Is it illegal to sleep in your car in Illinois? Here’s what state law prohibits
Whether you’re on a long road trip, hauling cargo in a semi-truck or living in a van, you may have wondered if you can get in legal trouble for pulling over and sleeping in your vehicle in Illinois.
The number of Americans choosing to live in vans has increased in recent years, and there are also many Illinoisans who are experiencing homelessness. But is it legal to sleep in your car in Illinois?
“There aren’t state laws that prohibit someone from sleeping in their car in most circumstances,” Illinois Legal Aid Online Deputy Director Gwen Daniels said in a July 2 interview with the News-Democrat.
In some Illinois areas, such as rest stops and welcome centers, sleeping in a vehicle is actually encouraged, Daniels continued. Truckers traveling long distances may need to sleep at rest stops.
“Some retail parking lots may allow overnight parking or sleeping in your car, but it’s usually a really good idea to get explicit permission to do so,” Daniels said.
There are some circumstances where someone could break an Illinois law while sleeping in their car, Daniels noted, including:
Trespassing or loitering on private property that’s not your own
Sleeping in a vehicle that’s illegally parked
Blocking traffic
Creating a disturbance
If you’re intoxicated in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition, even if the car is not moving
While Illinois state law does not ban people from sleeping in vehicles in most circumstances, many local city ordinances, as well as homeowners associations in residential areas, may ban the practice, Daniels said.
Can you legally sleep in your car in Belleville?
Belleville’s city ordinance on the “parking of recreational vehicles” prohibits overnight parking on city-owned property, including city parks. The ordinance defines “overnight parking” as taking place between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The ordinance also has a specific provision for commercial zoning districts: “No recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping in a commercial zoning district, except for the temporary sleeping of guests or residents not to exceed seven nights in a 30-day period,” the Belleville city ordinance reads.
Those who are cited for violating the city’s parking rules may be ticketed, fined and even towed in some circumstances.
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