Backlash After Keansburg Imposes 7 P.M. Halloween Curfew

KEANSBURG, NJ — A Monmouth County town faced a backlash from parents after the town announced on Facebook Monday morning that trick or treating would end at 7 p.m. on Halloween, one of the earliest documented Halloween curfews in the entire state.

"For safety reasons, the Borough of Keansburg will be enforcing a 7:00 pm curfew, the same as every year, for Mischief Night (10/30/19) and Halloween (10/31/19) for children, not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, under the age of 18. Trick or Treating also ends at 7:00 pm," the town of Keansburg posted under its official town page.

Nearly 100 people commented on the post throughout the day Monday. Many were working parents who said they don't even get out of work until 6 p.m. and then have to factor in a commute time.

Keansburg's 7 p.m. curfew is not new; the town has had it place for years now. It used to be even earlier, at 6 p.m., but the town changed it after people complained.

But parents in town still pushed back against the 7 p.m. curfew, saying they have to adjust their schedules every Halloween just to comply with Keansburg's rules, some even taking the entire day off work on Oct. 31. Other families said they would simply go trick or treating in other towns that have later curfews.

"I had to take the day off of work bc of this reason. I'm normally not home from work till 6," wrote one mother.

"We missed all of the trunk or treats due to work, rain and no vehicle, now we will miss trick or treating on actual Halloween with our kids because we are a working family, such a shame," wrote another. "Our kids were really looking forward to it."

"More illegal government intrusion," commented one man.

This Patch reporter called Keansburg town hall, and Joanne O'Brien, the deputy borough clerk, at first said the 7 p.m. curfew was "really meant more as a guideline." She also said she was well aware of the backlash.

"The 7 p.m. thing is a guideline. We don't want people knocking on doors at 8 o'clock at night but we cannot curtail adult behavior," she said. "If adults want to knock on other people's doors and get candy, there is nothing we can do to stop them."

O'Brien also said pointed out town hosted a "Trucktober" event recently. "Kids could go to that," she said.

She then said the 7 p.m. curfew was meant more for unaccompanied teenagers who are not out with an adult.

She then decided to delete this sentence — "Trick or Treating also ends at 7:00 pm — entirely from the Facebook post.

"I know there is some confusion. This curfew is for children who are under the age of 18 who are not accompanied by an adult. But I can see the confusion," she said. "I'm deleting it right now."

Lisa Strydio, the former mayor of Keansburg, told Patch that when she was mayor of the town she got a majority of votes on the town council to push the Halloween curfew to 8 p.m. — despite the fact that Keansburg police wanted it to be 7 p.m. or even earlier.

"I too was a working mother traveling back and forth to New York City," she recalled. "But apparently they voted it back to 7 p.m. That is too early for working parents."

Few towns are as strict as Keansburg. Here's where other towns stand on Halloween curfews:

Middletown: 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Hazlet: 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Aberdeen: 8:30 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Woodbridge: 7 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Brick: 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Toms River does not have a formal Halloween curfew

Ocean City: 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors on October 30 and 31

Hillsborough: 10 p.m. curfew

Green Brook: 10 p.m. curfew

Westwood: 9 p.m. curfew

Franklin Lakes: 10 p.m. curfew

Hillsdale: 8 p.m.