Top 5 Tuesday: Illinois’ Weirdest Laws
If you take the time to look over the books in any given state or municipality, you'll probably find a bunch of laws or statutes that just don't make a lot of sense. Illinois is no different.
Take for example, the photo above. The description reads:
When Cyclists Meet..And One of Them Gets a Ticket! Beverly Hills, Calif.: What is claimed to be the strangest "pinch" of the year, occurs when Motorcycle officer A.L. Taylor of Beverly Hills gives Miss Roselle Novello a ticket for blocking traffic with her old time bike which dates from the 'cycling sixties'. Roselle was on her way to the Southern California bicycle day celebration at Ocean Park, and she finally got there...despite the delay.
Apparently, at the time, women were prohibited from "piloting" over-height bicycles on city streets in the Los Angeles area. Add to that the fact that she blocked traffic, and you've got yourself criminal behavior.
Okay, that's California. We expect weirdness out of the Golden State, but here in Illinois? Yes, here in Illinois, too. Caitlin Wilson, writing for Reboot Illinois, takes a look at what she considers to be Illinois' Top 5 Weirdest Laws:
- 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.
Here's a few more things that maybe you didn't know were illegal:
And, stranger still, some things that you may think are illegal, but actually aren't (I'm looking at you, barefoot drivers):