Mayor Spano & Yonkers Police Advise Residents on Halloween Safety Tips
To provide for a safe and enjoyable holiday, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced that the Yonkers Police Department will issue a citywide curfew for children 16 years of age and younger on Halloween night – Tuesday, October 31.
“Every year I look forward to everyone having a good time on Halloween, a holiday that celebrates the spooky and the scary. That’s why we are taking steps to ensure a safe and enjoyable night for our communities,” said Mayor Spano. “The City will enforce its usual curfew for minors, and I urge residents to be careful – Halloween is a holiday that is meant to be fun, but you can do so while being safe. Make wise decisions for yourself and others.”
Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza stated, “We want all of our residents and visitors to be safe and have fun this Halloween. We ask the public to adhere to our guidelines for curfews and general Halloween safety. Additional units will be on the road to ensure the safety of everyone enjoying the holiday. If you run into our Officers, say hello! Don’t hesitate to approach any of our Officers in the event that you need any kind of assistance. We, as always, are here to help.”
As part of the curfew, the Yonkers Police Department advises:
– Children ages 11 and younger must be home by 10PM
– Children ages 12 to 13 must be home by 10:30PM
– Children ages 14 to 16 must be home by 11PM
Exceptions include:
– Accompanied by parent or guardian.
– On an errand with parental permission, with prior notice to YPD Community Affairs Division – 914-377-7293
– ½ hour after the end of school, religious and volunteer public entertainment — no later than 12:30AM unless police are notified by host organization 24 hours in advance
– ½ hour after work — with proof from Employee
– All youngsters 16 and under not subject to curfew if on or immediately next to their home (and if neighbor does not object)
Violators of the curfew will be taken to the nearest Yonkers Police Precinct, and parent/guardian will be notified. For more information about the Halloween curfew, contact the Yonkers Police Department at 914-377-7293.
Following are Halloween safety tips issued by the City of Yonkers for parents, children & residents:
Parents
– Do not leave children unattended.
– Know the route your child will travel and give him or her curfew.
-Be sure children can see through their masks. Costumes should be easy to see, either made from light colors or marked for nighttime with reflective tape.
– Dispose of unwrapped candy and only keep factory-wrapped treats.
– To help plan a safe route, you can see registered sex offenders on a Crime Map by selecting the appropriate filter in the map’s menu https://bit.ly/YPDCrimeMap
Children
– Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Try to walk in groups.
– Don’t eat anything from a trick-or-treat bag before your parents have looked at it first.
– Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
– Walk on sidewalks when possible and face traffic to stay safe.
– Stay away from dark streets and buildings — only visit well-lit homes.
Residents
– Drive slowly and be alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited about Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
– Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from great distances.
– Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30PM to 9:30PM, so please be aware.
