This Halloween promises to be like any other we’ve had before. Depending on your local municipality, Trick or Treating and many other Halloween festivities may be cancelled due to the coronavirus. Many places are trying to proceed with “re-imagined” forms of Trick or Treating, but it just won’t feel the same as years past. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is how law enforcement works to keep kids safe during Halloween. Below, we explain how Minnesota works to protect kids from sex offenders and drunk drivers on Halloween.
Drunk Driving On Halloween
Although there will likely be fewer Halloween parties this year, odds are plenty of people will still make the poor decision to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. This is especially true this year as Halloween falls on a Saturday, meaning more people will have the next day off and can imbibe in spirits if they so choose. To combat this potential increase in drunk drivers, and in an effort to help keep Trick or Treaters safe, Minnesota law enforcement will be conducting extra DUI patrols this Halloween.
In the past, departments from all across Minnesota have participated in the campaign, which involves extra patrols on roads looking for suspected drunk drivers. And if you’re caught, know that police won’t go easy on you. You’ll end up in handcuffs facing a court date for Driving Under The Influence or for Driving While Intoxicated, which carries the possibility of jail time, fines and the loss of your driver’s license.
With the the rise in Uber, Lyft and other public forms of transportation, there’s really no reason to get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking on Halloween. A $20 Uber so much cheaper than a DUI, and while we understand that most people don’t think they’ll get caught, it’s simply not worth the risk. We answer our phones throughout the night on Halloween and all through the weekend, so if you find yourself in a sticky situation, we can help, but we’d prefer everyone just make safe decisions. If you need help getting out of jail or contesting charges stemming from Halloween, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today.
Sex Offenders And Halloween
Another way that Minnesota attempts to keep kids safe on Halloween is through the restrictions they place on sex offenders. Aside from needing to be registered on the public predatory offender list, sex offenders are not allowed to participate in Trick or Treating. Handing out candy or treats, even from their home, is a violation of the requirements of their registration. Doing so can send them to jail, so odds are they’ll have the lights off and not be answering the door.
You can do a search of the database and see if there are any offenders in your neighborhood, but know that police and probation officers are also working in your best interest. Not only will they be explaining to offenders that they are not allowed to participate in Trick or Treating, but they may also opt to conduct compliance checks throughout the night. Because of this, even reformed offenders decide it’s not worth it to violate the conditions of their sex offender registration by participating in Trick or Treating.
Wishing you all a safe and Happy Halloween!
