Washington
Weird Laws in Washington: Which Are Still on the Books?
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 21, 2026). · 3 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Washington's weird laws lean toward the practical, with one large, hairy exception. We checked five claims from popular lists against the Revised Code of Washington and, where a claim names a place, its local code, as of October 21, 2026. Two are state law as described, one is a state law the lists have broadened, and two are local rules: one from Skamania County, one from the city of Everett. For other states, see our guide to weird laws by state.
Weird laws in Washington: the verdicts
Each claim below was checked against the Washington code and, where it names a town, the local code. 5 claims checked.
The claim: It is illegal to harass/kill Bigfoot.
What the law says: Not Washington state law. Skamania County's official ordinance list records two county ordinances, No. 69-01 'Sasquatch protection' and No. 1984-02 'Sasquatch refuge'; neither was codified into the county code and neither is marked repealed. Published copies of the 1984 ordinance describe a county Sasquatch refuge and criminal penalties for killing one; those copies were not verified against an official text, and they address killing, not harassment.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Shoe-fitting X-ray machines are banned.
What the law says: Washington prohibits operating or maintaining X-ray or fluoroscopic equipment for fitting shoes or viewing the bones of the feet. The ban does not apply to licensed physicians, surgeons, podiatric physicians, other licensed healing-art practitioners, or technicians under their direct supervision. A violation of the chapter is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 70A.388.220).
“The operation or maintenance of any X-ray, fluoroscopic, or other equipment or apparatus employing roentgen rays, in the fitting of shoes or other footwear or in the viewing of bones in the feet is prohibited.”
Penalty: RCW 70A.388.220: "Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or rules, regulations, or orders in effect pursuant thereto shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor."
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: In Everett, hypnotizing people in storefronts or on the street is prohibited.
What the law says: Everett Municipal Code 9.24.010 makes it unlawful to exhibit or display a hypnotist's subject, or anyone under the influence of hypnotism, in any window or public place outside the hall or theater where the hypnotist is performing. It bars displaying hypnotized subjects, not hypnotizing as such. Penalty (9.24.020): fine up to $500, up to six months jail, or both.
Everett, WA: EMC 9.24.010 and 9.24.020 (Ord. 293-74 for the penalty section) (in force)
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: Opera houses, churches and public halls must have doors that open outward.
What the law says: RCW 70.54.070 requires the doors of theaters, opera houses, school buildings, churches, public halls and similar places used for public gatherings to open outward and to stay unlocked and unfastened during an event. An agent or lessee who rents or lets the building be used for such purposes without compliant doors is guilty of a misdemeanor for each violation.
“The doors of all theaters, opera houses, school buildings, churches, public halls, or places used for public entertainments, exhibitions or meetings ... shall be so hung and arranged as to open outwardly, and during any exhibition, entertainment or meeting, shall be kept unlocked and unfastened”
Penalty: "every agent or lessee of any such building who shall rent the same or allow it to be used for any of the aforesaid public purposes without having the doors thereof hung and arranged as hereinbefore provided, shall, for each violation of any provision of this section, be guilty of a misdemeanor."
No court opinion in our database cites this section.
Primary source · Checked October 21, 2026.
The claim: It is illegal to hug while driving (1927).
What the law says: RCW 46.61.665 makes it unlawful to drive with another person in your embrace if that prevents free and unhampered operation of the vehicle; a violation is prima facie evidence of reckless driving. It is not a ban on any hug; the 1927 date matches the statute's earliest history line (1927 c 309 s 49).
“It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state when such person has in his or her embrace another person which prevents the free and unhampered operation of such vehicle. Operation of a motor vehicle in violation of this section is prima facie evidence of reckless driving.”
Penalty: prima facie evidence of reckless driving
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.
Bigfoot is Skamania County's business
The Bigfoot rule is not Washington state law. The claim traces to Skamania County, whose official Ordinance List and Disposition Table records two ordinances: No. 69-01, Sasquatch protection, and No. 1984-02, Sasquatch refuge. Both are listed as not codified into the county code, and neither is marked repealed.
Published copies of the 1984 ordinance describe a county Sasquatch refuge and criminal penalties for killing one. Those copies were not verified against an official text. Note also that they address killing, while the claim says harassing; no harassment provision was verified.
Two state laws that are just as described
The shoe X-ray ban and the door rule sound like relics, but both are current Washington law, and the lists describe them accurately.
Shoe-fitting X-ray machines
RCW 70A.388.190 provides: "The operation or maintenance of any X-ray, fluoroscopic, or other equipment or apparatus employing roentgen rays, in the fitting of shoes or other footwear or in the viewing of bones in the feet is prohibited."
The ban does not apply to licensed physicians, surgeons, podiatric physicians, other licensed healing-art practitioners, or technicians working under their direct supervision. Under RCW 70A.388.220, a violation of the chapter is a gross misdemeanor.
Doors that open outward
RCW 70.54.070 requires that the doors of "all theaters, opera houses, school buildings, churches, public halls, or places used for public entertainments, exhibitions or meetings" be hung to open outward and kept unlocked and unfastened during any exhibition, entertainment or meeting.
The penalty falls on the people who let the building out. An agent or lessee who rents the building, or allows it to be used for those purposes, without compliant doors is guilty of a misdemeanor for each violation.
Hugging while driving
The claim is that hugging while driving has been illegal since 1927. The year checks out: RCW 46.61.665's earliest history line is 1927 c 309 s 49. The statute is narrower than a hug ban, though:
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state when such person has in his or her embrace another person which prevents the free and unhampered operation of such vehicle. Operation of a motor vehicle in violation of this section is prima facie evidence of reckless driving.
The test is whether the embrace prevents free and unhampered operation of the vehicle. A violation is prima facie evidence of reckless driving.
Hypnotists in Everett
The Everett claim says hypnotizing people in storefronts or on the street is prohibited. The ordinance targets the display, not the hypnotism. Everett Municipal Code 9.24.010 makes it unlawful to exhibit or display a hypnotist's subject, or anyone under the influence of hypnotism, in any window or public place outside the hall or theater where the hypnotist is performing.
The penalty section, 9.24.020, sets a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to kill Bigfoot in Washington?
The Sasquatch rules are not Washington state law. Skamania County's official ordinance list records Ord. 69-01, Sasquatch protection, and Ord. 1984-02, Sasquatch refuge, both listed as not codified and neither marked repealed. Published copies of the 1984 ordinance describe a refuge and criminal penalties for killing a Sasquatch, but those copies were not verified against an official text.
Are shoe-fitting X-ray machines illegal in Washington?
RCW 70A.388.190 prohibits operating or maintaining X-ray or fluoroscopic equipment to fit shoes or other footwear or to view the bones of the feet. Licensed physicians, surgeons, podiatric physicians, other licensed healing-art practitioners and technicians under their direct supervision are excepted. A violation of the chapter is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 70A.388.220.
Is it illegal to hug while driving in Washington?
RCW 46.61.665 makes it unlawful to drive on a Washington highway with another person in your embrace when the embrace prevents free and unhampered operation of the vehicle. A violation is prima facie evidence of reckless driving. The statute's history traces to 1927.
Do church and theater doors have to open outward in Washington?
RCW 70.54.070 requires the doors of theaters, opera houses, school buildings, churches, public halls and places used for public entertainments, exhibitions or meetings to open outward and to stay unlocked and unfastened during an event. An agent or lessee who lets the building be used without compliant doors is guilty of a misdemeanor for each violation.
What are some weird laws in Washington?
Among the claims checked, the state laws include the shoe-fitting X-ray ban, the outward-opening door rule and the hugging-while-driving statute. Two of the claims trace to local rules: Skamania County's Sasquatch ordinances and Everett's rule against displaying hypnotized people in windows or public places.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
Sources and References
- Skamania County Ordinance List and Disposition Table(ecode360.com)
- RCW 70A.388.190, Washington State Legislature(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- RCW 70.54.070, Washington State Legislature(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- RCW 46.61.665, Washington State Legislature(app.leg.wa.gov).gov