ARTICLES

Greased Pigs and Skunk Trafficking:
Odd Minnesota Laws

The old adage “ignorantia juris non excusat” or “ignorance of the law is not a defense” applies to some rather odd laws on the books of the State of Minnesota.   While performing some research for a client desiring to promote itself through a contest, said research revealed a prohibition on greased pig contests.   Naturally, this led to a brief look at some other laws on the books that you may not have known about…consider yourself warned!

343.36 GREASED PIG CONTESTS AND TURKEY SCRAMBLES.

No person shall operate, run or participate in a contest, game, or other like activity, in which a pig, greased, oiled or otherwise, is released and wherein the object is the capture of the pig, or in which a chicken or turkey is released or thrown into the air and wherein the object is the capture of the chicken or turkey. Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

86B.315 TOWING PERSON ON WATER SKIS OR OTHER DEVICE.

Subd. 2. Night skiing or towing prohibited. A person may not be towed or operate a watercraft towing a person on water skis, an aquaplane, a surfboard, a saucer, or another device on waters of this state from one hour after sunset to sunrise of the following day.

31.74 SALE OF IMITATION HONEY.

Subd. 2. Prohibited sale. Notwithstanding any law or rule to the contrary, it is unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any product which is in semblance of honey and which is labeled, advertised, or other- wise represented to be honey, if it is not honey. The word "imitation" shall not be used in the name of a product which is in semblance of honey whether or not it contains any honey. The label for a product which is not in semblance of honey and which contains honey may include the word "honey" in the name of the product and the relative position of the word "honey" in the product name, and in the list of ingredients, when required, shall be determined by its prominence as an ingredient in the product.

624.64 ACROBATIC EXHIBITIONS.

Every proprietor, occupant, or lessee of any place where acrobatic exhibitions are held, who shall permit any person to perform on any trapeze, rope, pole, or other acrobatic contrivance, without network, or other sufficient means of protection from falling or other accident, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

609.735 CONCEALING IDENTITY.

A person whose identity is concealed by the person in a public place by means of a robe, mask, or other disguise, unless based on religious beliefs, or incidental to amusement, entertainment, protection from weather, or medical treatment, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

145.365 TRAFFICKING IN SKUNKS.

Subdivision 1. Prohibition. In order to protect the public health and prevent human and domestic animal exposure to rabies, it shall be unlawful to: (a) Import into or export out of this state any live skunk, for sale, barter, exchange or gift for any purpose whatsoever; (b) Acquire, sell, barter, exchange, give, or purchase any live skunks.