By JACK PALMER
palmer@crescent-news.com
It is illegal to get a fish drunk.
Participating or conducting a duel is prohibited.
It is illegal for more than five women to live in a house.
Believe it or not, these are among the many antiquated laws still on the books in Ohio.
"There was probably a good reason for all of them at one point in time ...," said Defiance city law director Dave Williams. "I suspect the 'not getting fish drunk' was approved during the Depression era or even before, when fishermen wanted a short cut to catch a lot of fish to have something to eat for their families."
Williams explained that alcohol has a paralytic effect on fish.
"If you poured alcohol into a small area where you knew there were a lot of fish, many would die and float to the top of the water where they could be easily recovered."
According to Ohio Revised Code section 2332.12, no person shall be arrested on Sunday or on the fourth day of July.
"Another part of that law prohibits being arrested during a session of the legislature or in any court which is in session," said Williams. "It all stems back from the 'wild west days' -- when Ohio was considered the West -- when it was fairly easy for people to swear out fraudulent warrants against their enemies. Sometimes politicians would even try to get one of their political adversaries arrested."
Several Ohio cities and villages also have strange laws on the books.
In Cleveland, it's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. It's also against the law for women to wear patent leather shoes, lest men see reflections of their underwear.
In Bexley, the installation and usage of slot machines in outhouses is prohibited. In Marion, you cannot eat a doughnut and walk backwards on a city street. In Toledo, throwing a snake at anyone is illegal.
It is against the law in Youngstown to run out of gas.
"I kind of like that one," Williams said with a chuckle. "Maybe it should be illegal to run out of gas on North Clinton Street."
Williams said most of the antiquated Defiance city ordinances were eliminated in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
"But I do remember reading about an interesting proposed ordinance that came before our city council in the 1950s," said Williams. "Many of the local barbers wanted a city ordinance prohibiting all barbers from being open on Mondays.
"Since they all worked every Saturday, they wanted Monday off so they could get a two-day weekend. But they were afraid that if a few barbers were allowed to stay open on Monday, they would take away customers."
Added Williams: "There was a lively discussion and debate, but council decided to let the free market concept prevail and refused to pass it."
At least one community in the six-county area still has an antiquated law on the books.
In Paulding, it is legal for a policeman to bite a dog to quiet him.
"I've heard of that law," said Paulding Police Chief Randy Crawford. "But we don't do it."