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Odd Oregon laws that may surprise you, such as one that prohibits predicting the future

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Odd Oregon laws that may surprise you, such as one that prohibits predicting the future

Golf, car doors and fortune-telling are all topics of odd laws in Oregon. 

There are several state-wide and city-specific laws in Oregon that may seem quite bizarre. 

For example, did you know that you could face legal trouble for leaving a car door open in Oregon? 

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Additionally, there is a law specific to the city of Yamhill that prohibits fortune-telling. 

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Read more about these odd Oregon laws and others below. 

Oregon’s strangest state laws include ones against golfing in parks and fortune-telling.  (iStock)

  1. No fortune-telling in Yamhill
  2. Don’t leave your car door ajar for too long
  3. No park golf in Marion County
  4. While in Portland, don’t spit in the street

1. No fortune-telling in Yamhill

Don’t expect to get a look into your future while in Yamhill, Oregon, as the practice is outlawed in the city. 

Yamhill has a very specific law that details “occult arts” and how they are prohibited in the city. 

Occult arts, as described by the law, include fortune-telling but also “astrology, phrenology, palmistry, clairvoyance, mesmerism, spiritualism, or any other practice or practices generally recognized to be unsound and unscientific.” Using any of these methods in an attempt to achieve a variety of outcomes is against the law. 

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Attempting “to reveal or analyze past incidents or events,” “to analyze or define the character or personality of a person,” “to foretell or reveal the future,” “to locate by such means lost or stolen property” or “to give advice or information concerning any matter or event,” by means of using occult arts is illegal in Yamhill. 

Breaking this law is considered to be an unclassified misdemeanor. 

In Yamhill, fortune-telling is against the law.  (iStock)

2. Don’t leave your door ajar for too long 

Avoid leaving your car door ajar for a very long while in Oregon, as there’s a law against doing so. 

The details of this particular law can be found outlined in Chapter 811 of the Oregon legislature’s Rules of the Road for Drivers. 

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A person breaks the law when they leave their car door open when it is unsafe to do so, and/or interferes with the flow of traffic. 

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Individuals may not leave their door open “for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.”

Those offenders of this law are committing a Class D traffic violation. 

Leaving your door open for too long can get you into legal trouble in Oregon.  (iStock)

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Another auto-related law that was present for many years in Oregon was one making it illegal for residents to pump their own gas. This law dated back to 1951. For many years, New Jersey and Oregon were the only two states with such a law. 

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In 2023, this ban was lifted, allowing motorists across the state to pump their own gas. 

Oregon used to prohibit residents from pumping their own gas, but the ban was lifted in 2023.  (iStock)

3. No park golf in Marion County

If you want to practice your putting, don’t do so in any Marion County parks. 

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There is a specific law in Marion County that prevents playing the game in public parks. 

“No person may hit any golf ball in any park except in an area designated for such use by the director,” the law states. 

 

Therefore, it’s best to keep your game up to par by playing on the course.  

4. While in Portland, don’t spit in the street 

While in Portland, avoid spitting in the street, as there is a law against it. 

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This law is laid out in Title 8, Chapter 8.36. 

“It is unlawful for any person to expectorate on the floor or any other part of any public conveyance, or on the floor or walls of any public hall, building or office, or upon any sidewalk within the limits of the City, or on the floor or walls of any room where foodstuffs are prepared or kept for sale,” the law states. 

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Hawaii

Car drives into Sunshine Market in Honolulu

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Car drives into Sunshine Market in Honolulu


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A car rammed into Sunshine Market, off Lusitana Street, around 5:45 a.m., on Thursday, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.

Responding firefighters and police officers secured the area, helped the tow truck service remove the blue vehicle, and provided stabilization to the building.

HFD says the building owner requested the building to be sealed.

The scene was cleared by 9:46 a.m., and no one was injured.

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Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.



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Idaho

Obituary for Eugene Merland Ricks – East Idaho News

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Obituary for Eugene Merland Ricks – East Idaho News


Eugene Merland Ricks, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026, at his home. He was under the care of Brio Hospice.

Eugene was born July 7, 1943, to Eugene Felix Ricks and Minnie Clements Ricks in Idaho Falls. He grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho Falls High School.

On January 2, 1970, he married Paula Ivie in Idaho Falls. Merland started Ricks Electric Motor Service in 1976 and continued to operate the business until 2022. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He coached YMCA youth basketball and soccer and was the Scout leader for Troop 127. He was a craftsman, gardener, mechanic, and painter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and woodcraft.

He was dedicated to getting the job, done right and wasn’t willing to cut corners (Merland’s way). He was a dedicated family man who ensured no family event went unrecorded.

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Merland is survived by his wife, Paula Ricks of Idaho Falls; his daughter, Barbara (Rob)Trolson of Mountain Home; his sons: Terry (Roxanne) Ricks of Ririe, Larry (Manuela) White of Menan, Travis Ricks of Idaho Falls, Jared (Christie) Ricks of Idaho Falls, and Christopher (Melissa McConnell) Ricks of Idaho Falls; his brothers: Alfred (Vicki) High of Shelley, Carl (Irene) High of Idaho Falls; his sister, Gloria (Wayne) Gardner of Idaho Falls; 15 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Minnie High, his father, Eugene Ricks, and his brother Danny High.

No services will be held. Cremation is under the care of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.



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Montana

Montana inspectors stop mussel-fouled Minnesota boat headed to Georgetown Lake

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Montana inspectors stop mussel-fouled Minnesota boat headed to Georgetown Lake


A wake boat headed for Georgetown Lake was stopped at the Anaconda boat check station earlier this week after inspectors found it was carrying hundreds of invasive zebra mussels, preventing the species from potentially being introduced into Montana waters.

Inspectors found some of the mussels attached directly to the boat, while others were attached to pieces of Eurasian watermilfoil on the trailer. Eurasian watermilfoil is also an invasive species.

The boat was coming from Minnesota and had ballast tanks, which never completely drain. That can make them a good environment for transporting mussels.

The following was sent out by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks:

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The exceptional skills of inspectors at the Anaconda boat check station stopped an invasive mussel fouled wake boat from Minnesota earlier this week from potentially introducing zebra mussels into Montana waters.

The boat, which was on its way to Georgetown Lake, was transporting hundreds of zebra mussels, some attached to the boat and some attached to pieces of Eurasian watermilfoil, another invasive species, on the trailer. The boat also had ballast tanks, which never completely drain, making them a good environment for transporting mussels.

Because the boat had only been out of the water for four days, inspectors suspected that the mussels were still viable. Mussels can survive up to 30 days out of the water.

“Boats like this can ruin Montana’s waters forever,” said Tom Woolf, FWP’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) bureau chief. “This is the boat that would introduce mussels.”

The boater was unaware that he was transporting mussels. After the inspectors decontaminated the boat, it was locked to the trailer and FWP wardens responded to ensure it would not launch.

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As a reminder, all watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species. You must obtain an inspection before launching on Montana waters. Stop at all open inspections stations you encounter. Find inspections stations here

Boats with a ballast or bladder, such as wakeboard or wake-surfing boats, that intend to launch on Montana waters must be decontaminated before launching.

While planning your trip to Montana, if you find you will not encounter a watercraft inspection station on your way to your destination, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alberta inspection stations fulfill the before-launch requirements of Montana.

Stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana where your watercraft may be re-inspected.



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