Couples Breaking This Old Michigan Law Could Face a Year in Prison

Yes, it's still on the books and you've probably broken it already.

Michigan still has more than its share of ridiculous, outdated laws on the books like it being illegal for a parent to eavesdrop on their kid's phone conversations or to be drunk on a train. Dogs being killed in decompression chambers is illegal too, which it 100% should be. However, the fact that enough dogs perished via decompression chamber for there to have actually been legislation introduced, voted on, and signed into law is kind of disturbing.

That is not the extent of Michigan's outdated laws though, as a pretty big one remains on the books. I would wager that if you're reading this, you've either violated this law or are living in violation of it right now. It is a law from 1931 that was introduced to curb "gross lewdness" by threatening violators with a $1,000 fine (which was like a million bucks back in the 30s) and up to a year in prison.

The law bans unmarried couples from living under the same roof and refers to the situation as "lewd and lascivious cohabitation." It is rarely enforced but is still very much an active law, which is exactly why State Senator Steve Bieda is leading the charge to get it tossed out. "It is actually one of the silliest laws we have on the books.," Bieda told WXYX-Channel 7.

Check out the text of the law for yourself below:

750.335 Lewd and lascivious cohabitation and gross lewdness.

 

Sec. 335.

Any man or woman, not being married to each other, who lewdly and lasciviously associates and cohabits together, and any man or woman, married or unmarried, who is guilty of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $1,000.00. No prosecution shall be commenced under this section after 1 year from the time of committing the offense.

This law is ridiculous. If anything, they should make it required to live with your significant other before marriage. I've had relationships that seemed great, but immediately fell apart once we moved in together. You really owe it to yourself and your partner to know whether or not you like living together before signing on to do it forever... the same thing goes for sex. You gotta try before you buy, man.

There have apparently been a few failed attempts to get this dumb law off the books, but Bieda is currently working on an "easy fix" that he hopes to introduce soon.

Until then, just remember to sing "Breakin' the law" Beavis-style next time you're illegally knockin' boots with your illegal live-in significant other in the bed you illegally share, under the roof you're also sharing illegally, you dirty sinner. On second thought, don't sing it Beavis-style. I learned the hard way that doing the Beavis voice will instantly end any sexual encounter. Learn from my mistakes.