Police issue safety reminders for Halloween night

Local police are pulling out all the stops to keep Halloween from being too scary this year, even citing advice from their elders.

"Like my grandmother said, 'If you're out past midnight, you're up to no good,' " said Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul.

The city of Henderson is asking people to trick-or-treat from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. While the hours won't be enforced, authorities say, early evening hours are the safest.

Residents in North Las Vegas are encouraged to go door-to-door from 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

"We don't want people out too late," said Mark Hoyt, a spokesman for the North Las Vegas Police Department.

The Metropolitan Police Department didn't set trick-or-treat times but reminded residents that the city's curfew is in force. Even if you dress like someone old enough to be dead, people under the age of 18 need to be off the streets by 10 p.m. The curfew is 9 p.m. on the Strip, police said.

Traffic is always a concern on Halloween because there are so many pedestrians, said Todd Rasmussen, spokesman for North Las Vegas police.

Rasmussen said police ask people to drive with caution and be on the lookout for kids.

Parents should cross the street with their children, he said. Children and adults should wear bright colors. If children are wearing a mask, the eye holes should be big enough for the child to see through them, he said.

Police said parents should accompany their children to the door. Parents need to know what houses their kids are going to and make sure they aren't going inside unfamiliar places. If older kids trick-or-treat on their own, parents can set check-in times and establish a route ahead of time to ensure their teens are safe, police say.

Halloween just isn't the same anymore, said Carol Motl of Las Vegas. Motl remembers when her two sons, now 32 and 34, ran door-to-door without constant supervision, only stopping to check in when it was time to unload their pillowcases filled with candy before going back to get more.

"You didn't have to worry as much back then," she said. "Today, I would probably take my kids to the planned events. We didn't have those activities back then."

There are several alternatives to doorbell ringing.

Las Vegas police officers will hold a "trunk or treat" event at the Hard Rock Cafe, 4475 Paradise Road. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. children can go from police cars to trucks to Humvees and beg for candy. There will also be contests, games and a haunted castle.

North Las Vegas police are hosting a similar event: "Safe Halloween" will be held at the Home Depot at 1275 W. Craig Road, near Martin Luther King Boulevard, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Boulder City Police Department will also be handing out candy. Patrol cars marked with glowing pumpkins will be stationed throughout downtown Boulder City from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. obliging the requests to little ghosts, goblins, superheroes and princesses.

Several other family friendly Halloween events are scheduled throughout the city. More information can be found at: http://www.lasvegaskids.net/las_vegas_halloween/halloween_events.htm

Contact reporter Beth Walton at bwalton@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0279.