This year will be my baby girl's first real Halloween.  Sure, last year I dressed her up, but she couldn't really walk up to the doors and say "Trick or Treat," on her own.  She did look cute though!

Isabelle first Halloween
Brandon Michael - TSM
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My older son, however is another story.  He is 11 years old this year, and while he is going to Trick or Treat with his sister this year - I'm wondering how many years he has left.  He'll likely dress up for many years to come for costume parties, but roaming the neighborhood in a mask at night collecting candy - I'm not so sure.

Last year, the Virginia city of Chesapeake made national headlines when they declared it illegal for kids older than 12 to roam neighborhoods in search of "candy."  Town officials claim that the move was made to curb stealing, pumpkin smashing, and the like.  Last year, the announcement claimed that teens caught in costume or with a sackful of candy could be jailed. 

This year, authorities have relaxed (but not eliminated) Halloween restrictions.  According to USA Today, the new law says you must be below 15 to knock on doors in costume for treats.  Additionally, violators are subject to fines instead of jail time.  Officially, the "crime" is considered a class 4 misdemeanor - but police in Chesapeake claim that they much better things to do than check the ages of trick or treaters and have never issued a ticket for it.

Should there be an age at which kids stay at home and hand out candy instead of going out to collect it in the Shreveport / Bossier City area?  Would that actually help keep petty crime down on Halloween?

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