How Old is Too Old to Trick or Treat?
I asked this question last year because a town in Nova Scotia decided to ban kids over 16 from partaking in treats, but this year, one town in Virginia is taking it up a notch or in other words, hold my beer.
In Chesapeake, children over 12 who trick or treat will face a much, much stiffer penalty. They could face jail time. I'm not making this up.
"a) If any person over the age of 12 years shall engage in the activity commonly known as “trick or treat” or any other activity of similar character or nature under any name whatsoever, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $100.00 or by confinement in jail for not more than six months or both.
(b) If any person shall engage in the activity commonly known as “trick or treat” or any other activity of similar character or nature under any name whatsoever after 8:00 p.m., he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 or by confinement in jail for not more than 30 days or both."
Now while I can agree that maybe 12-13 is too old to trick or treat, jail?!? And do they have a special unit just devoted to catching and identifying rouge trick or treaters? What is "any other activity of similar character or nature under any name"? Does trick or treating go by another name?
Here's a thought, maybe fine or jail, I still think that's too harsh, the kids who create havoc that doesn't have anything to do with asking for candy. I don't think toilet papering someone's house is anything remotely like trick or treating. Egging a car takes the paint off for goodness sake. Smashing pumpkins anyone?
For the record I more than likely stopped trick or treating when I turned 13. I'm a rebel you know.