14 Places in America Where the Usual Laws Don't Apply

Residents of Native American reservations, which are considered sovereign entities in the eyes of the law, pay federal income tax but generally don't owe state income tax. Reservations can impose their own local taxes on members of their tribe, but some enjoy relatively lax levies. For example, members of the Navajo tribe who live in Navajo Nation pay sales tax—and since 2015, a junk food tax—but no personal income tax, property tax, or inventory tax, according to the Navajo Nation Project Development Department.

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Twenty-six states have enacted bans on indoor smoking in private workplaces, including bars and restaurants. But Nevada cuts tobacco lovers some slack when they're in Sin City. According to USA Today, you can legally smoke in stand-alone bars and taverns, tobacco shops, and many casino gaming areas and convention centers situated on the four-mile span of South Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip.

Related: The 50 Strangest Laws in America

While some municipalities crack down on guns, one Georgia town has long encouraged them. According to CNN, Kennesaw, located northwest of Atlanta, has had a law on the books since 1982 that requires every head of household to have a firearm for safety.

Many beaches ban bonfires to protect the public and stave off environmental degradation, but several beaches in Huntington Beach, including Huntington City Beach, buck the trend, permitting beachgoers to kindle a fire within designated areas. The sandy paradise that stretches for three-and-a-half miles in Southern California encourages coast-crazed vacationers to ignite the fun at one of 127 fire pits located between First Street and Beach Boulevard.

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In some states, including Washington and Texas, it's unlawful for a pedestrian to enter a crosswalk once the pedestrian traffic sign switches to the countdown signal. But in California, pedestrians can now proceed without fear of fines. According to The Los Angeles Times, a state bill passed late last year permits pedestrians to cross the street even after the pedestrian countdown clock has begun as long as they can get to the other side before the time elapses.

Related: Pedestrians Only—20 Car-Free Places in America

Nearly 170 years after the Gold Rush, recreational miners with the glint of gold in their eye continue to scour California for the precious metal. Although mineral collection is banned or restricted at some gold-rich sites to protect Bureau of Land Management-designated terrain, you can legally mine for gold in a small selection of federally managed lands that include the Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area. The hiking-friendly area hosts 23 mining sites in total, and you don't need a permit for low-impact gold panning.

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In most states, lottery winners must reveal their names when they claim their jackpot primarily for reasons of transparency and public trust. But according to The New York Post, the nouveaux riches have the right to remain anonymous in Delaware, one of only a handful of states where lottery winners can elect to stay nameless to maintain their privacy and protect their windfall from scam artists.