In Orlando Florida Is It Again St the Law to Trick or Treating if You Ate Over 14
Last Halloween, one Virginia city went viral for banning anyone 13 years and older from trick-or-treating.
No, it wasn't a story on The Onion. It was real.
The city of Chesapeake drew national scrutiny – and social media uproar – for its decades-old ordinance that could fine or jail teens caught in costume with a sack full of candy.
It got so much attention, in fact, the city quickly conducted a review of the ordinance and made changes, the city's director of public communications Health Covey told USA TODAY.
The ordinance now enacts a maximum trick-or-treating age of 14 years old and does not allow for possible jail time.
Teens in the city could still face a Class 4 misdemeanor and a fine under the law. But Covey assures the public that police have never actually fined or jailed a teen for trick-or-treating and the law is in place only to prevent issues like teens stealing and smashing pumpkins.
"The ordinance was, and is, intended to provide police with the authority to take action to keep order and protect public safety," Covey said, noting that the law was originally made in 1970 in response to "incidents of mischief" on Halloween night.
"Chesapeake Police officers do not spend Halloween night checking the ages of those out enjoying trick-or-treating in a safe manner," Covey added.
Good.
Families should have the freedom to decide when the fun-loving era of trick-or-treating is over, not city laws.
How old is too old to trick-or-treat?
There's a wide gap in parent's opinions on what that right age is to stop trick-or-treating, according to a 2016 non-scientific poll of 2,000 people by Today. When asked, "How old is too old to trick-or-treat?" 73 percent of people said between 12 and 17. But those five years between early and late teens mark a huge difference in adolescent development.
What's next? How else can we crush teen spirit? Footloose-style bans on dancing? 14-year-olds filing tax returns?
Teens trick-or-treating, provided they're respectful to the people around them, are not doing any harm—and it seems the city of Chesapeake agrees.
And we all know what teens could be doing instead: Going to parties with alcohol or illicit drugs. Heck, an already moody teenager sitting sadly at home feeling like they missed out is a bummer enough reason to let them get dressed up and get some candy.
'Let the teens be'
But the biggest reason teens should be allowed to trick or treat in peace?
Teens don't need to grow up any faster than they already are.
Judging by the social media during last year's controversy, many people agree.
"I would rather have teens trick or treat then cause trouble," one commented on a news story about the city's ban, adding that sometimes older kids are out helping a younger sibling.
Another chimed in vowing to personally greet anyone who shows up to her with candy because she would rather see them at her house then committing crimes.
"We must remember that sometimes teens may not get to be kids when they are kids because of different situations," she said.
Finally, a man shared that his wife is 36 years old and has Asperger's and "a very childlike nature about her." She likes to dress up to hand out candy but she also likes to go around to close friends and neighbors to Trick or Treat. Let the teens be."
A good reminder that we don't always know everyone's story, so we should always be kind.
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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/parenting/2019/10/16/halloween-2019-trick-treat-bans-age-limits-absurd/3942119002/
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