Age Limit on Trick or Treating

[Jessica]

I read somewhere that in some places there is an age limit. if you're over 12 and Trick or treating, you get fined $100. that's stupid isn't it?

I think you're never too old to trick or treat. people that are like 15 and 16 should have a chance to have fun. besides, a lot of people go because of the candy

I am definitely going and I won't listen to anyone that says 16 is too old.

I can't believe our government is wasting their time on limiting the age.

What are your thoughts?

Link to article: How old is too old for trick-or-treating?

Have you ever looked out your peephole and felt scared of a trick-or-treater? You're not alone. Mayor Mark Eckhert of Belleville, Ill., says he's heard a ton of complaints from frightened single mothers and senior citizens who are less than happy about the “6-foot-tall kids” that ring their doorbells on Halloween. His solution: To create an ordinance banning high-school teenagers—that is, anyone over the age of 12—from trick-or-treating.
"When I was a kid my father said to me, 'You're too damn big to be going trick-or-treating. You're done,’" Eckhert told ABC News. "When that doesn't happen, then that's reason for the city governments to intervene."

Intervening, in this case, means putting an age limit on trick-or-treaters, and threatening the over-12 set with a $100 fine for those who ignore the law—though, according to ABC, that fine has rarely, if ever, been actually meted out. And while some residents of Belleville have complained about the ordinance, it seems that many more are relieved. Trick-or-treat age limits have also been popular in townships in South Carolina, Mississippi, Maryland, and Virginia.

However comforting these restrictions may be to some, we can't help but wonder: Are laws the right way to go when we're teaching kids about becoming better adults?

Because, honestly, many of us—myself included— were teenage trick-or-treaters. How it happened for me is probably less important than why (I can try to blame other factors, but the truth is, I just loved free candy). You know when you're aware that you are doing something wrong, but you do it anyway, hoping that you'll pass unnoticed? Well, I quickly learned I couldn't: “You gotta be kidding,” one neighbor said, staring sadly at my baby costume, slamming his door, and providing a necessary behavior adjustment all in one swift move.

While I learned my lesson through good, old-fashioned (and effective) humiliation, Eckhert and others believe that creating laws takes the guesswork away from those unclear about when they are no longer eligible for receiving treats. But not everyone is convinced that excluding teens from the relatively tame activity of trick-or-treating is a great idea. "Trick-or-treating in a large part is embraced in this country because it serves to cut down on teenage vandalism," University of North Dakota history professor and early traditions expert, Hans Broedel, told ABC News. "Certainly telling teenagers they can't go trick-or-treating isn't going to stop them from going out on Halloween and doing whatever."

What do you think? Should overage kids be legally banned from trick-or-treating? And how old is too old for trick-or-treating?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Jessica

What are your thoughts?

I think it's only custom that makes it legal in the first place. Any other time of the year it would be called extortion or blackmail.

[CrOtALiTo]

I believe the limit about as you should to ask a trick or treating, that should depend of the kind to person, I mean, I don't believe a exactly age to leaves to ask trick or treating, therefore that depend more than your age nowadays, then you must to consider your age if you have around to fourteen years, I don't believe a good idea to get out to street and continue asking candies or anything else.

I consider your age as motive to leaves to play to trick or treating.

[Jessica]

what's wrong with asking for candy? It's supposed to be that way...

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, that isn't wrong in the absolute, the problem is if you have the age right now for continue with the tradition.

I mean, you already a big person now.

Then I consider that you haven't the age for ask tricks or treating, that is normally for the babes.

I hope don't offend you my commentary.

if you are in the enough age then you can continue with your tradition yet.

[irmamar]

I don't think that a boy or girl of about 15 or 16 years old can be interested in such childish game.

Anyway, I'm absolutely against stablishing a maximum age to practise a custom. Here, in Catalonia, government wants to monitoring the language students use when they are playing on schoolyard. Spanish government wants to control the kind of games children use for playing, to avoid sexist games.

Stupid laws!

[Jessica]

@irmamar: yes maybe Halloween is for little kids but older kids should have the opportunity to have fun and dress up. I don't really think 16 is too old for Trick or treating...lots of kids my age still go.

and the government shouldn't waste their time controlling holidays, I have to agree with you on that.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

government wants to monitoring the language students use

Being angry is no excuse for bad grammar.

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Yes, that isn't wrong in the absolute, the problem is if you have the age right now for continue with the tradition.

I mean, you already a big person now.

Then I consider that you haven't the age for ask tricks or treating, that is normally for the babes.

I hope don't offend you my commentary.

if you are in the enough age then you can continue with your tradition yet.

Trick or treating is for any age, a lot of people wouldn't want to miss the opportunity for free candy, just saying.

even if it is for little kids there shouldn't be an age limit. you shouldn't have to pay a fine for having fun

and wouldn't you rather your 16 year old go Trick or treating than partying at a house and getting drunk (maybe they won't but who knows)

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Jessica

you shouldn't have to pay a fine for having fun

You can't possibly defend that statement as written. Happy slappers do it for the lolz, but should most certainly be subject to the weight of the law.

[Elaina]

I believe you should be able to go trick or treating no matter what age. Unfortunately, there are those that ruin it for everybody by doing what they are not supposed to. If I have a 6 foot person at my door asking for candy and I am alone, I would use my best judgement and not open the door.

I love all these holidays.....I love Christmas.....Easter.....New Year's....St. Valentine's.......and of course, Halloween.

Maybe next year you could plan a costume party and not feel left out of the celebration just because of your age.

My

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by pjt33

You can't possibly defend that statement as written. Happy slappers do it for the lolz, but should most certainly be subject to the weight of the law.

it shouldn't even be a law. who cares how old you are as long as you have a costume?

besides 12 is too low of an age limit, if I have no choice but to choose what limit the age should be, it should be at least 18. you can still go if you are 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17

and as I said before, the government shouldn't waste their time controlling holidays. also, if you're 12 and you're really tall for your age, what if people think you're 16 and say you are too old for Trick or treating? that's not fair

[Elaina]

Well Jessica, life has taught me that the words life and fair are never in the same sentence.

Some things are just as they are and there's no way around it.

Sorry,

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Jessica

Trick or treating is for any age, a lot of people wouldn't want to miss the opportunity for free candy, just saying.

even if it is for little kids there shouldn't be an age limit. you shouldn't have to pay a fine for having fun

and wouldn't you rather your 16 year old go Trick or treating than partying at a house and getting drunk (maybe they won't but who knows)

Literally you are right.

Wouldn't you limit yourself, because is more health to ask candies and your tricks and treating games than you getting drugs in a party and and everybody else partying with drugs.

You have clarify my mind.

Thank you and I'm sorry, sometimes the older people, we have closed mind for diversity of troubles in the day to day.

[wafflestomp]

I don't think the government has any right to tell people of a certain age they cannot go to houses and ask for candy. If a homeowner doesn't want to give a 16 year old candy, then that's his/her decision, not the government's. So I guess we have to make it illegal for a parent to walk up to the door with the kid now too? What crap.

[Dale]

I have to agree that the government should stay out of such trivial things. Maybe this would be a job for the parents. My mom made me quit going trick or treating when I reached 30 years of age. I was annoyed with her...but I knew she was right. j/k of course.

[Elaina]

Originally Posted by Dale

I have to agree that the government should stay out of such trivial things. Maybe this would be a job for the parents. My mom made me quit going trick or treating when I reached 30 years of age. I was annoyed with her...but I knew she was right. j/k of course.

You are so silly!

But I do agree with you.

[Jessica]

well here's the thing. Trick or treating is for little kids, you say. but there shouldn't be a law or ban for older kids to go and have fun. that's just my opinion. I know a lot of people think 16 years old is too old, but you should agree that it shouldn't be a crime. anyone that thinks it's illegal for people over 13 or whatever to go ToTing is....ugh

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Jessica

well here's the thing. Trick or treating is for little kids, you say. but there shouldn't be a law or ban for older kids to go and have fun. that's just my opinion. I know a lot of people think 16 years old is too old, but you should agree that it shouldn't be a crime. anyone that thinks it's illegal for people over 13 or whatever to go ToTing is....ugh

Given the continuum between trick-and-treating and mafia protection rackets, which in essence are the same thing (give us something of value or you will regret it), where do you draw the line between crime and non-crime?

[poli]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Given the continuum between trick-and-treating and mafia protection rackets, which in essence are the same thing (give us something of value or you will regret it), where do you draw the line between crime and non-crime?

Maybe children should say: treat or dead race horse in the bed.