New Brunswick city grapples with sticky business of limiting trick-or-treaters

“A lot of working parents get home and make supper and before they start it’s 6:30, so it doesn’t really give them a lot of time so we just want to tweak it a little bit,” she said from her office in the community of about 12,000 people.

“So we want to go to the public and know what do they think about it and will sit down and review it.”

Deputy mayor Lee Stever said the bylaw was enacted years ago following complaints from seniors who said older kids were coming to their doors late into the night. But, he says he doesn’t believe anyone has been hit with the associated fine of up to $200 and that most kids have ended their trick-or-treating by 7 p.m.

The father of three older kids said it appears that council is divided on whether to change the bylaw, much like many people in the community. He said some are requesting that only kids 10 and younger be allowed to trick-or-treat.

“I’ve noticed that after 7 p.m., most kids are off the street so I think most people are aware of it,” he said. “So, I’m not in favour of changing it.”

Stever said he has looked at other jurisdictions’ bylaws, finding a patchwork of rules if any exist at all. He said that in Virginia for example, he found one bylaw that limited it to kids 12 and younger up until 8 p.m. Another one said that if a house is decorated and the lights are on, people can knock on the door.

Brendan Elliott, spokesman for the Halifax municipality, said it does not have a bylaw in place when it comes to Halloween activities.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

New Brunswick city grapples with sticky business of limiting trick-or-treaters

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