Effective July 22, 2010 it became illegal in Illinois to sell or distribute for retail novelty cigarette lighters (The Retail Sale and Distribution of Novelty Lighters Prohibition Act (720 ILCS 668). We seek your assistance in protecting children from the harm that these lighters may cause as children are attracted to the visual effects, flashing lights, musical sounds, and toy-like designs of these lighters.

A novelty lighter means “a mechanical or electrical device typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that is designed to resemble a cartoon character, toy, gun, watch, musical instrument, vehicle, animal, food or beverage, or similar articles, or that plays musical notes, or has flashing lights, or has other entertaining features. A novelty lighter may operate on any fuel, including butane, isobutane, or liquid fuel.”

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