It's Against The Law For Children 12+ To Trick Or Treat In Va. Beach?

[Me.]

A visiting relative told me her daughter won't be able to go out this year because she's turned 12. Seriously? A law? I see no reason to doubt her but I find it so strange that a law like this would be passed. And I feel sorry for the girl because at 12 I sure wanted to go out with the rest of the kids on the night.

[paulsby]

1. it sounds like a classic

"do it for the children" piece of legislation.

ime, these are often amongst the stupidest laws written.

[Morning Dew]

2. you are too old to trick or treat if -

you stand on my steps and ask for a light for your cigarette - you get the light or the candy but not both.

Seriously, this happened a few years ago.

[imdjh]

4. I had some kids steal my cigarettes two years ago.

I had been sitting on the porch smoking. I went inside after handing out candy, and when I returned they had stolen my cigarettes and my lighter right off the table. I was shocked.

[zbdent]

18. please accept these fried chicken embryos and beer ...

On our home planet, Remulak, at this moment, all cones are celebrating the Harvest Under the Moons of Mipzor. Now, that's a party! All the gellato spirots will be harvested and smoked.

[imdjh]

3. I agree. I would be OK with 14, but I don't see that working.

Yeah, we get too many older kids in my neighborhood. Teenagers who aren't even in costume, just going from house to house for tons of candy (they cover large distances) and in the process scaring enough old people that many of them don't even answer the door anymore.

But I turn on all the lights and answer the door anyway. If I would lose the little kids because I didn't want the big kids, then it wouldn't be worth it. And while we do have some candy-greedy and "too old" teens on the street, we also have the ones who take the little kids around. I give candy to everybody.

When I was a kid, I really liked the houses that had good candy. The miniatures. I know they are expensive, and I really don't like to waste, but I have enough that I can do this. So I spend about $15 on candy. The last two kids really make out because I give away all the candy rather than close up with the leftovers for me to eat.

[Me.]

6. I Know What You Mean About The Good Candy

People who would actually give out candy bars. Loved it and remember the joy so I too give out 'good candy' now.

[Mike Daniels]

24. I don't mind the older kids esp. if they show up towards the end

Truthfully, I'm happy to get rid of the candy to whoever wants it as I don't really need it sitting around the house calling out to me.

[imdjh]

30. The talking candy, I know. Butterfingers are especially pushy, "I'm OVER HERE!"

[bluestateguy]

5. Nanny statism

We don't have time for laws like this given the condition of this nation.

[imdjh]

9. We have a lot of nanny communityism.

Parents and organizations are killing the traditional halloween around here. The mall has trick or treat. The downtown merchants (bookstores, boutiques, and cafes) stay open late and give out candy, the churches and community center all have organized halloween stuff.

[Book Lover]

7. Where does she live? (nm)

[Jamastiene]

8. I hope she has some friends and relatives who will

let her go Trick or Treating anyhow.

It should be against the law to make any law against children doing something as simple as Trick or Treating on Halloween. Fer crying out loud.

Halloween now.
Halloween FOREVER!!!

:evilgrin:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. I did a quick Google and it appears that 12 and under is okay.

And they want the little buggers to stop at 8:00 p.m. Not sure whether or not it's law, but if so, that's just silly. Don't most kids stop around 14?

[orleans]

11. that's really sad--you're still a kid at 12

and i figure as long as you want to dress up and walk around with friends--well, who cares? in my neighborhood parents dress up with their young kids, there are several parents who have concealed beer cans (in those foam holders), pulling a wagon (with a cooler) and going out with their kids--it's really a party/fun/friendly atmosphere. it's wonderful. we've had kids 16 and 17 trick or treating. a couple times we've even brought a small woodburner (for bonfires) into the front yard and roasted marshmallows later in the night when only the neighbors and older kids were out.

what's wrong with the people in va. beach?

[cynatnite]

12. Kids should be prepared to show proof of age upon demand before recieving candy. n/t

[Zomby Woof]

13. I lived in Va Beach when I was 12

1979 - the last year I trick-or-treated, in fact. If there was a law back then, no one enforced it. I had a military dependent's I.D., but damned if anyone I visited that night ever asked for it, and I was tall for my age. :D Most kids had NO I.D., so how would one enforce that kind of law?

I didn't go when I was 13, not because of any law, but because I felt too old for it by then. First year being a teenager and all, I suppose.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. The violence and stupidity compound themselves. Wasn't it in...

New Orleans a few years ago a kid got shot trick-or-treating because he was bigger than the others and scared some homeowner?

(Could there be roving bands of armed 15-year-olds out there ready to shoot first?)

[saltpoint]

15. Thank god kids 12 and up in Virginia Beach are prohibited from

having fun and enjoying a little candy.

Craven bastards have lived charmed lives far too long!

[AsahinaKimi]

16. I seem to recall reading somewhere

Where this ultra conservative group wanted to do away with Halloween all together because it was not a Christian
holiday..I was like wth??

Halloween is my favorite holiday... You will NOT take my Candy Corns away...EVER!

[Captain Hilts]

17. Va. Beach is a poorly-run 'city'. Anything's possible. Ugh, I hate it there. nt

[KG]

19. bully idea! anything to keep the little bastards off of my lawn!

:P

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

20. I think there is some logic to the rule

As far as I can recall, 12 and under is elementary school age - younger children, which is the traditional Trick or Treat age. 13 and above is jr high and high school. Littler kids are the ones most people are buying the candy for. Older kids would probably have more fun in some kind of Halloween Party setting. They're a little old to be pretending to be priates and princesses

I personally recall my last Halloween putting out candy. First of all, it seemed to be a sad and worthless occasion anyway. Very few kids, ending with a late doorbell ring 8:30 ish and I opened the door to 2 teenaged boys with pillowcases and no effort whatsoever at any costume who just wordlessly held out their pillowcases for the loot. I gave them what I had left as I was happy to be rid of it, and off they schlumped. I closed the door and thought "No more of that." Our neighborhood is older and the houses are far apart, I've been told it not a prime trick or treating area and that's why we got so few kids.

On the other hand, I have a friend who lives in a squashed McMansion community which is prized for the good lighting, close housing, and sidewalks - so families from all over the place actually drive over there to let out their hordes. My friends spends an absolutely amazing amount on candy and is getting pissed off about the whole situation, and yet she doesn't want to be one of the very few with the lights off.

[piratefish08]

21. Halloween is just another instrument of the devil to help him steal your soul!

Ban it for all and save your mortal soul!!

:sarcasm:

That's what my neighbors say. I feel bad for their 6 kids every halloween.........

[Gin]

22. another new rule is...at one of the malls.. kids under 18 cannot be in the mall

after 5 without being with someone who is 21 or over....starting Oct. 19.

[Statistical]

23. It is 12 and under = legal. So if she is 12 she is good.

http://www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextoid=9f7cb7513ef85110VgnVCM100000190c640a____&vgnextchannel=d90254cf18ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD&ct=ne

Yeah 12 is arbitrary but where do you draw the line? 14? 16? 19? 27?

The sad thing is many parents aren't parents. It use to be a time when parents said "you are a little too old to go trick or treating".

I think they passed it after one year there was a rash of older kids 15-19 essentially taking all the candy from kids (not just one or two bags but driving around in a car and taking hundreds of bags). Some kid got hurt in a struggle, police called, lawmaker reacted.

Anyways long story short if she is <13 send this link to her parents, she can still go this year. Next year if she is like most teenagers she won't even want to go because trick or treat is for "babies".

[WI_DEM]

25. Are you sure there is a law?

[PVnRT]

26. Wow, apparently it is in the city code

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=10122&sid=46

Sec. 23-3. Prohibited trick or treat activities.

(a) If any person over the age of twelve (12) years shall engage in the activity commonly known as "trick or treat" or any other activity of similar character or nature under any name whatsoever, he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any parent, guardian or other responsible person, having lawfully in his custody a child twelve (12) years old or younger, from accompanying such child who is playing "trick or treat" for the purpose of caring for, looking after or protecting such child.

[Me.]

31. Thanks For Finding That

I'm assuming that over the age of 12 is 12 plus a day which is why her mom feels she is prohibited. So she'll just have to stay home while her younger brother gets to go out. What a sorry state of affairs.

[dysfunctional press]

34. how can that even be legal...?

so- it's against the law for someone over 12 to ring someone's doorbell and say "trick-or-treat"?

why not classify it as extortion, and make it a felony?

[Me.]

35. The Mind Boggles

When she told me I kept asking, incredulously, if she was sure.

[saltpoint]

27. In fact, why set it at 12 and older? Let's ban it for 7 years and up.

Also Christmas.

Acceptable through age 7. After that, no presents, no carols, no nothin'.

[ellie]

28. I give candy

to whoever shows up at my door. What do I care whether they are teenagers? It's Halloween.

[Blue_Tires]

29. unless it was changed, i always thought it was 14

13 was the last year for me...

[Me.]

32. See Post # 26

[Blue_Tires]

33. i see now

that change happened after my time, iirc