15 Legal Loopholes That Let People Do Wild Things in the Past

People have used strange legal gaps throughout history to bend or break the rules. From tax evasion to sneaky travel regulations, these loopholes demonstrate how laws did not always keep up with clever minds. You'd be surprised at how far people went simply because the rules didn't state otherwise.

Tricia Quitales
April 17, 2025
4 min read

15 Legal Loopholes That Let People Do Wild Things in the Past — Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

This article delves into 15 real legal loopholes that allowed bizarre, risky, or downright crazy actions to be completely legal at the time. Here we will reveal unusual legal loopholes from the past that allowed people to get away with things that would appear outrageous today. These stories demonstrate how clever individuals and even entire groups used the law to their advantage—sometimes in amusing, sometimes shocking ways.

1. Marrying for Citizenship (Fast and Easy)

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In the past, some countries allowed instant citizenship through marriage with very little paperwork. People rushed into fake marriages just to get a passport or avoid deportation. The law didn’t ask too many questions—until it became a well-known trick.

2. The Wild West “No Law” Zones

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Certain parts of the American frontier had no law enforcement or local government. This meant settlers could do nearly anything without fear of punishment. As long as no sheriff rode into town, chaos often ruled.

3. Prohibition’s “Medical Alcohol” Loophole

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During Prohibition in the U.S., alcohol was banned—but not for “medical use.” Doctors wrote fake prescriptions for whiskey, and people picked it up at pharmacies like medicine. It was a legal workaround for anyone who “needed a drink.”

4. Tax-Free Church Status Used for Profit

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Some people started fake churches just to avoid taxes. Since the government couldn’t easily question religious beliefs, they were granted tax-free status. These “churches” often looked more like businesses or personal clubs.

5. Kids Buying Cigarettes

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Before regulations got strict, kids could legally buy cigarettes in many places. There were no age checks or ID requirements, so even very young children could walk into stores and buy tobacco. It was legal, just not smart.

6. Citizenship by Birth Tourism

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In the past, some families traveled to certain countries just so their baby could be born there. This gave the child automatic citizenship and sometimes special benefits. There were no rules to stop it, so it became a quiet legal trick.

7. Unpatented Inventions Shared and Copied

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Before strict patent laws, inventors often shared their ideas, only to have others steal them legally. If you didn’t file fast enough, someone else could claim your work. It led to many fights over who really invented what.

8. Speed Limits That Didn’t Exist

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Some highways once had no speed limits at all. Drivers raced across states at dangerously high speeds, and it was totally legal. Laws changed only after too many accidents and public outcry.

9. Polygamy Under Different Names

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In some regions, people had multiple spouses without ever officially divorcing or using different names. Because record-keeping was weak, no one noticed or cared. It was a quiet way to avoid laws against polygamy.

10. Voting While Dead (Kind Of)

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In certain places, the names of deceased people stayed on voting lists for years. Someone else could vote under their name without getting caught. It wasn’t exactly legal, but the loophole was real—and abused.

11. Drinking on the Water (International Waters)

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As soon as ships sailed past national borders, most laws no longer applied. People partied, gambled, and drank freely in “international waters.” No country had control, so cruise ships often turned into floating playgrounds.

12. Traveling with Exotic Animals

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Old customs laws didn’t always cover exotic pets, so people flew with monkeys, snakes, and more. As long as no law directly banned it, it was allowed. Some zoos even started with animals “accidentally” brought this way.

13. Sneaking into the Olympics with Dual Citizenship

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Athletes with dual citizenship sometimes switched countries to compete where it was easier to qualify. This gave them a legal shot at the Olympics, even if they barely lived in that country. The rules didn’t stop them, so they played the system.

14. No Age Laws for Working Children

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In some areas, there were no minimum age laws for labor. Kids as young as five worked full days in factories or on farms. It wasn’t considered illegal—just part of family life.

15. Becoming Royal by Marrying Into Tiny Nations

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Marrying a royal in a small, lesser-known kingdom or micronation could make you royalty, too. There were no international rules against it, so some outsiders gained titles through love—or clever strategy. It was a legal way to become a prince or princess overnight.