HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville police are moving more officers into neighborhoods for Halloween night, Saturday, Oct. 31, and are asking parents to spend a few minutes on homework before their children start knocking on doors.
Nothing in Alabama law stops a registered sex offender from passing out candy on Halloween. Because of that gap, Huntsville Police Department leaders want families to look up the state registry and the one kept by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, keep young children close and go with their gut when a house feels wrong.
Sgt. Chris Jackson of HPD said complaints about offenders handing out treats are rare, and the department has no documented case of a Huntsville child being harmed during trick-or-treat rounds. Officers cannot arrest someone just for answering the door, he said, but they will come out and look into any report of suspicious behavior.
Jackson also cautioned that the registries are roughly 95 percent accurate. They may lag behind recent moves, and they do not list juvenile offenders.
Traffic is the other big worry. With Halloween on a Saturday this year, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency expects heavier foot and car traffic in neighborhoods across the state. The agency points to National Safety Council figures showing a child faces more than double the usual risk of dying after being hit by a car on Halloween night.
State troopers suggest bright or reflective costumes, reflective tape on candy bags, a flashlight with fresh batteries and crossing only at corners or crosswalks. Young children should be with an adult, and older kids should travel in groups and share their route. Parents should look over every treat and throw out anything with open or damaged wrapping.
Drivers are asked to slow down on residential streets, put phones away, take extra care backing out of driveways and line up a sober ride if their plans include alcohol.
Section: More Huntsville AL crime news
Filed under: Huntsville AL Public Safety News
