by Emily Monaco

Created on: October 12, 2007

When in New York, one must be careful to adhere to several important laws. Be careful, when meeting a friend, not to put your thumb to your nose and wriggle your fingers as a greeting. Gentlemen, be careful when flirting, as you may have to pay a twenty-five dollar fine for this offense. Ogling, too, is illegal, and the ogle-r may be forced to wear horse-blinders as a punishment even if the lady in question is riding the subway topless: in New York, this is legal for men, and thus legal for women. You also must get a license if you intend to use a clothesline outdoors, and be sure not to use a milk crate for any purpose other than transporting or storing milk.

Every state has strange laws like these, and large cities like New York tend to have even more of them. That being said, you're unlikely to be charged with any of the above crimes in New York even if law enforcement has become tighter in the last thirty years. However, there are a few real laws you should be aware of before coming to visit the Big Apple.
Whereas in the 1970s, you would have no problem heading up to Morningside Drive to steal a few tires or get yourself some crack, Former Mayor and Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani made sure to "clean up the streets" of New York, and your friendly neighborhood crack dens are no more. Be careful when jacking other people's cars it seems to get the police a little irate.
My father remembers jumping the turn style on his way to Coney Island several times but don't let anyone catch you doing this today. Fork over the two dollars: the MTA guys are even scarier than cops.
Even I remember when you could choose smoking or non- in restaurants, but now you have to put out your cigarette: you pretty much can't smoke anywhere anymore, including bars, fast food restaurants, indoor swimming pools, buses, vans, taxis, limos, enclosed bus stops, subway platforms, youth centers, colleges, hospitals (shocker), zoos, and bingo facilities.
New York is an amazing city, and as a visitor, you will no doubt enjoy all the thriving metropolis has to offer... as long as you keep your nose clean, and remember not to throw a ball at anyone's head for fun it's against the law.

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