Weird Laws in Ohio: Which Are Still on the Books?

We checked four claims that recur on popular lists of weird Ohio laws against the Ohio Revised Code, the state wildlife rules and, where the trail led to a town, its codified ordinances, as of October 21, 2026. One is on the books with a caveat, and two more trace back to something real, just not the thing the list describes. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.

Weird laws in Ohio: the verdicts

Each claim below was checked against the Ohio code and, where it names a town, the local code. 4 claims checked.

No state law found

The claim: It is illegal to get a fish drunk.

What the law says: No Ohio statute or wildlife rule mentions getting a fish drunk. The closest real rules limit how fish may be caught: an Ohio Division of Wildlife rule makes it unlawful to take or try to take fish using explosives, poisons, firearms, electricity or chemicals, and the Revised Code says fish may be taken only by angling unless otherwise provided.

No state law found in the Ohio code as of October 21, 2026.

How we searched

We searched the full text of the Ohio Revised Code for any rule on getting fish drunk or intoxicated, and read the hunting and fishing chapter, the animal offense chapter and the state wildlife rule on methods of taking fish.

Parts of the code read

• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1533 (hunting and fishing, including fishing licenses and lawful methods of taking fish)
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 959 (offenses relating to domestic animals, including poisoning animals)

No town code was checked for this claim.

Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.

City law, not state law

The claim: It is illegal to fish for whales on Sundays.

What the law says: No Ohio state law mentions whales, and no Sunday fishing rule was found. The only whale law found is a Perrysburg city ordinance (Codified Ordinances 618.22) that bans keeping or possessing restricted animals, including whales, dolphins and porpoises, inside the city; a first offense is a minor misdemeanor. The claim turns that possession ban into a Sunday whale-fishing rule.

Perrysburg, Ohio: Perrysburg Codified Ordinances 618.22 Restricted Animal Species (in force)

Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.

Real law, twisted claim

The claim: An owner who loses an exotic animal such as a tiger must notify authorities within an hour.

What the law says: Ohio requires a person who possesses a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake to notify the county sheriff, local police and the Department of Agriculture "immediately" if it escapes. There is no one-hour window in the statute.

Ohio Rev. Code 935.16

“If a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake escapes, the person that possesses the animal or snake immediately shall notify both of the following: (1) The sheriff of the county and the chief law enforcement officer of the township or municipal corporation where the escape occurred; (2) The division of animal health in the department of agriculture by means of the twenty-four-hour telephone number that is maintained by the division.”

Penalty: No criminal penalty is attached to 935.16 in 935.99; under 935.16(C) the possessor 'is responsible for all reasonable costs associated with the capture or destruction of the animal or snake'.

No court opinion in our database cites this section.

Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.

Still on the books

The claim: You must honk your horn when passing another vehicle.

What the law says: Ohio requires a driver overtaking a vehicle to signal to the vehicle being overtaken, and the overtaken driver must give way at the overtaking driver's "audible signal". The overtaking driver is not required to signal audibly on a divided highway, limited access highway or road with four or more lanes. So an audible signal is expected on ordinary roads, but the statute says "signal", not "honk", and has exceptions.

Ohio Rev. Code 4511.27(A)

“(1) The operator of a vehicle or trackless trolley overtaking another vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding in the same direction shall, except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, signal to the vehicle or trackless trolley to be overtaken, shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle or trackless trolley. ... (3) The operator of a vehicle or trackless trolley overtaking and passing another vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding in the same direction on a divided highway as defined in section 4511.35 of the Revised Code, a limited access highway as defined in section 5511.02 of the Revised Code, or a highway with four or more traffic lanes, is not required to signal audibly to the vehicle or trackless trolley being overtaken and passed.”

Penalty: "Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree." (4511.27(B))

Last cited by a court: State v. Wilson (2024)

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.

Signaling when passing

The horn claim is close to the statute. Ohio Rev. Code 4511.27(A)(1) requires the driver of an overtaking vehicle to signal to the vehicle being overtaken, pass to the left at a safe distance and not return to the right until safely clear. The overtaken driver must give way at the overtaking driver's audible signal.

Division (A)(3) carves out the bigger roads:

The operator of a vehicle or trackless trolley overtaking and passing another vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding in the same direction on a divided highway as defined in section 4511.35 of the Revised Code, a limited access highway as defined in section 5511.02 of the Revised Code, or a highway with four or more traffic lanes, is not required to signal audibly to the vehicle or trackless trolley being overtaken and passed.

So an audible signal is expected on ordinary roads, but the word in the law is signal, not honk. A violation is a minor misdemeanor, rising to a fourth or third degree misdemeanor with prior traffic convictions within a year.

An escaped tiger and the missing hour

Ohio does require a prompt report when a dangerous wild animal gets loose, but not on the clock the lists give. Ohio Rev. Code 935.16 says that if a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake escapes, the person who possesses it immediately shall notify both of the following:

(1) The sheriff of the county and the chief law enforcement officer of the township or municipal corporation where the escape occurred; (2) The division of animal health in the department of agriculture by means of the twenty-four-hour telephone number that is maintained by the division.

The word is immediately; there is no one-hour window. The penalty section, 935.99, attaches no criminal penalty to 935.16. Instead, under 935.16(C) the possessor is responsible for all reasonable costs of capturing or destroying the animal.

Whales in Perrysburg

No Ohio state law mentions whales, and no Sunday fishing rule was found. The only whale law located is in Perrysburg, whose Codified Ordinances 618.22 bans keeping or possessing restricted animal species inside the city, a list that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. A first offense is a minor misdemeanor. The popular version turns that possession ban into a rule about fishing for whales on Sundays.

Fish and alcohol

No Ohio statute or wildlife rule says anything about getting a fish drunk. We searched the Revised Code and read the hunting and fishing chapter (1533), the domestic animal offenses chapter (959) and the state wildlife rule on methods of taking fish.

The closest real rules concern how fish may be caught. An Ohio Division of Wildlife rule makes it unlawful to take or try to take fish using explosives, poisons, firearms, electricity or chemicals, and the Revised Code says fish may be taken only by angling unless otherwise provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to honk when passing in Ohio?

Ohio Rev. Code 4511.27 requires a driver overtaking another vehicle to signal to it, and the overtaken driver must give way at the audible signal. The statute says signal, not honk, and the overtaking driver is not required to signal audibly on a divided highway, a limited access highway or a road with four or more lanes.

What does Ohio law require if an exotic animal escapes?

Under Ohio Rev. Code 935.16, the person who possesses an escaped dangerous wild animal or restricted snake must immediately notify the county sheriff, the local chief law enforcement officer and the Department of Agriculture division of animal health. There is no one-hour window, and the possessor is responsible for reasonable capture or destruction costs.

Is it illegal to fish for whales on Sunday in Ohio?

No Ohio law on fishing for whales on Sundays was found. Perrysburg Codified Ordinances 618.22 bans keeping or possessing restricted animals, including whales, dolphins and porpoises, inside that city.

Is it illegal to get a fish drunk in Ohio?

No Ohio statute or wildlife rule mentions getting a fish drunk, as of October 21, 2026. A Division of Wildlife rule makes it unlawful to take fish using explosives, poisons, firearms, electricity or chemicals.

What penalties do Ohio's real weird laws carry?

The real ones carry real penalties. Breaking the passing rule in 4511.27 is a minor misdemeanor, higher with recent prior traffic convictions, and a first Perrysburg restricted animal offense is a minor misdemeanor.