Waukegan, IL Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- Loitering to engage in drug activity
- Cross-referenced laws
- State Controlled Substance, Cannabis, Steroid Acts
- Factors considered
- 9 listed circumstances, non-exclusive
- Related section
- § 15-45.1 (prostitution-related loitering)
- Governing section
- § 15-9.1 (Code 1974 § 26-9.1)
- Penalty
- $25-$750 per day, § 1-13(a)
Summary
Waukegan makes it unlawful to loiter in public with the purpose of engaging in drug activity, and lets officers weigh nine listed circumstances, from acting as a lookout to fleeing at the sight of police, to decide whether that purpose is present.
(a)It is unlawful for any person to loiter in or near any thoroughfare, place open to the public, or near any public or private place in a manner and under circumstance manifesting the purpose to engage in drug-related activity contrary to any of the provisions of the Illinois Controlled Substance Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 56½, ¶ 1100 et seq.), as amended, the Illinois Cannabis Control Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 56½, ¶ 701 et seq.), as amended, the Illinois Steroid Control Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 56½, ¶ 2301 et seq.), as amended, or any other local, state, or federal law prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, delivery, use, or possession of a controlled substance (hereinafter "drug laws").
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
1 targets loitering itself, not just drug possession or sale: it's unlawful 'to loiter in or near any thoroughfare, place open to the public, or near any public or private place in a manner and under circumstance manifesting the purpose to engage in drug-related activity' under the Illinois Controlled Substance Act, the Cannabis Control Act, the Steroid Control Act, or any other drug law. Because 'manifesting the purpose' is a fact question, the ordinance gives officers nine specific circumstances to weigh, including but not limited to: the person is a known drug user, possessor, or seller with a prior conviction or visible signs of use such as needle tracks; the person is currently barred from a high drug activity area by court order; behavior suggests they're acting as a lookout or about to deal; the officer identifies the person as a member of a gang organized around drug activity; small objects or packages change hands for cash 'in a furtive fashion'; the person flees at the sight of police; the person tries to conceal an object that could relate to drug activity; the area is publicly known for drug trafficking; or the specific location has already been reported to police as a suspected drug spot.
No single factor is required or sufficient on its own; officers may combine several to establish the loitering violation. 1, covering loitering for prostitution-related purposes.
Violations & Fines
A loitering violation under § 15-9.1 falls under the Code's general penalty in § 1-13(a), a fine of $25.00 to $750.00 with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense; because loitering is a status offense rather than a possession charge, it can be charged even when no drugs are found on the person cited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for loitering in Waukegan without being caught with drugs?
What counts as evidence of drug-related loitering purpose?
Is there a separate Waukegan loitering law for prostitution?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
Compare Waukegan to another location·View the Illinois public conduct overview
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