# Silly String is Illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787 "2013-10-31T21:37:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/1 "2013-10-31T21:37:39Z")
I don’t see how [this](http://boingboing.net/2013/10/30/silly-string-ban-in-los-angele.html)is even possible. A little research shows that [it’s been a nuisance for years](http://www.lapdonline.org/october_2004/news_view/20641). If you want to stop vandalism, you don’t make spray paint illegal. You just catch and prosecute the offenders. There are a hundred items that are perfectly safe and harmless, but when abused can cause a problem. Why not punish the act, not the items? Gun on my seat? Good. Shooting gun in the street? Bad. Case of beer on my seat? Good. Drinking beer in car? Bad The list goes on. My question for you law-talking types is: how is banning possession of an item for 24 hours constitutional? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/2 "2013-10-31T21:45:10Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > The list goes on. My question for you law-talking types is: how is banning possession of an item for 24 hours constitutional? What part of the Constitution do you imagine forbids a city from banning the possession of an item for 24 hours? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/3 "2013-10-31T22:02:04Z")
Has anyone looked it up to make sure it’s real. An official sign might not say “Illegal” instead of just illegal. ETA, it does appear to be real > **[Silly String Banned In Hollywood This Halloween - LAPD Online](https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/silly-string-banned-in-hollywood-this-halloween/)** > >   WHAT: Press conference to announce the enforcement of a new ordinance, passed by City Council to ban Silly String in Hollywood on Halloween night. WHEN: Friday, October 29, 2004 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Hollywood & Highland MTA Portal Park at... Here’s the statute > **[04-0772\_ORD\_176176\_10-06-2004.pdf](https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2004/04-0772_ORD_176176_10-06-2004.pdf)** > > 107.71 KB ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/4 "2013-10-31T22:06:19Z")
[it’s real](http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=vcfi.dsp_CFMS_Report&rptid=99&cfnumber=04-0772) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/5 "2013-10-31T22:12:31Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > My question for you law-talking types is: how is banning possession of an item for 24 hours constitutional? The Tenth Amendment reserves the power to regulate silly string to the states. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/6 "2013-10-31T23:05:32Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Tenth Amendment reserves the power to regulate silly string to the states. The founding fathers really thought of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/7 "2013-10-31T23:21:56Z")
Meh. It looks like they’re targeting vendors, who would sell it along parade routes and in other public places. That’s a whole different level of contributing to making a mess in public places. And the jerks were dropping the cans all over the place. I have no problem with this city ordinance. It can still be sold by stores on Halloween and it can still be used on private property on Halloween. As far as I’m concerned, the venders can go back to cotton candy and glow sticks and loops. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/8 "2013-10-31T23:37:21Z")
If we outlaw Silly String, then only outlaws will have Silly String! (I can’t believe no one said that yet.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/9 "2013-10-31T23:46:09Z")
They can have my Silly String when they unwind it from my cold, dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/10 "2013-10-31T23:54:57Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > The founding fathers really thought of everything. Clearly not, or it would have been in the original constitution and no amendment would have been necessary at all. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/11 "2013-11-01T01:31:08Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > The founding fathers really thought of everything. You should read the scathing takedown Hamilton wrote about Google Glass and privacy. ---
**Author:** ![MaltLiquor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@MaltLiquor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaltLiquor)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/12 "2013-11-01T08:53:07Z")
Silly string is actually very hard to clean off of cement or pavement unless you just wash it down the sewers with a hose. Even with a street sweeper it is hard…the britles shred it and as it is so light by the time the vacuum part hits it it has spread beyond the suction area of the vacuum. Though I still let my nieces use it I have very strict rules about using it near our walkway or the street…anywhere else is fine including my face (or others if wearing glasses), our cats, our mean cat again, trees, lawn, even my garden. Get a can and spray it on your road and let it sit for a day or so if it is dry and try and sweep it off. No get 20 people to run up and down your block doing it and try and get it clean…evil stuff. I think it loses its flammability very soon after sprayed or else I guess you could burn it. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/13 "2013-11-01T12:57:42Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I don’t see how [this](http://boingboing.net/2013/10/30/silly-string-ban-in-los-angele.html)is even possible. > A little research shows that [it’s been a nuisance for years](http://www.lapdonline.org/october_2004/news_view/20641). > > If you want to stop vandalism, you don’t make spray paint illegal. You just catch and prosecute the offenders. > > There are a hundred items that are perfectly safe and harmless, but when abused can cause a problem. Why not punish the act, not the items? > > Gun on my seat? Good. > Shooting gun in the street? Bad. > > Case of beer on my seat? Good. > Drinking beer in car? Bad > > The list goes on. My question for you law-talking types is: how is banning possession of an item for 24 hours constitutional? I really don’t understand. What’s the point of having a gun and beer on your seat if your not going to drink the beer and fire the gun in the street? Just leave the party supplies home next time. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/14 "2013-11-01T15:13:45Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I really don’t understand. What’s the point of having a gun and beer on your seat if your not going to drink the beer and fire the gun in the street? Just leave the party supplies home next time. See, that’s the difference between city mice and country mice. The city’s no fun at all. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/15 "2013-11-01T15:59:19Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I don’t see how [this](http://boingboing.net/2013/10/30/silly-string-ban-in-los-angele.html)is even possible. > A little research shows that [it’s been a nuisance for years](http://www.lapdonline.org/october_2004/news_view/20641). > > If you want to stop vandalism, you don’t make spray paint illegal. You just catch and prosecute the offenders. > > There are a hundred items that are perfectly safe and harmless, but when abused can cause a problem. Why not punish the act, not the items? > > Gun on my seat? Good. > Shooting gun in the street? Bad. > > Case of beer on my seat? Good. > Drinking beer in car? Bad > > The list goes on. My question for you law-talking types is: how is banning possession of an item for 24 hours constitutional? Gun on my seat? Good. Shooting gun in the street? Bad. Guns in a bars + Idiots = Regulated. Case of beer on my seat? Good. Drinking beer in car? Bad. Selling beer after a certain time + Idiots = Regulated. Beer in glass bottles? Good. Shattering your empty beer bottle on the ground? Bad. Glass bottles + beach + Idiots = Regulated. Silly String at a party? Good. Vandalism? Bad. Silly String + Halloween + Idiots = Regulated. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/16 "2013-11-01T16:04:29Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > What part of the Constitution do you imagine forbids a city from banning the possession of an item for 24 hours? Antime a govt. bans a legal product for a temporary time, Due Process concerns are raised!! ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/17 "2013-11-01T16:23:50Z")
[Serious Use For Silly String.](http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500257_162-2234543.html) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/18 "2013-11-01T21:33:20Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I really don’t understand. What’s the point of having a gun and beer on your seat if your not going to drink the beer and fire the gun in the street? Just leave the party supplies home next time. > [@ducati](#): > > See, that’s the difference between city mice and country mice. > > The city’s no fun at all. Those signs aren’t going to shoot themselves. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-string-is-illegal/672787/19 "2013-11-01T21:42:46Z")
Silly string should not be illegal. No way.