By Melissa Chan
A county in Mississippi has made it temporarily illegal for anybody to dress up as a clown in public—at least until Halloween is over.
Officials in Kemper County have reacted to the creepy clown craze that has taken over most of the U.S. and other parts of the world by passing an ordinance Monday that makes it unlawful for people to wear a clown costume, a clown mask or even clown makeup in public, the Kemper County Messenger reports.
“It has really gotten out of hand,” Kemper County Board President Johnny Whitsett said of the sweeping phenomenon, according to the newspaper.
Violators face a $150 fine until the ordinance is no longer in effect Nov. 1.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024
- Inside the Rise of Bitcoin-Powered Pools and Bathhouses
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What Makes a Friendship Last Forever?
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- Your Questions About Early Voting , Answered
- Column: Your Cynicism Isn’t Helping Anybody
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Contact us at letters@time.com