what's the difference between 'unlawful' and 'illegal'

[blackdogdeek]

there are signs upon entrance to the holland tunnel(nyc) that say "it is unlawful to change lanes in the tunnel".

how is that different from it being illegal? does it mean that such actions do not abide by the law, but also do not break it?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

IIRC, unlawful = illegal. Synonyms.

- M4H

 

[clamum]

I've always thought that the two words were the same... ? Maybe not.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

un·law·ful ( P )
adj.

1. Not lawful; illegal.

 

[Radiohead]

just a buttered up way of saying "you going to jail mofo"

 

[aircooled]

Unlawful

 

[blackdogdeek]

hmm, i guess since they're the same essentially, nyc just wanted to put a friendlier sounding synonym at one of their portals.