Sometimes a specific case of a general law might be shown leading one to believe it is a ridiculous law over all.
For instance this example from Ohio. It is illegal to fish for whales on Sunday.
Sounds like the law makers must be smoking something to even think of enacting such a foolish law, particularly in Ohio.
However, it is not quite so unbelievable to still have a law prohibiting fishing on Sunday. Some places got really vigorous with their Blue Laws.
Another example might be a law shown as It is illegal to beat a stubborn mule on the city streets between 2 and 4 pm on weekdays.
This could simply be an ordinance prohibiting cruelty to animals or an ordinance prohibiting any draft animals on city streets at any time, thus having a mule on city streets is always illegal no matter what day of the week, time of day or the mule's disposition.