Use Silly String in Hollywood & Get a $1000 Fine

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Found on Hollywood Blvd, East of Highland Ave. | Photo by Julie Wolfson/LAist

Signed into law in 2004, the Silly String law is meant to curb the amount of silly string that used to trash Hollywood streets during Halloween. The city reasoned that the cans were a safety hazard, causing people, horses (for police) and motorcycles to potentially slip and fall in additional to being used as a drunkenly weapon projectile. The string itself, they say, would clog storm drains, ultimately causing an environmental hazard traveling to the ocean.

But don't fret if you plan on using silly string at a party downtown or on the Westside The ordinance only covers the LAPD's Hollywood division and is in effect October 31st of each year, through 12:00 p.m. on November 1st of each year. You can read the full ordinance below:

ORDINANCE NO. 176176

An ordinance adding Section 56.02 to the Los Angeles Municipal Code to
prohibit the possession, use, sale or distribution of a product commonly known as
"Silly String" in the Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles Police Department during
Halloween festivities for reasons of public safety and environmental concerns.

WHEREAS, every year, a large quantity of products known as "Silly String" are
used and the empty Silly String cans then are discarded in the Hollywood Division of
the Los Angeles Police Department during Halloween festivities; and

WHEREAS, Silly String and Silly String cans cause a safety hazard in that they
may cause pedestrians and police officers on horseback or motorcycles to slip and fall;
the cans may be used as weapons in the event of a melee; and in the past the cans
have been thrown at store windows along Hollywood Boulevard; and

WHEREAS, Silly String and Silly String cans cause an environmental hazard in
that these products are discarded in large quantities onto the street, clog the storm
drains, and ultimately travel to the ocean.

NOW THEREFORE,

THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. A new Section 56.02 is added to Article 6 of Chapter V of the
Los Angeles Municipal Code to read:

SEC. 56.02. SILLY STRING -- HOLLYWOOD DIVISION DURING HALLOWEEN.

(a) For purposes of this section:

1. "Silly String" shall mean any putty-like substance that is shot or
expelled in the form of string from an aerosol can or other pressurized device,
regardless of whether it is sold under the name "Silly String" or any other name.

2. "Hollywood Division" shall mean the area defined by the Los Angeles
Police Department as the Hollywood Division, the geographical boundaries of
which include all of that portion of Los Angeles City bounded and described as
follows: Beginning at the point of intersection of Beverly Boulevard and
Normandie Avenue, and proceeding northerly along Normandie Avenue to
Franklin Avenue, and proceeding westerly along Franklin Avenue to Western
Avenue, and proceeding northerly along Western Avenue to Fern Dell Drive, and
continuing northerly along Fern Dell Drive to its terminus, and proceeding due
north through Griffith Park to Forest Lawn Drive at its intersection with Zoo Drive,
and proceeding westerly and southwesterly along Forest Lawn Drive to Barham
Boulevard, and proceeding southerly along Barham Boulevard to United States
Highway 101, and proceeding southeasterly along U.S. Highway 101 to
Mulholland Drive, and proceeding westerly along the various curves and
courses of Mulholland Drive to the Crest of Ridge, and proceeding southerly
following the Los Angeles city line along the eastern border of the Trousdale
Estates area of the City of Beverly Hills to the northeast corner of the City of
West Hollywood, and proceeding easterly following the Los Angeles city line
bordering along its various curves and courses of the northern border of the City
of West Hollywood to the eastern border of the City of West Hollywood that is to
the east of La Brea Avenue, and proceeding southerly along the Los Angeles city
line to Romaine Street, and proceeding westerly following the Los Angeles city
line along its various curves and courses to the intersection of Romaine Street
and La Cienega Boulevard, and proceeding southerly following the Los Angeles
city line along its various curves and courses to Beverly Boulevard, and
proceeding easterly along Beverly Boulevard to La Brea Avenue, and proceeding
northerly along La Brea Avenue to Willoughby Avenue, and proceeding easterly
along Willoughby Avenue to Hudson Avenue, and proceeding southerly along
Hudson Avenue to Melrose Avenue, and proceeding easterly along Melrose
Avenue to Gower Street, and proceeding southerly along Gower Street to
Beverly Boulevard, and proceeding easterly along Beverly Boulevard to
Normandie Avenue.

3. "Halloween" shall mean the 36-hour period from 12:00 a.m. on
October 31st of each year, through 12:00 p.m. on November 1st of each year.

(b) No Person, as defined in Municipal Code Section 11.01(a), shall possess,
use, sell or distribute Silly String at, within or upon any public or private property that is either within public view or accessible to the public, including, but not limited to, public or private streets, sidewalks, parking lots, commercial or residential buildings, places of business, or parks within the Hollywood Division during Halloween.

(c) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor subject to the provisions of
Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 11.00 (m).

Sec. 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and have it
published in accordance with Council policy, either in a daily newspaper circulated in
the City of Los Angeles or by posting for ten days in three public places in the City of
Los Angeles: one copy on the bulletin board located in the Main Street lobby to the City
Hall; one copy on the bulletin board located at the ground level at the Los Angeles
Street entrance to the Los Angeles Police Department; and one copy on the bulletin
board located at the Temple Street entrance to the Los Angeles County Hall of
Records.