Trick-or-Treaters Over Age 12 Can Face Arrest

Really? I had not realized that about Chesapeake, VA. Considering the law was enacted in 1967, I wonder if that was the case then.

Me either. I have an aunt and several cousins who live in Chesapeake and none of them are even remotely close to well to do. Their neighborhood is extremely modest and I would say most of the homes were probably built before the mid 1970’s at least. I would struggle to categorize it as even upper middle class, let alone affluent. We didn’t even go by any fancy neighborhoods on the way to their homes when visiting. Now, I do not know what the real estate prices are like there, but I have a general idea of my family’s income so I know they could not afford to buy a home there if it was expensive.
 
My brother convinced a few friends to dress up and trick-or-treat freshman year. They were living at a seminary (planning to become priests). When they got back, the head priest was yelling at them— “don’t you know it’s illegal to trick-or-treat here if you’re over 16?! Imagine the headlines, “Future Catholic priests arrested for trick-or-treating”

:rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2::rotfl2:
 
The city of Chesapeake, Virginia has an ordinance stating any kid over the age of 12 who is caught trick-or-treating can face fines and up to six months in jail. Moreover, even kids 12 and under face the same penalties if caught ToT after 8 pm.

https://abc7ny.com/society/children...-for-trick-or-treating-in-some-towns/4450665/


I'd raise the age limit to 14. But by the time kids are in high school, there's no reason to go trick-or-treating. Whatever happened to the good old days when you went over to some friend's house and sneaked cigarettes and booze from their parents' liquor cabinet? ;)
Really you'd have someone arrested for trick or treating. How ridiculous. Don't the police have enough to do?
 


When I was in high school back in the stone age, it wasn't considered cool to go trick or treating anymore.

I'm anxiously awaiting the news footage of kids in jail on November 1. ;) Hopefully they have some decent costumes, not lame ones.
 
When I was in high school back in the stone age, it wasn't considered cool to go trick or treating anymore.

I'm anxiously awaiting the news footage of kids in jail on November 1. ;) Hopefully they have some decent costumes, not lame ones.
All the teens should dress up in prison stripes for Halloween.
 


Totally ridiculous. Government now taking over trick or treating? Anyone, any age, child, teen, adult is welcome at my door. No costume necessary. Why must there be rules for everything nowadays. Would they rather have the teens out TPing and/or egging?

I feel the same way. It's all in good fun. I don't care if you have a costume either.

My teens loved trick or treating. My daughter, dressed up, was shamed by a neighbour for coming to her door when she was 14. People are hateful.
 
I feel the same way. It's all in good fun. I don't care if you have a costume either.

My teens loved trick or treating. My daughter, dressed up, was shamed by a neighbour for coming to her door when she was 14. People are hateful.

It is ridiculous. Especially since people don’t actually know how old the kids are, they’re just making assumptions.

My brother’s 7 year old is bigger than my 14 year old. Should she be “shamed” for trick or treating based on her appearance? But my high schooler is fine because she looks littler?

My kids just yesterday brought up the fact that DS got very tall in the last few months so he will probably get comments this year about being too old. He just turned 12, but he’s over 5’9”
 
It is ridiculous. Especially since people don’t actually know how old the kids are, they’re just making assumptions.

My brother’s 7 year old is bigger than my 14 year old. Should she be “shamed” for trick or treating based on her appearance? But my high schooler is fine because she looks littler?

My kids just yesterday brought up the fact that DS got very tall in the last few months so he will probably get comments this year about being too old. He just turned 12, but he’s over 5’9”

I agree. You know what would make my day? Senior citizens trick or treating. How sweet would that be?
 
It is ridiculous. Especially since people don’t actually know how old the kids are, they’re just making assumptions.

My brother’s 7 year old is bigger than my 14 year old. Should she be “shamed” for trick or treating based on her appearance? But my high schooler is fine because she looks littler?

My kids just yesterday brought up the fact that DS got very tall in the last few months so he will probably get comments this year about being too old. He just turned 12, but he’s over 5’9”
My daughter is five years older than her youngest brother. They went trick or treating together when he was 13 and she was 18. Both in really great costumes, both polite. He was almost six feet tall at that point. She was and still is 5'3". At three houses people commented that it was nice of him to take his little sister out t or t'ing. At one house along the way, he got a rock. She didn't get any rocks. At one house, they told him he was too old but gave her candy. At which point she took the candy out of her bag and gave it back to them, said "Thanks anyway." And they walked away.
 
Yeah, that is ridiculous. Sometimes older kids come around with younger siblings (or sometimes with friends.) Who cares how old they are? Teens like candy too; let them have fun. As others have said, it’s better than other activities they could be doing, like doing drugs or vandalizing property.

No rules or laws about trick-or-treating here. Everyone just uses common sense.
I went ToT until I was 17. I'm only 5'3" and my BFF has a sister 8 years younger so we took her out. We figured if we were going to do all that walking, taking her sister out we may as well get some candy too, so we dressed up as well. My family hands out candy to anyone that come to the door. the light go out when the candy runs out or 9pm which ever comes first.
 
I remember being told to go away and that I was too old to trick or treat when I was 11 by a very nice lady. I was six feet tall then.

There was a very sweet girl in my dd's elementary school who was extremely tall. I remember helping with their 3rd gr Halloween parade/party. She wore a giraffe custom and was twice as tall as all the other kids. Even without the custom, she was taller than me. I remember thinking then, people are going to think this child is much older than she is.
 
Threatening jail time for teenage trick-or-treating? It's actually laughable because there is NO way that would happen. WORST case scenario, if some unruly teens were vandalizing, or being otherwise being menacing, sure they could get arrested and charged in juvenile court. Even then, (which is not trick or treating) they are NOT going to serve jail time. A teen respectfully going trick or treating whose only crime is being over the age of 12? No court authority in their right mind is going to punish for that. The worst that will happen is that teen may ring the bell of some seriously cranky and judgmental homeowner and be treated rudely. What makes me sad is that teens and naive children trusting in the word of adults will actually believe the threats of these serious consequences, and the adults who published this warning KNOW it would never come to that.

Adult door-to-door solicitors, religious converters, or political activists are so much worse, and no one is threatening to arrest them or put them in jail. Can't we just leave Halloween alone? Anyone in costume or escorting younger children is welcome to trick or treat at my house. I don't care about age. Some kids are tall, and look a lot older than their ages. Some have disabilities, and their emotional ages are much younger than their chronological ages. 13 and 14 year olds, any age teenagers really, don't need to grow up too soon anyway. Let them enjoy childhood fun as long as possible. So what about a group of 7th graders wants to go trick or treating and it's, sorry Billy, you turned 13 last month, you can't go. The rest of us are still 12, so see you later. And I just can't believe people can make snarky comments to any kids that they shouldn't be trick or treating, or go so far as to put something like this out there.
 
There was a very sweet girl in my dd's elementary school who was extremely tall. I remember helping with their 3rd gr Halloween parade/party. She wore a giraffe custom and was twice as tall as all the other kids. Even without the custom, she was taller than me. I remember thinking then, people are going to think this child is much older than she is.

I do love that instead of trying to hide what made her stand out, she embraced it and used it!
 
For the people who only give treats to kids in costumes please remember some kids parents dont buy them costumes or let them dress up for various reasons. Be kind.

Some kids just can't afford costumes. Even if they to live a nice neighborhood, a parent may have been laid off, they may have high medical bills, etc. Is it really "worth" passing judgement on a kids over a fun sized candy bar? No one has to participate. Just leave your lights off.
 
Is it really "worth" passing judgement on a kids over a fun sized candy bar? No one has to participate. Just leave your lights off.

I heard last year there was someone in our neighborhood who was only giving out candy to kids who live here. Since he doesn’t know all the neighborhood kids, he had to be having an awkward conversation with every family coming to his door.

If you’re that freaking cheap and grumpy, why would you bother handing out candy at all?
 
For the people who only give treats to kids in costumes please remember some kid’s parents dont buy them costumes or let them dress up for various reasons. Be kind.

Some kids just can't afford costumes. Even if they to live a nice neighborhood, a parent may have been laid off, they may have high medical bills, etc. Is it really "worth" passing judgement on a kids over a fun sized candy bar? No one has to participate. Just leave your lights off.

We always made costumes with what we had on hand when I was growing up - stuff hay in your shirtsleeves and pants and you are a scarecrow. A cardboard box becomes a robot, a car, etc. You can get boxes at the grocery store for free. So there is a way to make a costume. If the parent doesn't want the kid to wear a costume, that parent probably wouldn't take the kid out trick or treating in the first place?
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top