I recently read that in several large cities in Virginia, (Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg) that it is a Class 4 Misdemeanor to trick or treat after age 12, or after 8:00 PM.

In Fairfax, are there any such ordinances that you know of? Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Spooked cities restrict trick-treat to preteens
Laws to curb vandalism, mischief
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/oct/24/spooked-cities-restrict-trick-treat-to-preteens/?page=all


RICHMOND, Va. | Teenagers who trick-or-treat in some cities could face something more threatening than any costumed zombie or ghost — the long arm of the law.

Some cities across the country have adopted age limits — usually around 12 — for those who can travel door-to-door for candy and other Halloween fare. But while teen violators could face jail or fines up to $100, such laws are rarely strictly enforced.

Take Mayor Mark Eckert of Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis for example. He led a push in 2008 to ban trick or treating by high school-aged teens in that community of about 35,000 people.

His reasoning? He said he heard from too many single mothers and senior citizens complaining they were frightened by “6-foot-tall kids” showing up at their homes in search of candy.

“When I was a kid my father said to me, ‘You’re too big to be going trick-or-treating. You’re done,’” Mr. Eckert said. “When that doesn’t happen, then that’s reason for the city governments to intervene.”

Some Belleville residents have complained about the ordinance, he said. But he added that he hears more often from those thankful for the age limit. The ordinance also prohibits those over 12 years old from wearing masks in public any other day of the year.

In Virginia, several cities have had trick-or-treating age limits on the books since the 1970s. City officials from Meridian, Miss., to Bishopville, S.C., and Boonsboro, Md., have cut off the trick-or-treat age at 12.

Still, officials cannot recall anyone ever being arrested or fined for being too old to trick-or-treat.

If anything, officers will let teens off with a warning or a call to their parents, said Lou Thurston, spokesman for the Newport News Police Department in Virginia.

“It’s not like we have officers that are patroling the neighborhoods saying, ‘How old are you?’ That’s not the point,” Mr. Thurston said. “The point is making the place safe.”

Even if they wanted to, officials acknowledge the laws are difficult to enforce. Still, they say putting the word out about the laws every year keeps many teens from violating the bans.

There’s no way to know exactly how many cities have such ordinances. The National League of Cities doesn’t keep track of ordinances, and states have left such matters up to the localities.

Trick-or-treating evolved out of the late medieval custom of children asking for treats in exchange for praying for the dead of the household, said Hans Broedel, a University of North Dakota history professor and expert on early traditions.

Tricks — usually vandalism and other mischief by teens and young adults — were a big part of Halloween for a time until a conscious effort in the 19th and early 20th centuries to shift the celebration toward children, Mr. Broedel said.

Excluding teens from trick-or-treating could make it more appealing to do other, less desirable, things, he said.

“Trick-or-treating in a large part is embraced in this country because it serves to cut down on teenage vandalism,” Mr. Broedel said. “Certainly telling teenagers they can’t go trick-or-treating isn’t going to stop them from going out on Halloween and doing whatever.”

John Womeldorf, a real-estate agent in James City County, Va., has two sons ages 12 and 11. He said his 12-year-old is disappointed that this will be his last year to trick-or-treat, but he looks forward to scaring youngsters who come for candy next year.

Mr. Womeldorf said he doesn’t remember any such rules as a child but see why they might be necessary now.

“It is a different world than I grew up in, so I guess we do have to have certain things like that in place to be enforced if needed,” he said.

Still, Alisa Alexander Goetz of Jordan, Minn., questions why such restrictions are needed. Children grow up too fast, she said, so why not let them continue the tradition?

Of trick-or-treating, she said, “It’s better than them out drinking or getting into trouble.”

"Your Papers Please"

I know of no Fairfax County laws that address Trick or Treating ages or hours.

Bullshit.

Yes Man Wrote:
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> That’s not the point,” Mr. Thurston
> said. “The point is making the place safe.”

Me nose the mall is best place to do it because there is no strangers. Peoples more a lots round here and you no know what you gets from someones house. Me believers to go to public place and be safe. Thats be my CERTenly good advises.

CERTently456789 Wrote:
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> Me nose the mall is best place to do it because
> there is no strangers. Peoples more a lots round
> here and you no know what you gets from someones
> house. Me believers to go to public place and be
> safe. Thats be my CERTenly good advises.


Seriously arent you bored of your stupid internet act and obviously fake broken english?

Couldn't trick or treating be viewed as protected by the first amendment?

When you redistribute the candy its good for everybody. The rich need to give their fair share by which I mean no Snickers fun size bars but the regular size bars.
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No one is trick or treating after age 12 anyway, that's just what you tell your parents so you can go out and cause trouble. We would always go to a townhouse development or an apartment building as soon as it got dark and run through really quick just to get some candy in the bag so it looked like we were actually trick or treating when we went home later. Then the real fun would begin. One year we stole all of the pumpkins off our friends street and a few neighboring streets and we put them all in his front yard. Another year we tied fishing string to door knockers and then we would go across the street and knock on their door. The door knocker thing gets really fun after you let them open the door a few times with no one there, we got more than a few people by pulling on the string while they were standing there with the door open, scared the shit out of a few people as well. We probably TP'ed a few houses as well but I don't recall since we did that just about every weekend.

YOu should CERTNelty go to jail. It is funnies until somebodyone gets hurtz.

CERTenyl456789 Wrote:
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> YOu should CERTNelty go to jail. It is funnies
> until somebodyone gets hurtz.
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BB*X Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No one is trick or treating after age 12 anyway,
> that's just what you tell your parents so you can
> go out and cause trouble. We would always go to a
> townhouse development or an apartment building as
> soon as it got dark and run through really quick
> just to get some candy in the bag so it looked
> like we were actually trick or treating when we
> went home later. Then the real fun would begin.
> One year we stole all of the pumpkins off our
> friends street and a few neighboring streets and
> we put them all in his front yard. Another year
> we tied fishing string to door knockers and then
> we would go across the street and knock on their
> door. The door knocker thing gets really fun
> after you let them open the door a few times with
> no one there, we got more than a few people by
> pulling on the string while they were standing
> there with the door open, scared the shit out of a
> few people as well. We probably TP'ed a few
> houses as well but I don't recall since we did
> that just about every weekend.

Well now...aren't YOU the little terrorist...

I don't know what the fuck YOU'RE talking about but I'm 19 and I -still- go trick or treating and definitely don't cause any problems.

I know it's illegal to shit in those trick or treating buckets, but a pillowcase is fair game.

Single-Moms and senior-citizens were frightened by 6 foot tall kids showing up at their doors looking for candy?

Um, keep the door locked...when someone knocks, look out a window. If it's a 6 foot tall kid or anyone else you don't want to deal with, don't open the door. /thread.

Probably unconstitutional to make it illegal for someone over 12 to trick or treat. What if there is a developmentally slow 30 year old that likes to trick or treat, or a scary clown.

How do they prove their age? Do they haul in every oversized kid on suspicion of overage trick-or-treating, and call the parents to come down to the station with a birth certificate?

Did have language that criminalized wearing a mask in public except for certain holidays such as Halloween.. I would have to look up the code to see what it says today..There may have been an exception added for religious reasons as for example Islamic Women, who cover their faces. And I'm Ok with that..

DAJAX TRUMP !! 2016!

§ 18.2-422. Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.
Code 1950, §§ 18.1-364, 18.1-367; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1986, c. 19; 2010, cc. 262, 420; 2014, c. 167.

Yes a mask worn into a 7-11 with a handgun at hand.. could get someone into some BIG TROUBLE!!

DAJAX .. Lord Why Did I say 7-11 Leave Um Be..!!

Best costume to come by our place 2nite.

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Beware of the pedophile in Sterling