New York
Weird Laws in New York: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
We checked six claims from popular lists of weird New York laws against the state's consolidated laws, mainly the Penal Law, as of October 21, 2026. The results run the full range: one law still in force much as described, one real law that the retelling points at the wrong person, one repealed rule and three claims for which no state law was found. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.
Weird laws in New York: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the New York code and, where it names a town, the local code. 6 claims checked.
The claim: Taking a selfie with a tiger is illegal.
What the law says: New York bars licensed animal exhibitors and dealers from knowingly letting the public have direct contact with a big cat, including posing for a photo without a permanent barrier. It regulates the exhibitor, not a private person who takes a selfie.
“It shall be unlawful for any person licensed or required to be licensed as an exhibitor or dealer pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC 2132-2134, including agents or employees of such person, to knowingly allow the public to have direct contact with a big cat.”
Penalty: a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for the first offense and not more than one thousand dollars for a second and subsequent offenses
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Wearing slippers after 10 p.m. is illegal.
What the law says: No New York state law found that makes wearing slippers after 10 p.m. an offense.
No state law found in the New York code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the New York consolidated laws for any rule on slippers, footwear or clothing after 10 p.m., and read the public order and public lewdness articles of the Penal Law.
Parts of the code read
- New York Penal Law Article 240 (offenses against public order, including disorderly conduct, harassment and loitering)
- New York Penal Law Article 245 (offenses against public sensibilities, including public lewdness and exposure)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Two or more people may not gather in public wearing face coverings that hide identity.
What the law says: New York's loitering law (Penal Law 240.35, subdivision 4) once made it a violation to loiter, remain or congregate in a public place while masked or disguised with other people so masked or disguised, except at a masquerade party or similar entertainment. The Legislature repealed that subdivision in June 2020 (chapter 98), when the Governor had mandated face coverings in certain situations. Separately, Penal Law 205.35 makes it a class B misdemeanor to wear a mask or face covering to prevent identification while committing a felony or class A misdemeanor or fleeing from one; simply gathering in masks is not a crime.
“Being masked or in any manner disguised by unusual or unnatural attire or facial alteration, loiters, remains or congregates in a public place with other persons so masked or disguised, or knowingly permits or aids persons so masked or disguised to congregate in a public place; except that such conduct is not unlawful when it occurs in connection with a masquerade party or like entertainment”
Penalty: was a violation (loitering)
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: It is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket on Sundays.
What the law says: No New York state law found against carrying an ice cream cone in a pocket on Sundays.
No state law found in the New York code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the New York consolidated laws for ice cream, pockets and Sunday or Sabbath rules, and read the Sunday public entertainment section and the public order article of the Penal Law.
Parts of the code read
- New York Penal Law Article 240 (offenses against public order, including disorderly conduct)
- New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law section 61.01 (public entertainment on Sunday)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Flirting with a woman can bring a $25 fine.
What the law says: No New York state law found imposing a $25 fine for flirting with a woman.
No state law found in the New York code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the full text of the New York consolidated laws for flirting, accosting or annoying women in public, and read the public order and public lewdness articles of the Penal Law.
Parts of the code read
- New York Penal Law Article 240 (offenses against public order, including disorderly conduct and harassment)
- New York Penal Law Article 245 (offenses against public sensibilities, including public lewdness)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Being held up to ridicule by submitting to having balls thrown at your head is an offense.
What the law says: Penal Law 245.05 (offensive exhibition): promoting or participating in a public-entertainment exhibition in which a person is held up to ridicule by voluntarily submitting to indignities such as having balls or other articles thrown at the head or body is a violation. The claim is about right, though it targets promoters and participants.
“A person is held up to ridicule or contempt by voluntarily submitting to indignities such as the throwing of balls or other articles at his head or body”
Penalty: Offensive exhibition is a violation.
Last cited by a court: Jay-Jay Cabaret, Inc. v. State (1994)
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
Checked October 21, 2026. This is legal history and information, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked official text is the authority.
Offensive exhibition: the ball-throwing law
This claim is about right, though the law targets the people who promote or take part in the exhibition. Penal Law 245.05 makes offensive exhibition a violation, and one of the exhibitions it describes is one in which:
A person is held up to ridicule or contempt by voluntarily submitting to indignities such as the throwing of balls or other articles at his head or body
The section is about public entertainment. It reaches the people who promote or take part in that kind of exhibition.
Tigers, selfies and who the law is aimed at
New York does have a law on public contact with big cats, but it binds the business, not the visitor. Environmental Conservation Law 11-0538 provides:
It shall be unlawful for any person licensed or required to be licensed as an exhibitor or dealer pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC 2132-2134, including agents or employees of such person, to knowingly allow the public to have direct contact with a big cat.
Direct contact includes posing for a photo without a permanent barrier. The penalty is up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a second or later offense. A private person who takes a selfie is not who the statute regulates.
Masks in a group: repealed in 2020
The masked gathering claim was once accurate. Penal Law 240.35, the loitering statute, had a subdivision 4 that made it a violation to loiter, remain or congregate in a public place while masked or disguised by unusual or unnatural attire or facial alteration together with others so masked, except at a masquerade party or like entertainment.
The Legislature repealed that subdivision in chapter 98 of the Laws of 2020 (S8415 / A10446), signed June 13, 2020 and effective immediately. At the time, the Governor had mandated face coverings in certain situations.
A narrower rule remains. Penal Law 205.35 makes it a class B misdemeanor to wear a mask or face covering to prevent identification while committing a felony or class A misdemeanor, or while fleeing from one. Gathering in masks, by itself, is not a crime under it.
Slippers, ice cream and flirting
For three claims, no state law was found. For each, we searched the full text of the consolidated laws and read the Penal Law articles on public order (Article 240) and, for the slippers and flirting claims, public sensibilities (Article 245).
- Slippers after 10 p.m.: no rule on slippers, footwear or clothing after 10 p.m. was found.
- An ice cream cone in a pocket on Sundays: a search for ice cream, pockets and Sunday or Sabbath rules found nothing, and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law section on public entertainment on Sunday (61.01) says nothing of the kind.
- A $25 fine for flirting with a woman: a search for flirting, accosting or annoying women in public found no such fine.
None of these searches covered city codes, so a local rule cannot be ruled out from this check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to take a selfie with a tiger in New York?
Environmental Conservation Law 11-0538 bars licensed animal exhibitors and dealers, and their agents or employees, from knowingly allowing the public to have direct contact with a big cat, including posing for a photo without a permanent barrier. It regulates the exhibitor, not the person taking the selfie.
Is it illegal to wear a mask in a group in New York?
Not under the state loitering law since June 2020. The Legislature repealed Penal Law 240.35(4), the rule against congregating in public while masked or disguised, by chapter 98 of 2020. Penal Law 205.35 still makes it a class B misdemeanor to wear a mask to avoid identification while committing a felony or class A misdemeanor, or fleeing from one. County and city codes were not checked.
Is it illegal to have balls thrown at your head in New York?
Penal Law 245.05 makes offensive exhibition a violation. It covers promoting or taking part in a public entertainment in which a person is held up to ridicule by voluntarily submitting to indignities such as having balls or other articles thrown at the head or body.
Is it illegal to wear slippers after 10 p.m. in New York?
No New York state law was found that makes wearing slippers after 10 p.m. an offense, as of October 21, 2026. City codes were not checked.
Is flirting illegal in New York?
No New York state law was found that imposes a $25 fine for flirting with a woman, as of October 21, 2026.
What are some real weird laws in New York?
The offensive exhibition law (Penal Law 245.05) and the big cat contact ban for exhibitors (Environmental Conservation Law 11-0538) are both in force.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- New York Penal Law 245.05, offensive exhibition (New York State Senate)(legislation.nysenate.gov).gov
- New York Environmental Conservation Law 11-0538, direct contact with big cats (New York State Senate)(nysenate.gov).gov
- New York Penal Law 240.35, loitering (New York State Senate)(legislation.nysenate.gov).gov
- Senate Bill S8415 (2019-2020), repealing Penal Law 240.35(4), chapter 98 of 2020 (New York State Senate)(nysenate.gov).gov
- New York Penal Law Article 240, offenses against public order (New York State Senate)(nysenate.gov).gov
- Jay-Jay Cabaret, Inc. v. State (1994)(courtlistener.com)