Police urge caution during Halloween
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Friday, October 31, 2008 11:06 AM PDT
Ontario — Area law enforcement officials will boost patrol efforts to keep kids and adults safe this Halloween.
“We’re going to have four extra patrol deputies,” Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz said.
Bentz said residents should be aware of their surroundings in order to make this Halloween a safe one. Bentz also recommended staying on sidewalks and not running across streets as important measures. He also said trick-or-treaters should be savvy about where they open their bags.
“Please just, no one ever follows this, but it’s awfully good to only trick-or-treat at places you know,” he said. Bentz also said trick-or-treaters and their parents should be wary about darkened houses.
“Some people do not and others can not celebrate Halloween and people should be respectful of that,” he said. Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander recommended the trick-or-treat functions offered at some churches as an alternative to traipsing around the neighborhood.
“Some churches do it,” he said of what are often referred to as “Truck-or-treats,” which trick-or-treating taking place in a certain parking lot.
One will be hosted at Fruitland Church of the Brethern from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the church, situated on the corner of Fourth and Minnesota Avenues in Fruitland. The Highway Worship Center, situated at 100 Whitley Drive, across from Fruitland City Hall, will also host a parking lot event at 6 p.m. at the center. Treasure Valley Community College is also offering a safe alternative from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday in the Weese Building parking lot at TVCC, situated at 650 College Blvd., Ontario. The Ontario First Church of the Nazarene, 1131 Alameda Drive, will offer indoor trick-or-treating from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. In Payette, “trunk-or-treating” will be available at Central Park, following a parade which starts on Main Street and is slated for 6 p.m.
Alexander also said OPD will have extra patrols out on Halloween night and will be focusing on Halloween safety, intoxicated drivers, criminal mischief and curfew.
“My main concerns are crossing streets in the right places and pedestrians being visible,” he said.
Bentz also stressed the importance of remaining visible to drivers.
“You should wear bright colors, reflecting if possible,” he said. “I know that cramps a costume’s style.”
The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police also have some tips for both adults and children to keep ghosts and ghouls safe this Halloween.
For adults to keep in mind:
—Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals.
—Slow down on streets where there are no sidewalks and children are walking on or near the shoulder of the road.
—Watch for children walking in or near the street or on medians or curbs.
—Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and cautiously. Have child passengers enter and exit cars on the curb side, away from traffic.
—Be responsible — never drive impaired.
—If you plan to drink, choose your sober driver before going out.
For parents and children:
—Apply face paint or cosmetics appropriate for children directly to the face. It is safer than a loose-fitting mask that can obstruct a child’s vision.
—If a mask is worn, cut the eyeholes large enough for full vision.
—Have children carry flashlights or glow sticks to improve their
visibility.
—Secure hats so they will not slip over children’s eyes.
—Remind children to cross streets only at intersections.
—Teach them to stop and look for cars, looking to the left, right and left again before crossing, and then to keep looking both ways for cars while they cross.
—Don’t let children younger than 12 trick-or-treat or cross streets without adult supervision.
Both ODOT and OSP expressed concern for elementary pedestrians because they have a field of vision one-third narrower than an adult’s, are unable to determine the direction of sounds, cannot accurately judge the speed or distance of moving vehicles, overestimate their own abilities, and are easily hidden by parked cars, bushes, leaf piles, trash
bins, and other objects.
By keeping these tips in mind, both kids and adults can take some of the scare out of Halloween.
