Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Before heading out to collect candy this Halloween, make sure you know these rules

As Halloween approaches, children of all ages are preparing their masks and capes to go trick-or-treating.

But before heading out the door to collect candy, there are rules and regulations you need to be familiar with.

In the state of Virginia, children ages 15 and younger can wear costumes with masks but state code prohibits anyone older than 16 wearing items that conceal their identity, said Maj. Greg Riley, a now-retired Williamsburg Police spokesman.

When out scouting for candy, police want to make sure children and their chaperones are safe and have a few tips to do so:

  • Go trick-or-treating with an adult.
  • Wear costumes that allow for adequate vision and hearing.
  • Costumes should fit well to prevent tripping or falling.
  • Wear flame-retardant costumes.
  • Walk facing traffic and pay attention for cars.
  • Only cross on street corners, never in the middle of the block.
  • Wear brightly colored clothing, such as glow-in-the-dark patches, so vehicles have greater visibility.
  • Bring a flashlight.
  • Only approach houses that have porch lights turned on.
  • Only eat candy after it has been inspected by an adult.
  • Don’t eat candy that has already been opened.

In Williamsburg, York County and James City County, trick-or-treating hours are between 6-8 p.m. on Halloween for children 12 and younger.

“We will address any complaints we receive regarding trick-or-treaters who may be ‘too old’ but we do not actively monitor the ages of children participating in Halloween activities,” Riley said.

The exception: Anyone who appears older than 16 cannot wear a mask.

In York County, officers do not directly ask children their ages or write tickets to those who stay out past 8 p.m., said Shelly Ward, spokeswoman for the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

In James City County, officers will not enforce violations to times and ages unless there are other factors involved, said Stephanie Williams, JCC Police spokeswoman.

Ward said for the most part, these are suggested regulations to ensure safety. While officers won’t be heavily enforcing the rules, they will be patrolling neighborhoods.

“We want the children to stay safe and have a great time,” Ward said.

Editor’s note: This story originally published in 2018. The title of Maj. Riley has been changed to reflect his retirement this year.

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

Related Articles

MORE FROM AUTHOR