BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI - FOX2Now.com ) -
The city of Belleville has added some new restrictions to its trick or treating ordinance from 2008. This year's ordinance says anyone the age of an eighth grader and younger may trick or treat from 5:00 to 8:30 on Halloween night. Anyone older may not trick or treat at all. There are exceptions to the age restrictions that will allow special needs children to still trick or treat.
Also, anyone older than 12 years of age may not wear a mask or anything that disguises their face. Mayor Mark Eckert explained "We felt that the situation of adding that about concealing your identity is a tool for the police officers. They don't need to have people running around that feel like they have the right to have different masks on throughout the community, into restaurants, or different places. That makes it very difficult to do their jobs."
The purpose of the Belleville Halloween ordinance is to eliminate fear from residents on the year's scariest holiday.
Mayor Eckert said "We had listened for many years to our residents, particularly seniors and single moms who said it was kind of scary many times when high school aged kids, people who are as tall as you and me, 6-feet tall, coming to their door late at night."
"We firmly believe that trick or treating is for children, and when they get to be an age, if their parents aren't sensible enough to tell them they're getting too old, you're getting too big, then we feel that the ordinance is in tact for our police officers to not have to tap them on the shoulder telling them to knock it off," explained Eckert.
The city ordinance is also very strict about its sex offender laws. Eckert said "We made it illegal for sex offenders to turn their light on and give candy to children. We feel like sex offenders truly have restrictions and need to follow them and do not need to be participating in luring children to their door."
Belleville will also host a Halloween festival in downtown to encourage young kids to celebrate the holiday. The event will be held Friday night.
Also, anyone older than 12 years of age may not wear a mask or anything that disguises their face. Mayor Mark Eckert explained "We felt that the situation of adding that about concealing your identity is a tool for the police officers. They don't need to have people running around that feel like they have the right to have different masks on throughout the community, into restaurants, or different places. That makes it very difficult to do their jobs."
The purpose of the Belleville Halloween ordinance is to eliminate fear from residents on the year's scariest holiday.
Mayor Eckert said "We had listened for many years to our residents, particularly seniors and single moms who said it was kind of scary many times when high school aged kids, people who are as tall as you and me, 6-feet tall, coming to their door late at night."
"We firmly believe that trick or treating is for children, and when they get to be an age, if their parents aren't sensible enough to tell them they're getting too old, you're getting too big, then we feel that the ordinance is in tact for our police officers to not have to tap them on the shoulder telling them to knock it off," explained Eckert.
The city ordinance is also very strict about its sex offender laws. Eckert said "We made it illegal for sex offenders to turn their light on and give candy to children. We feel like sex offenders truly have restrictions and need to follow them and do not need to be participating in luring children to their door."
Belleville will also host a Halloween festival in downtown to encourage young kids to celebrate the holiday. The event will be held Friday night.
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