Five of the Weirdest Laws in Illinois

You have to wonder what Illinois' most famous lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, would've thought about some of the bizarre laws that can be found still on the books in our state.When I come across a headscratcher of a law or statute, I invariably ask myself the question, "What in the world prompted someone to think that we needed a law to cover that?" Although the answer to that question is sometimes impossible to find, off-beat laws are not.

Hat tip to Caitlin Wilson at Reboot Illinois for finding 5 of the weirdest laws still in effect in Illinois:

Joliet

Mispronouncing the name of the city is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $5 fine.

Collinsville

Anyone wearing pants that fall three or more inches below the hips is subject to a $100 fine. Repeat offenders can be fined $300.

Cicero

Humming on public streets is illegal on Sundays.

Chicago

Eating inside a burning building is against the law.

Urbana

Monsters who enter the city limits without permission are subject to a $10 to $200 fine.

I once had an elderly neighbor who'd lived in Rockford since the 1920s. He contended that Rockford needed a law that prohibited Rockfordians from pronouncing the city's name as "Rock-ferd" instead of "Rock-ford." He pointed out that it was Henry Ford, not Henry Ferd, and President Gerald Ford, not President Gerald Ferd. He was quite adamant about it, saying he thought about contacting his congressman in...wait for it..."Warshington, DC."

Here are a few more odd things that have somehow been deemed to be illegal in the U.S.