state of Iowa, shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate. A licensed member shall be actively employed as a hearing aid dealer and shall have been so engaged for five years preceding appointment, the last two of which shall have been in Iowa. Hearing aid dealers appointed to the initial board shall have not less than five years experience and shall fulfill the qualifications relating to experience for licensure as provided in this chapter.
No more than two members of the board shall be employees of, or dealers principally, for the same hearing aid manufacturer.
Professional associations or societies composed of licensed hearing aid dealers may recommend the names of potential board members to the governor, but the governor shall not be bound by the recommendations. A board member shall not be required to be a member of any professional association or society composed of licensed hearing aid dealers.
Section History: Early form
[C75, 77, 79, 81, � 154A.2]
- Ministers must obtain a permit to carry their liquor across state lines.
- Doctors who treat a person with gonorrhea must report this to the local board of health and include the disease’s “probable origin”.
Full text of the Law
Chapter 299
The Public Health
Section 2. Local boards of health – diseased persons – physicians to report.
It shall be the duty of every licensed physician, of every superintendent or manager of a hospital dispensary and of every person who gives treatment for a venereal disease, to mail to the local board of health of the city, town, or township located in the state of Iowa, and where the disease occurs, a card or report blank supplied by the state board of health, stating the age, sex, color, marital condition and occupation of such diseased person, the nature and previous duration of such disease and its probable origin; such card or report blank to be mailed immediately after the first examination or treatment of such diseased person, provided, that except as hereinafter required, the name and address of such diseased person shall not be reported to the local board of health.
Approved April 22, 1919
- All boxes used to pick hops must be exactly 36 inches long.
- A man with a moustache may never kiss a woman in public.
- One-armed piano players must perform for free.
If there are any Stupid – and we mean STUPID laws in your State that we missed, or in your city for our upcoming stupid city laws list, let us know.
