Outdated and Hilarious: 3 Laws Still on the Books in Illinois

Ah, Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, home of the Chicago Cubs and deep-dish pizza. But did you know that this state also has some pretty comically outdated laws still on the books? Here are three of them:

1. No fishing while sitting on a giraffe’s neck Yes, you read that right. According to Illinois state law, it is illegal to fish while sitting on a giraffe’s neck. While it’s highly unlikely that anyone has ever attempted this, the law still stands today. It’s unclear how this law came to be, but we can only imagine that there was a time when giraffes were commonly found in Illinois and fishermen were using them as an unconventional way to get a better view of the water.
2. You can’t make faces at dogs In Illinois, it’s illegal to make “faces” at dogs. Now, we’re not exactly sure what constitutes a “face” in this context, but we’re guessing it’s something along the lines of making threatening or aggressive expressions at a dog. While it’s important to be respectful and kind to animals, it’s hard to imagine anyone being arrested for making faces at a dog.
3. The English language is the official language of Illinois While this law may not be as comically absurd as the first two, it’s still outdated and somewhat unnecessary. According to the Illinois Constitution, the English language is the official language of the state. While this may have been important when the state was first founded, it seems a bit outdated in today’s multicultural society. It’s worth noting, however, that this law does not make it illegal to speak any other language besides English.

So there you have it, folks. Three comically outdated laws still on the books in Illinois. While these laws may seem silly, they serve as a reminder of our state’s rich history and the many changes that have occurred over the years. Who knows, maybe one day these laws will be updated or repealed, but for now, they remain a part of Illinois law.