Illinois Dumb Laws

No Smelly Dogs at the Theater

An often-cited claim says it’s illegal to bring a smelly dog into a theater in Illinois. We searched state and municipal codes and found no statute confirming it. It’s likely more comedy than code, but it lives on in legal lore.

Silencing the Ice Cream Truck?

According to various websites, Chicago prohibits ice cream trucks from playing music while stopped – supposedly to reduce noise and discourage loitering. But after reviewing the city’s municipal code, we couldn’t find any law to back it up. Until a credible source turns up, this one remains an urban legend with sprinkles of doubt. 

No Napping in the Cheese Shop?

Rumor has it that dozing off in a cheese shop is illegal in Illinois. It’s repeated on weird law lists, often with a wink. But when we looked for an actual ordinance or statute, we came up empty. As far as we can tell, the state hasn’t cracked down on dairy-based drowsiness.

No Fancy Bike Riding

This one checks out. In Galesburg, Illinois, a city ordinance prohibits riding your bicycle with both hands off the handlebars. It’s aimed at reducing accidents – no tricks allowed. Source

No Hot Dinner Dates

This one pops up often on trivia sites, but no statute in Illinois appears to explicitly ban eating in a burning building. It may have originated from a fire safety code taken out of context, or as a joke that stuck.