Curfew Enforced in Newark on Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, Newark officials have issued holiday tips to keep kids and families safe from any ghoulish activity.

On Halloween Wednesday, the Newark Police Department will enforce a curfew ordinance for unaccompanied minors age 18 and younger who are more than 100 yards from home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"During the Halloween festivities, children should be accompanied and closely monitored by a parent or a responsible adult," said Police Director Samuel DeMaio in a press release. "However, we will ensure that there is ample police presence in the neighborhoods to abate any safety issues that may arise. Just be aware that officers will also be enforcing the city’s curfew ordinance."

The ordinance does not apply to any minor accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult person having care of custody of the minor, or in the event the minor is involved in a life-threatening emergency. It also excludes minors traveling to and from work, extracurricular school activities, activities sponsored by religious or community-based organization and other cultural educational and social events.

Any minor found in violation of the curfew ordinance – along with the parent or guardian – will be issued a written warning kept on file at the police department for six months. A second infraction during that period will result in the arrest of the juvenile. If within six months from the second infraction the minor is found again in violation of the ordinance, the minor and parent or guardian will be summonsed to appear in court before a judge. Fines can range from $100 to $1,000.

DeMaio and Police Chief Sheilah Coley offered these trick-or-treating safety tips:

• An adult should always accompany children under 12 years of age.
• Do not use open flame candles in jack-o-lanterns. Commercially available battery lights are much safer and do not pose a fire hazard.
• Parents should never let children carve a pumpkin unsupervised.
• Do not hand out homemade or unwrapped candies to children.
• Parents should plan a route for their child to use for trick-or-treating and set an early time for their child to return home.
• To welcome trick-or-treaters, switch on porch lights or any exterior lights.

Trick-or-Treat Tips for Kids

• Do not go inside anyone’s house. Remain on the stoop or porch at all times.
• Do not go into a stranger’s automobile.
• Do not take shortcuts through backyards, alleys, or parks.
• Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street.  Be sure to look both ways. Do not cross in between cars.
• Always use the sidewalk. Trick-or-treat on well-lit streets within your neighborhood. Children should always travel in a group.
• Use the buddy system, and make sure you have at least one buddy with you the entire evening.
• =When you return home, have an adult examine and discard all candies that are not factory sealed or wrapped by the candy manufacturer. Never eat homemade or unwrapped treats. Never accept candy from strangers. Children should carry spare change or cell phone in case of an emergency if they need to call home.

The Newark Fire Department also issued safety precautions for costume and decoration safety:

• Only purchase and use flame retardant costumes.                                                                    
• Children should wear white, reflective clothing, or use reflective tape and carry either a flashlight or glow stick.
• Costumes should fit properly - avoid loose or baggy costumes.
• Avoid any type of open flame while wearing costume.
• Encourage children to wear face paint as opposed to a mask. Face paint should be non-toxic and meet FDA standards.
• If a mask is worn, make sure that the eyes, mouth and nose openings are large enough to ensure adequate breathing and full range of vision.
• Children should never carry sharp objects. Ensure that all props are made of material that is flexible and nonrealistic looking.
• Materials made of 100 percent polyester or modacrylics are best for making homemade costumes. They are less flammable. 100 percent polyester and modacrylics may be purchased at most local fabric stores.
• Educate children to stay clear of open flames and other heat sources. Ensure that children know how to perform STOP, DROP, AND ROLL, should their clothes catch on fire. (If your clothes catch on fire: STOP immediately, DROP to the ground, and ROLL over and over to extinguish the flames.)
• Remember: A flame-retardant costume does not mean that it is fireproof. Always keep your costume away from any type of open flame or other heat sources.
• Candle-lit pumpkins should never be left unattended indoors and should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes can brush against the flame or people can trip over the open flame. Light candles with long, fireplace, matches or a long safety light. Always extinguish candles when leaving the house or before going to sleep. It is safer to use flashlights or flashing tealights in pumpkins instead of candles.

• Avoid decorating with candles or torchlights.
• Keep paper, cornstalks, and dried flowers well away from sources of heat. Keep all exits clear of decoration materials.
• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps, and porches, when expecting trick–or–treaters.
• Keep indoor candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles that could be ignited.
• Keep exists clear of decorations, so that nothing blocks escape routes.
• Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torchlights when decorating walkways and yards. They are much safer for trick-or-treaters, whose costumes may brush against the lighting.