720 ILCS 5/17-5.7
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 720 - CRIMINAL OFFENSES|720 ILCS 5/ - Criminal Code of 2012.|Title III - Specific Offenses

Sec. 17-5.7. Deceptive advertising.(a) Any person, firm, corporation or association or agent or employee  thereof, who, with intent to sell, purchase, or in any wise dispose of, or  to contract with reference to merchandise, securities, real estate,  service, employment, money, credit or anything offered by such person,  firm, corporation or association, or agent or employee thereof, directly or  indirectly, to the public for sale, purchase, loan, distribution, or the  hire of personal services, or with intent to increase the consumption of or  to contract with reference to any merchandise, real estate, securities,  money, credit, loan, service or employment, or to induce the public in any  manner to enter into any obligation relating thereto, or to acquire title  thereto, or an interest therein, or to make any loan, makes, publishes,  disseminates, circulates, or places before the public, or causes, directly  or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed  before the public, in this State, in a newspaper, magazine, or other  publication, or in the form of a book, notice, handbill, poster, sign,  bill, circular, pamphlet, letter, placard, card, label, or over any radio  or television station, or in any other way similar or dissimilar to the  foregoing, an advertisement, announcement, or statement of any sort  regarding merchandise, securities, real estate, money, credit, service,  employment, or anything so offered for use, purchase, loan or sale, or the  interest, terms or conditions upon which such loan will be made to the  public, which advertisement contains any assertion, representation or  statement of fact which is untrue, misleading or deceptive, shall be guilty  of a Class A misdemeanor.(b) Any person, firm or corporation offering for sale merchandise,  commodities or service by making, publishing, disseminating, circulating or  placing before the public within this State in any manner an advertisement  of merchandise, commodities, or service, with the intent, design or purpose  not to sell the merchandise, commodities, or service so advertised at the  price stated therein, or otherwise communicated, or with intent not to sell  the merchandise, commodities, or service so advertised, may be enjoined  from such advertising upon application for injunctive relief by the  State's Attorney or Attorney General, and shall also be guilty of a Class A  misdemeanor.(c) Any person, firm or corporation who makes, publishes,  disseminates, circulates or places before the public, or causes, directly  or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or placed  before the public, in this State, in a newspaper, magazine or other  publication published in this State, or in the form of a book, notice,  handbill, poster, sign, bill, circular, pamphlet, letter, placard, card, or  label distributed in this State, or over any radio or television station  located in this State or in any other way in this State similar or  dissimilar to the foregoing, an advertisement, announcement, statement or  representation of any kind to the public relating to the sale, offering for  sale, purchase, use or lease of any real estate in a subdivision located  outside the State of Illinois may be enjoined from such activity upon  application for injunctive relief by the State's  Attorney or Attorney  General and shall also be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor unless such  advertisement, announcement, statement or representation contains or is  accompanied by a clear, concise statement of the proximity of such real  estate in common units of measurement to public schools, public highways,  fresh water supply, public sewers, electric power, stores and shops, and  telephone service or contains a statement that one or more of such  facilities are not readily available, and name those not available.(d) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do  not apply to any medium for the printing,  publishing, or disseminating of advertising, or any owner, agent or  employee thereof, nor to any advertising agency or owner, agent or employee  thereof, nor to any radio or television station, or owner, agent, or  employee thereof, for printing, publishing, or disseminating, or causing to  be printed, published, or disseminated, such advertisement in good faith  and without knowledge of the deceptive character thereof.(e) No person, firm or corporation owning or operating a service station  shall advertise or hold out or state to the public the per gallon price  of gasoline, upon any sign on the premises of such station, unless such  price includes all taxes, and unless the price, as so advertised, corresponds  with the price appearing on the pump from which such gasoline is dispensed.  Also, the identity of the product must be included with the price in any  such advertisement, holding out or statement to the public. Any person who violates this subsection (e) shall be guilty  of a petty offense.   (Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11.)