The 1980s weren’t exactly a lawless time, but there were plenty of things you could do back then that would lead to a fine or even jail time today.
The old burn barrel ran into rules
There was a time when people used to stuff their household trash into barrels behind their homes, and then strike a match to burn it all down. Those days are long gone. Yes, many states and cities have restrictions on burn barrels.
There are some communities that ban households from burning trash altogether. On a federal level, you’re not allowed to burn things like plastics or treated wood, as well as construction scraps or ordinary garbage.
The passenger seat got new rules
Open-container laws weren’t consistent during the 1980s, so many states allowed a passenger to hold a beer while someone else drove. It took until 1998 for Congress to push for broader restrictions. They forced states to comply by threatening their federal highway funding if they didn’t.
It worked. The federal standard states that the ban must cover drinking and open containers for passengers on public roads. 38 states and Washington, D.C., met that standard by October 2022. Some states still allow it, sure, but the majority of them don’t.
Flying looked very different
It was completely normal in the 1980s to light up a cigarette while you were in a plane. So normal, in fact, that airlines would divide cabins into smoking and nonsmoking sections. The smoke often drifted between the two sections, though.
It took until 1988 for Congress to restrict smoking on shorter domestic flights. It then widened the ban in 1990 before covering all scheduled passenger flights more broadly in the 2000s. Lighting up on a commercial flight today could get you banned.
The cutoff came in 1986
There was a change that came right in the middle of the 1980s, but it didn’t really have a major effect until later. Civilians could legally make and register a machine gun under federal law, right until May 19, 1986. You just had to follow the National Firearms Act.
But the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act completely changed things, making it illegal for civilians to own newly made machine guns. They could own older registered ones, however. But most of those have disappeared now.
Freebies disappeared from the sidewalk
A lot of cigarette companies relied on one simple promotional trick in the ‘80s, and it was to give the product away. Yes, they’d have free cigarette samples at events and promotions. Customers were allowed to take them without having to pay a single cent.
But that all changed when the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act became law in 2009. Cigarette companies aren’t allowed to give free samples, and customers can’t take them either.
The exotic-pet rules changed
The majority of people today aren’t thinking about owning any lions. Still, there was a time when it was at least a possibility. Private big-cat ownership was allowed in many parts of the United States, especially in the ‘80s. It depended on state rules, of course.
You could still own a lion in many places during the ‘80s, and federal restrictions didn’t tighten until 2003. The 2022 Big Cat Public Safety Act went much further. It banned new private ownership and breeding, so no more lions for the general public.
The border crossing got paperwork
It was a lot easier to drive from Canada into the United States and vice versa. For starters, there was very little of the standardized documentation that you have to deal with today. Those at land crossings could verify their identity and citizenship without needing a passport or anything similar.
That all changed on June 1, 2009. It was when the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative took effect, meaning that you need a passport, passport card, NEXUS card, or certain enhanced driver’s licenses to prove who you are. Road trips are a lot harder now that you can’t just explain who you are.
Drive around without buckling up
The ‘80s weren’t really a decade when people buckled up, and that’s mostly because they didn’t have to. Many people simply got in their car without bothering. In 1984, New York became the first state to pass a statewide law making people wear a seatbelt. The idea spread from there.
37 states had similar rules by 1991, and today, almost every state has primary or secondary enforcement laws. There’s only one state with no seatbelt law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. It’s New Hampshire.
Boat snacks stopped being shareable
Feeding a dolphin from a boat became such a popular idea during the 1980s that there were even commercial trips built around people doing it. They didn’t last long, however. NOAA made it illegal to feed wild marine mammals, starting in 1991, and it became a federal law.
That meant no tossing fish over the side for anyone wanting a close-up encounter. There are reasons for it all, though, because dolphins who get used to handouts may start following boats. They may also approach people and steal bait directly from fishing lines.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
10 common 1980s habits that wouldn’t fly today
Here are ten common habits from the 1980s that simply wouldn’t fly today.
