7 Weird Laws in Michigan That Are Surprisingly Still on the Books

Why this law exists

A surviving Blue Law rooted in religious observance of the Sabbath. Michigan's Sunday car sales ban has survived multiple legal challenges, partly because dealership owners themselves have lobbied to keep it — it gives the entire industry a uniform day off.

Why this law exists

The law dated to the 19th century and reflected Victorian-era attitudes about female virtue and male responsibility. It was rarely prosecuted in modern times but remained technically valid until the Michigan Legislature removed it during a 2023 statutory cleanup effort.

Why this law exists

Passed in the era when railroads were the primary mode of long-distance travel. Drunk passengers on trains were a genuine public safety concern. The law predates automobiles and has never been formally repealed despite the decline of passenger rail.

Why this law exists

Michigan's adultery statute is one of the most severe in the US. It has not been successfully prosecuted in decades and would likely face constitutional challenges if attempted. The law reflects 19th century moral codes that were never removed from the criminal code.

Why this law exists

This law gained national attention in 1999 when a man was cited for swearing after falling out of a canoe. The Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately ruled the law unconstitutional as applied to that case, citing First Amendment protections. The statute itself was never formally repealed.

Why this law exists

Bird fraud was a documented problem in the early 20th century when exotic birds were fashionable pets. Sellers would dye common sparrows and sell them as parakeets or canaries. Michigan's animal fraud provisions were designed to address this practice.

Why this law exists

This is one of the most widely shared "weird Michigan laws" online. While Michigan did have various laws reflecting coverture (the legal doctrine that a wife's legal identity was subsumed by her husband's), the specific hair-cutting prohibition cannot be traced to a real statute. It is internet folklore.