Did You Know? It’s Illegal to Leave the House if you Have a Common Cold in Washington

It's that time of year when common colds are more common than usual. Noses are running, Nyquil is more scarce and sick days are being used more than typical. But did you know that in the state of Washington it's actually against the law for you to leave the house? It could get you a ticket and have to pay a fee.

From the Washington State Legislature website:

RCW 70.54.050
Exposing contagious disease—Penalty.
Every person who shall willfully expose himself or herself to another, or any animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease, in any public place or thoroughfare, except upon his or her or its necessary removal in a manner not dangerous to the public health; and every person so affected who shall expose any other person thereto without his or her knowledge, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

This includes all types of contagious diseases so the common cold falls into this category.

Now, to be fair, in the history of Washington state and this RCW 70.whatever I don't know of anyone who has actually received a ticket being guilty of a misdemeanor just for having a cold. Not that anyone wants to infect anyone else, sometimes you just need to run to the store to grab a few essentials like soup and decongestant.

This is another one of those dumb/weird laws that Washington had that we've covered in the past but this time of year I figured it was worth of its own article just so you know.

I ain't no snitch but if I see you hacking and sneezing in a grocery store I'll make sure to go down another aisle.