South Dakota: It is a misdemeanor for anyone who "knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon" an American or state flag.
A flag is defined here as "any flag, standard, or colors, or any part thereof, made of any substance and of any size evidently purporting to be the flag, standard, or colors" of the United States or of South Dakota.
Penalty: none specified.
Source: 22-9-1
Analysis:
South Dakota's short flag "protection" law is short and gets right to the point: it's illegal to deface, defile, mutilate, or burn the flag. It's even illegal to keep your flag on the ground or walk on it. Unlike so many other state laws on flag desecration, there is nothing here about acting publicly. This means that even if you find a deep, dark cave in South Dakota, roll a rock in front of it, and can absolutely guarantee that no one could ever find out about what you do to that poor flag in that dark cave, it's still a crime.
More:
- Overview of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
- Index of State Laws on Flag Abuse, Burning, Desecration
