Antiquated laws technically in effect include a statute making adultery a felony, and making blasphemy or swearing in front of women and children a misdemeanor.
In Maryville, a 17-year-old boy was arrested last month on charges of violating an old city ordinance when he raised his middle finger at a coach.
Although the ordinance remains on city books, the charge was dismissed because another court had found that restricting such a gesture, offensive or not, is protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.
Some of the old laws are clearly unconstitutional and unenforceable, but there's no push to erase them.
"Because people aren't running into the enforcement of those laws, probably it's not something that people have studied and feel they need to speak out about," said state Rep. Karen Willard (D-Clay) Township.
"There are so many battles that are waged regarding laws that do impact issues in people's lives that I can see probably why those haven't been taken out," she said.
Even groups like the American Civil Liberties Union don't revisit such old legislation.
"There are thousands of bills introduced in each session that we have our hands full trying to ... stop bad legislation," said Wendy Wagenheim, legislative affairs director for the ACLU in Michigan.
"If we had someone who brought to our attention that one of these antiquated laws was being enforced ... we might try to do something."
10-01-98
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