Odd Laws Still on the Books
A felony for a third littering, a required warning for tongue piercing and a cashier under 16: real Illinois sections
Lists of strange state laws get passed around with no section number attached. Every one below has one, read from the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
Who handles this in Illinois: Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Lawyer Finder; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Illinois directory.
| The law | What it says | Breaking it |
|---|---|---|
| The lawLittering as a felony | What it saysA third littering conviction after a second is a Class 4 felony. | Breaking itClass 4 felony |
| The lawA warning in the consent form | What it saysA parent's consent to pierce a minor's tongue, lips or cheeks must carry the statute's own warning about nerve damage and blood clots. | Breaking itClass A misdemeanor |
| The lawA cashier under 16 | What it saysNo one under 16 may sell tobacco or vapes in a store, unless it is the owner's own son or daughter in a family business. | Breaking itSet by the act |
| The lawTeens tattooing teens | What it saysThe tattoo ban does not apply to a minor tattooing another minor away from any tattoo business. | Breaking itNot covered by the ban |
Many laws that sound strange are city or county ordinances rather than state law; this page covers only the Compiled Statutes. Whether a particular act broke one of these sections is a question for a licensed Illinois attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- 415 ILCS 105/8 — Persons who violate any of Sections 4 through 7 are subject to the penalties set out in this Section
- 720 ILCS 5/12C-40 — Piercing the body of a minor
- 720 ILCS 675/1 — Prohibition on sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products to persons under 21 years of age
- 720 ILCS 5/12C-35 — Tattooing the body of a minor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Illinois attorney.