Legality of pepper spray in Chicago

[ol' scratch]

I work for the railroad and my job requires me to be on the ground around some very seedy and remote areas. I have had to chase animals away by throwing ballast and rotten ties in the past. If a train goes into emergency, I have to walk it. Also, I am qualified in Chicago and am required to get down and talk my engineer past signals. I don't like standing in Englewood at 2 am with no protection. I was wondering if pepper spray is legal. I was thinking about the Kimber and a tach light. Please note. I know Chicago sucks. I need solutions, not slams against this town I have to work in.

 

[Warp]

I am not here to offer you legal advice in any way.

But I will tell you that, when I visit Chicago (I have to), I always carry the same pepper spray I carry everywhere else. I don't know if it's legal. I do know the gun would be a pretty serious crime, though, so I don't carry it.

 

[Midwest]

I am not going to tell you to move or get another job.

Do they have railroad police in Illinois? What about Chicago? Are there exceptions where railroad workers can get a carry permit for use on the job? What are the laws for Illinois and the City of Chicago for Railroad Police? Can you qualify to become a railroad policeman or some kind of guard and still work on the railroad?

 

[ol' scratch]

First off. I know that guns are a big no-no. I meant the Kimber pepper spray that has pistol sights. The railroad does have police. However, they don't ride with me all the time. I travel over 300 miles sometimes and the police are not always avaliable. I am protected in that bullet proof cab, but if a train goes into emergency, I have to walk it (emergency indicates a problem with the train). Our time table does tell us not to get down and walk it if it goes into emergency in Chicago. However, I have been asked on numerous occations to get down and talk a train by a signal in Englewood. We have yards in Chicago that they have had to put up walls of containers so that switchmen don't catch stray bullets. Not to mention, I have had to chase feral dogs off and I deal with some homeless people (some are honestly very nice and just on hard times others not so much) who threaten me. I can call railroad police, but my radio doesn't always reach so far (thank you Icom). I have been 100 cars away from the head end and not been able to contact my engineer. I don't put a lot of stock in that piece of crap radio. I would sure feel a lot better if I had something more than rotten ties and ballast the next time I have to fight off an animal or heaven forbid a man.

 

[MedWheeler]

This was my response to a similar thread back n July:

>>The most I can find is the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961, Title III, Part D, Article 24, which is a lengthy read concerning weapons in the state. Try Article 24, section 1-a-3, which authorizes the carrying of a non-lethal noxious "liquid gas" (not sure what that is!) designed solely for self-defense. There are provisions for carrying chemical, non-lethal weapons for self-defense by persons of at least 18 years of age, with a few restrictions on where these may be possessed.
Now, many states do not have laws on the books specifically permitting certain acts; they are simply considered lawful because there are no laws prohibiting them. That would, if the case with this, be why you cannot find a specific code or statute allowing pyrotechnic-powered self-defense chemical weapons. Because of the pyrotechnic mechanism of the Pepper-Blaster II by Kimber, there might be some as-yet undiscovered issue with whether or not it "fits" the legislative intent of a "self-defense" spray. But, for now, it appears legal due to the lack of a specific prohibition of it.

My check started at the URL below...

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs...eqEnd=71300000 <<<

Of course, there is always the option of "traditional" OC canisters not powered by pyrotechnic mechanisms.. Pretty sure they're OK even in the DMZ of Chicago.

 

[Texan Scott]

Scratch,

City of Chicago (a) No person shall use any device to discharge a noxious gas or liquid in an enclosed room in any Class C-1 or Class C-2 Assembly Unit, as defined in Chapter 13-56 of this Code, or in an enclosed room in any restaurant, bar or tavern that is a Class F Assembly Unit as defined in that chapter, if more than 20 persons are present in that room, unless the person is a peace officer, as defined in Section 8-20-30* of this Code, engaged in law enforcement activity. As used in this section, “noxious gas or liquid” means mace, pepper spray or any other substance that is intended or designed to cause irritation to the eyes, nose or mouth, or to cause nausea.

My reading that you'd be in the right outdoors.

 

[ol' scratch]

Thank you for your responses. That was what I was looking for .