Quintana Law Group is committed to keeping you and your kids safe and out of trouble during this festive time of year. While we all enjoy treats and even a good trick here and there, it’s important to be aware of the Illinois Halloween laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines that are out there to keep everyone safe!
While most festive spirited folk will look past a little bit of tom-foolery, fines associated with age limits, curfews, masks, and more DO exist in the State of Illinois and we don’t want to see any of our friends “FRIGHTFULLY SURPRISED”.
According to reports, Belleville Illinois has the strictest such laws in the state. In the Metro East city, it’s illegal to trick-or-treat beyond the eighth grade. Violation of that rule is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. Furthermore, if you’re a Belleville resident over the age of 12 and would like to wear a mask in public on any day other than Halloween, you need to secure permission from the mayor or the chief of police.
Forsyth, near Decatur, has one of the most unique and harsh restrictions in the state. Police can fine trick or treaters up to $750 if they “approach” a house that doesn’t have its porch light on.
Many Illinois communities institute Halloween-specific curfews, including Chicago suburbs such as:
- Orland Park (7 p.m., and a maximum $200 fine for a violation)
- Palos Heights (7 p.m., $200 maximum)
- Oakwood (8:30 p.m., $500 maximum)
- Maryville (9 p.m., $750 maximum)
Check out https://www.hauntedillinois.com/trickortreatinghours.php for a complete list of trick or treat hours in your area.
While some Illinois Halloween Laws may have you terrified, many communities in the state on the other hand don’t turn to legal ordinances to enforce Halloween festivity. Officials instead issue safety tips and recommended hours.
Village trustees in Carpentersville for example took a hands-off approach back in 2000 and left the holiday to parental discretion under the understanding that there are plenty of local rules already on the books to prevent harassment, loitering, soliciting, destruction of property, and more.
For more information on Illinois Regulation, or for a free consultation with a lawyer, visit QUINTANALAWGROUP.COM.
Some information in this article was sourced from https://wqad.com/2018/10/19/op-ed-these-illinois-halloween-laws-might-scare-you/.
