Is It Illegal To Sleep In Your Car In Illinois?

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Is it illegal to sleep in your car in Illinois? Yes, you can sleep in your car in Illinois, but there are certain things you need to know.

Some people may feel sleepy after driving for a long time – not just visually impaired drivers, it could be anyone.

Sleeping inside your car is basically not a bad thing, but due to several circumstances and possible situations that could occur as of result of such acts, every state in the US has rules that guide and control how drivers could sleep in their car.

Now, let’s say you’re driving down Chicago and it’s looking like you’d want to get some rest while still in Illinois, what are the things you should know about sleeping in a car in Illinois?

Let’s quickly find out!

Is It Illegal To Sleep In Your Car In Illinois?

Just as every other cities and states (generally), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has specific rules regarding the usage of its highway rest areas.

However, there are no rules against sleeping in your car within the city of Illinois. This implies that it is not illegal to sleep in your car in Illinois.

But then, there is something you must know. Generally, sleeping out in your car can be dangerous, and in some rare cases, it also leads to car theft.

While driving in Illinois, you can possibly pull over in a street or where you deemed to be a safe corner to have a nap before you get going again.

However, when you stop in a particular street to sleep, the people living in the neighborhood may call the police on you. This especially happens in areas that are somewhat unsafe.

Also, in extremely safe areas, concerned street occupants may also call the police on you – when they notice you’ve been parking for a while.

To avoid such circumstances, you may want to consider “Rest Stops” as where you can safely park your car to enjoy a quick, good sleep.

The government of Illinois enacted rules on how road users should behave and use the different Rest Spots/Areas located strategically across the city – usually found on the highways.

Illinois Rest Areas’ Rules

The driver must be obedient to the security or personnel in charge of a rest area
You have a maximum 3 hours to park in a rest area
Camping and cooking are not allowed in Illinois rest areas
You cannot sleep overnight
Selling, loitering, and hitchhiking is prohibited
Car maintenance or fixing/repair activities should not be done in the park

How To Identify Rest Areas in Illinois

Illinois Department of Transport, IDOT built about 30 rest areas and 11 welcome centers on highways throughout the state.

The rest areas and welcome centers are open 24 hours and equipped with good facilities. The rest areas can be identified by signposts and related indicators.

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Conclusion

So, is it illegal to sleep in your car in Illinois? Absolutely NO, it is not illegal to nap in your car in Illnois. You only need to ensure you’re parking in a safe environment where such activity is allowed.

You can also check out parking lots and ask the security guys if you could park and sleep for a while.