Oklahoma
Weird Laws in Oklahoma: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 2 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
We checked four claims from popular lists of weird Oklahoma laws against the Oklahoma Statutes, as of October 21, 2026. Two are on the books, including an eavesdropping statute whose text dates from 1910. For other states, see our weird laws by state guide.
Weird laws in Oklahoma: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the Oklahoma code and, where it names a town, the local code. 4 claims checked.
The claim: It is illegal to wrestle a bear (and to promote horse tripping).
What the law says: Oklahoma makes it a misdemeanor (up to one year in county jail and/or a $2,000 fine) to promote, take part in or work at a bear wrestling exhibition or a horse tripping event, to charge admission to one, to sell, buy, possess or train a bear for bear wrestling (or declaw, defang or drug it for that purpose), or to sell, buy, possess or offer a horse for horse tripping.
“It is unlawful for any person to: 1. Promote, engage in, or be employed at a bear wrestling exhibition or horse tripping event;”
Penalty: 21 O.S. § 1700(B): "Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition, the court may require the violator to make restitution and reimbursements to the state, any of its political subdivisions, or to any society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals for housing, feeding, or providing medical treatment to any animals used or intended for use in violation of this section."
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: It is illegal to read a comic book while driving.
What the law says: No comic-book rule found. Oklahoma requires every driver to "devote their full time and attention to such driving", with citations limited to accidents or driving that poses an articulable danger, and separately bans texting while driving.
“The operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving.”
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: It is illegal to share a bite of your hamburger.
What the law says: No Oklahoma statute bans sharing a bite of a hamburger. Municipal codes not searched.
No state law found in the Oklahoma code as of October 21, 2026.
How we searched
We searched the Oklahoma Statutes for any rule on hamburgers or sharing food, including the full text of the crimes, public health and agriculture titles, and read the food safety and food-service licensing sections.
Parts of the code read
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 63, sections 1-1101 to 1-1122 (food: definitions, prohibited acts, adulterated and misbranded food)
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 63, section 1-1201 and following (hotel, motel and food-service licensing)
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 (Crimes and Punishments)
No town code was checked for this claim.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Secretly loitering near a building to eavesdrop is a misdemeanor (a 1910 statute).
What the law says: Oklahoma makes it a misdemeanor to secretly loiter about a building intending to overhear conversation and repeat or publish it to vex, annoy or injure others. The text dates from 1910.
“Every person guilty of secretly loitering about any building, with intent to overhear discourse therein, and to repeat or publish the same to vex, annoy, or injure others, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
Penalty: Misdemeanor. The section sets no specific penalty, so 21 O.S. § 10 applies: "every offense declared to be a misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year or by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment."
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
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.
Bear wrestling and horse tripping
The bear wrestling claim is real, and the statute pairs it with horse tripping. Title 21, section 1700 begins:
It is unlawful for any person to: 1. Promote, engage in, or be employed at a bear wrestling exhibition or horse tripping event;
The section goes further. It also covers charging admission to such an event; selling, buying, possessing or training a bear for bear wrestling, or declawing, defanging or drugging one for that purpose; and selling, buying, possessing or offering a horse for horse tripping.
A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. The court may also order restitution to the state, a political subdivision or an incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals for housing, feeding or treating the animals.
An eavesdropping law from 1910
One of Oklahoma's older statutes reads almost like a line from a novel. Title 21, section 1202, whose text dates from 1910, provides:
Every person guilty of secretly loitering about any building, with intent to overhear discourse therein, and to repeat or publish the same to vex, annoy, or injure others, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
All of the elements travel together: secret loitering, intent to overhear, and intent to repeat or publish what was heard to vex, annoy or injure. The section names no penalty, so the general misdemeanor rule in 21 O.S. 10 applies: up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
Comic books behind the wheel
No Oklahoma rule mentions comic books. The claim is a narrowed retelling of a general duty in Title 47, section 11-901b:
The operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving.
Citations under that section are limited to accidents or driving that poses an articulable danger. Oklahoma separately bans texting while driving.
Sharing a hamburger
No Oklahoma statute was found that bans sharing a bite of a hamburger. We searched the crimes, public health and agriculture titles for any rule on hamburgers or sharing food, and read the food safety sections of Title 63 (1-1101 to 1-1122) and the hotel, motel and food-service licensing sections that follow 1-1201. Municipal codes were not searched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bear wrestling illegal in Oklahoma?
Yes. 21 O.S. 1700 makes it a misdemeanor to promote, take part in or work at a bear wrestling exhibition or horse tripping event, to charge admission to one, or to sell, buy, possess or train a bear for bear wrestling. The penalty is up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
Is eavesdropping a crime in Oklahoma?
Under 21 O.S. 1202, a 1910 statute, secretly loitering about a building with intent to overhear conversation and to repeat or publish it to vex, annoy or injure others is a misdemeanor, punishable under 21 O.S. 10 by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
Is it illegal to read a comic book while driving in Oklahoma?
No comic book rule was found. Title 47, section 11-901b requires every driver to devote full time and attention to driving, with citations limited to accidents or driving that poses an articulable danger, and Oklahoma separately bans texting while driving.
Is it illegal to share a hamburger in Oklahoma?
No Oklahoma statute bans sharing a bite of a hamburger, as of October 21, 2026. Municipal codes were not searched.
What are some weird laws in Oklahoma?
Of the 4 claims checked, 2 are on the books: the ban on bear wrestling and horse tripping (21 O.S. 1700) and the 1910 law against secretly loitering about a building to eavesdrop (21 O.S. 1202).
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 21, Crimes and Punishments, including sections 10, 1202 and 1700 (Oklahoma Legislature)(oklegislature.gov).gov
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 47, Motor Vehicles, including section 11-901b (Oklahoma Legislature)(oklegislature.gov).gov
- Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 index (Oklahoma State Courts Network)(oscn.net)