LAW

The USDA would define this ham-and-cheese on bread as a sandwich.

5 Ways to Define a Sandwich, According to the Law

Is a hot dog a sandwich? What about a burrito? It depends on whom you ask—and what state you live in.

It’s rare for a baby to be born on a plane.

What Is the Citizenship of a Baby Born on an International Flight?

When a baby is born on an international flight, where the plane is registered and the airspace it’s in can determine the child’s citizenship.

How Are Speed Limits Enforced by Aircraft?

Speeders on targeted stretches of road are monitored from the ground and from the sky.

Don’t forget to empty your water bottle before you get to the airport security line.

The Real Reason You Can’t Bring Water Bottles Through Airport Security

A CIA official explains the 3-1-1 rule and the lasting influence of Operation Overt.

This person is definitely not in New Jersey.

Why Can’t You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

It’s for your own good—or at least that’s the theory.

Judge Judy really was a judge for family court.

What Legal Authority Does Judge Judy Have?

While Judith Sheindlin was once a real, live judge, she’s not acting as one on her show.

California might prompt sweeping changes in how candy is manufactured.

A New California Bill Could See Skittles and Other Candies Pulled From Shelves

Controversy over red dye no. 3 could soon spill over into the candy aisle.

Toblerone Must Remove the Matterhorn From Its Logo Due to 'Swissness' Law

Toblerone is no longer Swiss enough for the Swiss mountain peak in its logo.

One more spin could land you in the slammer.

45 Weird Laws Still on the Books

You go about your day trying to be a good citizen. Little did you know that your bingo game can't last more than five hours.

What’s the Difference Between Prison and Jail?

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a substantial difference between the two methods of incarceration.

Shark-Related Tourism Is Now Banned in Mexico’s Cage-Diving Capital

Shark-related tourist activities are now illegal in Mexico’s Isla Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve—a hotspot for great whites.

Real night court inspired fake night court.

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

Some countries aren't messing around when it comes to baby names.

37 Outlawed Baby Names From Around the World

IKEA is beloved around the world, but there’s at least one place where it’s illegal to name your baby after the furniture store: Its home country of Sweden.

For when you’re ready to reintroduce yourself.

7 Things To Know Before Legally Changing Your Name

People legally change their first, middle, or last names for a variety of reasons. So what’s in a name (change)? A whole lot of paperwork.

Not all sesame seed ingredients are this obvious.

Allergic to Sesame Seeds? A New Food Labeling Law Is Going to Make Things Worse

Thanks to a stringent new FDA mandate, food suppliers are now adding sesame to products that didn’t previously contain it.

John Leonard in 'Pepsi, Where's My Jet?' (2022).

'I Just Want a Plane': When a College Student Demanded Pepsi Hand Over a Harrier Jet

John Leonard’s demand was simple. All he wanted was for Pepsi to deliver the Harriet jet he believed they had promised. In 1996, Leonard, then a 21-year-old col

How Super-Recognizers Are Helping Police Solve Crimes

Super-recognizers have a rare and uncanny ability to remember faces—a skill that’s estimated to affect just 1 to 2 percent of the population.

Mariah Carey sings at the 82nd Annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 2014.

Mariah Carey Is Trying to Trademark ‘Queen of Christmas,’ and Other Holiday Singers Aren’t Happy

Fellow queens of Christmas Darlene Love and Elizabeth Chan have thoughts.

Norma McCorvey and lawyer Gloria Allred attend a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building in 1989.

Who Is the 'Roe' in Roe v. Wade?

The woman known as "Jane Roe" left an enormous mark on the nation’s political landscape—one that’s still at the fore a half-century later.

In Florida, It Will Soon Be Illegal to Have Your Car Stereo Turned Up Too Loud

The statute targets cars blaring music that can be heard 25 feet away. Critics say it's just a sneaky way to pull suspicious vehicles over.

Puffing in Canada is about to come with more warnings.

Puff Piece: Canada Is Looking to Force Cigarette Companies to Put a Health Warning on Each Individual Cigarette

Smokers in Canada won't be able to take a puff without being reminded of their mortality.

Bees Are Now Legally Fish in California—And That’s Good News for Bees

Thanks in part to a snail, California bees are fish. No, this isn’t a Mad Lib.

Mariah Carey performing at the 81st Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 2013.

Mariah Carey Is Being Sued Over “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—Everyone’s Favorite Holiday Song

All Vince Vance & The Valiants want for Christmas is $20 million in damages.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Hart-Celler Act.

9 Facts About the Hart-Celler Act

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 irrevocably changed the face of the United States.

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