New legislation in Virginia, has forbidden anyone over the age of 12 to participate in trick-or-treating, and it's not long before other states are going to want to adopt a similar policy. A similar law was passed in Bathurst, New Brunswick limiting children above the age of 16 to participate in Halloween-related activities past 8 p.m. and an even earlier curfew for younger children.
Why the curfew? There has been an ongoing debate on the frequency of crime on Halloween versus any other given day of the year. Think about it — you're home alone with a large basket filled to the brim with candy to distribute to excited children, why wouldn't you open the door when someone rings the bell? In the case of Manhattan couple Ronald Sisman and Elizabeth Platzman, you would have been safer to not open your door for strangers (or in their unfortunate case, a murderous cult sacrifice).
According to Boston Northeast University professor James Alan Fox, crime tends to surge dramatically by around 50% during three holidays: New Year's Eve, Independence Day, and Halloween. In response to this data, state laws have been implemented and are being revised each year to make Halloween a more safe holiday for children.
Some implemented laws include imposing regulations on registered sex offender parolees to stay indoors starting 3 p.m. October 31st to avoid contact with minors, launching neighborhood-wide law enforcement patrols, and prohibiting anyone over the age of 16 to wear a mask to prevent gang activity, masked robbing, assaults, etc. Punishment for violating this new legislation can come in the form of a fine of at least $200, and more if you happen to be wearing a mask (better stick to face paint).
