SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ unusually strict eavesdropping law is considered so outdated that Chicago police refused to enforce it during the NATO summit and several courts have tossed it out.

But the question of how to update the law for a smartphone world is still simmering in the state legislature, a casualty of rival approaches.

In Illinois, citizens used to whipping out a cellphone and recording almost anything at any time are confronted by peculiar circumstances if they record police. People can legally record video — but not audio — of law enforcement officers on duty. If found guilty, violators can be sentenced to prison terms of up to 15 years, though judges and juries have been reluctant to convict people charged with recording audio of police.