Dueling and dancing on Sundays are illegal in SC. Here’s some other weird state laws
Deputy John Harrelson is really good at name calling.
But as the court crier for the Horry County Sheriff’s Department he has to be.
Part of his role is to announce publicly the names of people who skipped out on their court date.
It reminds of times when people got their information from the town crier in a public square, although Harrelson often does his announcements without a crowd. He said there is never anyone waiting to hear if their name is called.
The announcements are required by law, one of several weird laws that are or were on South Carolina’s books.
So Harrelson, who has been doing this for eight years, steps outside onto the courthouse steps in Conway once a month to read the list of names given to him by the Solicitor’s Office. The list contains names of people who failed to show up for their scheduled court date set during their bond hearing.
But the reading wasn’t always on the courthouse steps. The reading of the public names used to be made from the balcony of the old Horry County Courthouse, according to 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.
“That’s where the court crier would go upstairs and holler out the names,” Richardson said. “... The people would stand out there and wait to hear their names. When I was there, they would yell down the hallways and then on the balcony.”
Here are some other outdated and strange laws that have South Carolina residents and others scratching their heads.
Those are fighting words
It’s unlawful to challenge someone to a duel. Not only is it against the law to duel, you can be imprisoned or fined for being present at the fighting of any duel. Obviously the state lawmakers knew there were other reasonable ways to settle a dispute.
Um, what’s that on your head?
It is unlawful for a tattoo artist to tattoo any part of the head, face, or neck of another person. So if you want to get a “Lover” tattoo on your face as an ode to Taylor Swift, you’ll have to get that area inked somewhere other than South Carolina.
Will you marry me?
Hey, guys, you might want to be careful when dating in the Palmetto State. Any male over 16 who seduces a woman under the promise of marriage must actually marry her. If not, the man is guilty of a misdemeanor. So some good advice might be don’t say you do if you really don’t.
No sale on Sundays
Musical instruments, automobiles and sporting goods are just some of the things you can’t buy or sell on Sundays.
The following items are prohibited for sale by law: Clothing and clothing accessories (except those which qualify as swimwear, novelties, souvenirs, hosiery, or undergarments); housewares, china, glassware, and kitchenware; home, business and office furnishings, and appliances; tools, paints, hardware, building supplies, and lumber; jewelry, silverware, watches, clocks, luggage, musical instruments, recorders, recordings, radios, television sets, phonographs, record players or so-called hi-fi or stereo sets, or equipment; sporting goods (except when sold on premises where sporting events and recreational facilities are permitted); yard or piece goods; automobiles, trucks, and trailers.
The law says that any items or articles not mentioned are permitted.
Want to be a pinball wizard? Not if you’re a minor
You must be 18 to play pinball. Yes, you read that right. While the law is generally not enforced, it is still on the books.
The law dates back to when playing pinball was tied into gambling and organized crime.
A bill to amend the law has been introduced to the state legislature.
You can’t cut Footloose on Sundays
If you want to dance on Sundays, you’ll have to do it at home. A state law prohibits public dance halls from operating on Sundays. The law determines the hours of midnight Saturday through midnight Sunday as times people can’t be admitted for dancing.
They also are forbidden near churches and cemeteries.
Watch your mouth
Shouting a four-letter word at someone while in Myrtle Beach could land you in trouble with police. Those who get caught publicly using profanity could face jail or a citation under the city’s lewd, obscene and profane language ordinance — a misdemeanor.
No sleeping on the beach
While falling asleep on the beach is OK during the day, you can’t do it at night in Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach prohibits sleeping on the public beach from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Horry County also has a county-wide ordinance against sleeping on the beach from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., and in North Myrtle Beach, it’s from 9 p.m. to sunrise.
