Unmarried couples living together can be fined and jailed in N.D.

[cynatnite]

North Dakota's Legislature is encouraging disrespect for the law by making it illegal for a man and woman to live together without being married, a legislator says.

If North Dakota prosecutors began enforcing the anti-cohabitation law, which provides a 30-day jail term and a $1,000 fine, the state would need a "$10 billion prison," Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, said Wednesday.

"We're saying that we have optional laws, laws that we don't really mean," Potter said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the repeal measure. "We shouldn't have laws like that."

Tom Freier, a spokesman for the North Dakota Family Alliance, said repealing the measure would signal that the state doesn't value marriage and the societal benefits it brings.

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/01/18/news/state/127346.txt#blogcomments

[Demoiselle]

1. Did N.Dak have an abortion referendum? I thought it was South Dakota..(eom)

[cynatnite]

2. Oops, my bad

:blush: Thanks for the correction.

[951-Riverside]

3. What if the man and woman are closely related?

Hmm?

[951-Riverside]

12. UGH! Nevermind.

The story clearly says couples.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. concidering that all of my bros and sis and myself have lived with our honeys first

before marrying, we'd all be in jail. Wait. Include my daughter, too. she lived with Mike for a few years first as well.
We are such an immoral family...

[babylonsister]

5. Well, phew, thank goodness my 79-yr old dad and his 80 year-old

'live-in' don't live in ND! How DUMB!

[illinoisprogressive]

6. I forgot my dad. He's 75 and has lived with Bea for years....

[BushOut06]

7. Couples should live together before getting married

How else do you know that you're compatible? How many couples wait until they're married before living together, then suddenly realize they can't stand each other? My wife and I lived together for about three years before we got married, so we already knew we could handle things.

[cynatnite]

9. Not always the case...

Hubby and I dated for four months, then got married. That was 18 years ago. What works for some may not always work for others. Either way, no one should be penalized for opting for living together.

[lligrd]

8. But Same Sex Couples Are Free To Do So???

Is North Dakota now advocating homoxexuality? :rofl: Is this the kind of freedom "terrorists" envy us for? Not even free to choose who you live with?

[Renew Deal]

11. lol

D'oh :rofl:

[Contrite]

16. That's what I was going to say!

What about men or women living with their same-sex partners?

[Renew Deal]

10. It makes perfect sense

If you are completely insane. What having a roommate has to do with marriage, I don't know. Who made this law? Mr. Roper?

[Lautremont]

14. "The Roper Law" - I like it!

[Warren DeMontague]

13. All Right! It's about time they started putting our money where their mouths are.

You know, if they really want to piss away trillions of taxpayer dollars playing sex police and ministry of vice and virtue, I'd like 'em to come clean about it sooner rather than later.

[Swamp Rat]

15. "It can't happen here!"

Some people just don't get it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3163882&mesg_id=3166256