Behind Ridgewood's Ban on Silly String

On April 14, 1998, the Ridgewood Village Council passed an ordinance banning the use of silly string in public.

No, really.

According to Village Clerk Heather Mailander, its origin lies with July 4th parades.

In the blistering summer heat, a group of kids marching in the parade had their costumes ruined by melting silly string shot from the crowd. Their parents vowed they would never to march again, Mailander said.

And if you've looked closely at the sidewalks you might find more than just caked gum etched into the gravel. You'll see faint zig zags. What is that? Again, melted silly string.

If you're caught stringing around town, you might spend up to 90 days in jail, pay a fine of upwards of $1,000, or even perform 90 days of community service.

Fortunately, catching offenders appears to be a low priority for the police.

"I can't recall any time someone has received a ticket for using silly string," Village Attorney Matt Rogers told Patch.