Someone has compiled a list of the country’s most unusual laws. It includes ordinances that cover such things a alligator walking, exploding golf balls, driving while blindfolded – yes – eating chicken with a fork.
Of course, the latter belongs to Gainesville – and the website posting of the story is led by a picture of Col. Sanders being arrested by then-police chief Georgia Knapp for violating the ordinance.
In case you are a newcomer – or just happened to stumble upon this story while surfing the Internet – here are the details.
Gainesville considers itself the Poultry Capitol of the World and in the early 1960s, the city council passed a law that prohibited eating fried chicken with a fork.
As the iloveclassicrock.com website puts it: “This unusual regulation aimed to preserve the traditional experience of enjoying this beloved southern dish with your hands.
While the law was more symbolic than practical, it led to some memorable moments, such as the arrest of Colonel Sanders in 1977 for using a fork. This quirky law continues to be a part of Gainesville’s history, celebrating the joy and tradition of eating fried chicken the old-fashioned way.”
Gainesville’s entry comes in fourth, by the way, on the list, which you can check out for yourself here: 15 Strange Things From 1980s That Became Illegal (iloveclassicrock.com)