This morning on our local news I thought I had heard the news lady wrong. She said that only children 12 and under can participate in trick-or-treating in most of Hampton roads. I went on about my day but kept thinking about it and then decided to look up the rules. Sure enough 13 and over are not allowed to go. Since I don't have young children anymore we never check on the local rules and times, because my kids no longer participate anyway. Last year my 14 year old (at the time) walked around with some of his friends for about an hour but they didn't get any candy or dress up. Hmmm am I the only one that finds this weird? It's totally possible that i've been living under a rock again:giggle That's probably the case:lmao

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?ran=200498&story=93673

very weird...i would think children 12 and OVER couldn't go...weird...:dunno

I edited my post.........it's late and I did have it written wrong. Sorry about that. Only 12 and under CAN participate:lol Once they turn 13 it's a no go.

That's the way it works at our house... 12 is your last year to trick or treat.

we were just atalking about that tonight.... when z turns 13, she will take ellie trick or treating and share her candy :D

I mean I agree that 12 is kind of old to be out trick or treating. I just never knew there were actual laws against it. I thought if teens wanted to go trick or treating, they could.

Tonight there where a couple of teenagers that where probably about 14 trick or treating. They where being really rude to the younger kids and I even saw them messing with peoples decorations. It pissed me off!!

You know what??? My opinion is, if a teen dresses up in a costume and comes to my front door - I will give them some candy.....no costume....no candy.

I don't see why 12 is a magical you can't trick or treat anymore age. I hand out candy to whom ever comes buy and is dressed in a costume.

Growing up we went until we were sophomores in high school. After freshman year we just hung out at each others houses and watched movies. We were always in costumes however it was on base and you get way more trick or treat action on base then off.

i think anyone dressed in a costume should be able to trick or treat .
i mean me and dh did that last year on base (:giggle )and i saw lots of older people getting candy tonight when i went out with my friends. :dunno

My BILs went last year when they were 17 & 19. :lmao But they still dress up. They are huge kids at heart (um, and maturity, but that's another thread for another day) and their friends also dressed up and went. They are sweet "kids" and would never be mean or rude to the younger ones.
I still think the rule of 12 and under is weird. I ToT until I was 15. :D

You know what??? My opinion is, if a teen dresses up in a costume and comes to my front door - I will give them some candy.....no costume....no candy.

I agree, we had some 15 and 16 yr olds comming around, all dressed up and stuff and then some young kids, that didn't have costumes and carried plastic bags. I would rather give candy to the kids that dress up.

well we had some interesting people come to our house like one who i swaer was like 35 and NOT wearing any type of costume...um ok?

You know what??? My opinion is, if a teen dresses up in a costume and comes to my front door - I will give them some candy.....no costume....no candy.

I agree and if they are friendly even better. ANY kid who is just out for candy I don't like.

I think where I lived, there was an age limit for trick or treating and there was also an age limit to be able to wear a mask. I could be wrong, but I remember there being an issue one year with masks.

I went when we were seniors in high school. We got to dress up for school (only the seniors) so we went out that night too. mostly to people we knew, but still.

12 -- why is that the magic number, b/c suddenly teen is in your number at 13?


I can understand with adults -- who knows, could be trying to break in or could be child sex offenders or whatever, but why 12

I think that sucks!!! Halloween is all about having a great time and age shouldn't be a factor whatsoever, IMO.

I think you should have to have a costume to ToT. Age, I think around 16, actually. All we had were older kids that either didn't dress up or just threw on a jersey and said they were a (insert sport here) player.

The rules for trick or treating in Hampton Roads
HamptonRoads.com

Trick or treat will be held from about dusk to 8 p.m. for children 12 and younger in most of Hampton Roads. It's a misdemeanor to break the rules in some cities. Check below to find out what your city or town requires.

Chesapeake: Trick or treat starts at dusk and run no later than 8 p.m. Children must be 12 and younger to participate.

Hampton: Trick or treat begins at dusk and ends at 8 p.m. You must be 12 years old and under to go trick-or-treating. Trick-or-treating is not a holiday, but a tradition. Therefore, the City will not change the day for trick-or-treating. It's a class four misdemeanor if you break these rules in Hampton. However, a parent, guardian or other responsible person, who lawfully has in his custody a child 12 years old or younger, may accompany the child for the purpose of caring for, looking after or protecting the child.

Newport News: Trick or treating will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Children beyond the 7th grade or 13 years of age may not participate in trick-or-treating. An adult should escort small children and older children should go in large groups. Only children 15 years of age and younger may wear masks. Anyone 16 years or older wearing a mask in public is breaking the law.

Norfolk: Children must be 12 years of age or younger and be off the streets by 8 p.m. A parent, guardian or other responsible person, who lawfully has in his custody a child 12 years old or younger, may accompany the child for the purpose of caring for, looking after or protecting the child. In Norfolk, it's a class four misdemeanor to break these rules.

Portsmouth: Trick or treat starts at dusk (between 5:30 and 6 p.m.) ends at 8 p.m. in Portsmouth, where it's a class three misdemeanor for anyone over the age of 12 to engage in trick-or-treating. However, parents, guardians and other responsible persons may accompany a child for the purpose of caring for, looking after or protecting the child. Latest Videos


Smithfield: Trick or treat will run 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. A town ordinance restricts trick or treating to children 12 and younger.

Virginia Beach: Children 12 and younger may go trick-or-treating until 8 p.m. Anyone trick or treating after 8 p.m. is committing a class four misdemeanor in Virginia Beach. Anyone older than 12 making the rounds on Halloween night also is committing a class four misdemeanor in Virginia Beach.

Williamsburg: Trick or treat begins at 6 and ends at 8 p.m. Participants must be 12 years old and younger to participate. Parents are encouraged to accompany trick-or-treaters.

I'm don't know why but I'm still laughing:lmao

I don't have a problem with the respectful teenagers that come to my door IN COSTUME, or the ones who dress up and bring their kid brothers/sisters with them. In fact, I hand candy to the adults who accompany the little kids because I know how badly it sucks to just follow kids sometimes.

What I don't understand is these snotty little assholes who come to my door in NO Costume with a huge bag, bang on my door, stand there with an outstretched hand, and don't even bother to say "trick or treat" OR THANK YOU.

Not even mentioning the 17 y.o. asshole that came to my door, did the above, then had the balls to tell me that he wanted to smarties that were in the other bowl next to the chocolate (GOOD) candy. I told him that candy was for the little kids who couldn't have chocolate (I let my own 2-year-old have smarties occasionally), and he actually had the nerve to roll his eyes at me.

I'm SO over Halloween. How sad is that?

WELL! lol...i went trick or treating with my friends and we are 21! lol..we were all dressed up! hehe..it was fun, people were laughing at us..it was to talk to the little kids an overall, great night. :) ha!

I don't see why 12 is a magical you can't trick or treat anymore age. I hand out candy to whom ever comes buy and is dressed in a costume.
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I agree!!!

I think that sucks!!! Halloween is all about having a great time and age shouldn't be a factor whatsoever, IMO.

That is how I feel as well.

As long as they are nice to the littler bunch, and respect peoples property, then there is nothing wrong with it. Poor kids... all they want is some free candy, better to get it trick or treating then stealing it!!

i kind of think it's a good idea

If they are polite and have some clever costume, then ok, you can have a little candy. But I had so many of them last night, no costume... so they got nothing. They were annoyed, but there are rules!

I am not going to refuse candy to anyone who comes by, but I think 12-13 is about the age that is getting a bit old for it. Next year we are planning to have a party for Halloween for the older kids, especially since it will be on a Friday. I would not give an adult candy if they came by trick or treating. That is just MO.

I went trick or treating at the age or 16 with some friends. we dressed up and took my cousin around our neighborhood. I don't think there is a magical age to stop trick or treating.. I just think that if you can't handle yourself in a grown up manner then you shouldn't be allowed to do it.. which happens to not just teens, but with younger kids.. case in point last night. Dh dressed up as wolfman, he didn't get any candy just walked around with the kids, kids aged 8-10 were bugging him and harassing him. just kinda rude. they didn't act any better to the parents handing out candy.. I think those are the kids that shouldn't be out trick or treating. Halloween is about fun not saying well sorry Timmy you are 13 you can't go this year. that is kinda messed up.

If they're dressed up, say trick or treat and are being respectful (I haven't seem them messing with decorations or little kids), I have no problem giving them candy. They're enjoying the holiday and if they're out that old, I know they're probably going to eat the candy I give them. I have no problem even if u can tell they're just out for candy and are trying to get to as many houses as possible, as long as they're in costume and respectful. I gave quite a few older kids candy yesterday.

I'm pretty sure that at about 13 or 14 I was trick or treating, but not after that.

Want to add that at 16, me and my friends still wanted to go Trick-or-Treating and wanted to dress up, but we felt weird being so old. So we put out flyers in certain neighborhoods before Halloween that said we'd be trick-or-treating for canned goods for charity instead of candy. TONS of people participated in the neighborhoods and seemed REALLY happy to see us. So we got to go out and have fun in costume and do a good deed without getting weird looks from people but smiles from them instead! :)

i think if they dress up and don't go out to make trouble then there is no trouble wiht it. I think after 16 might be too old though.

You know what??? My opinion is, if a teen dresses up in a costume and comes to my front door - I will give them some candy.....no costume....no candy.

:agree

I saw a bunch of older kids trick or treating and thought it was a bit weird because they looked too old to me. I also saw what looked like a little kids parents all dressed up going door to door with their kid and collecting candy as well. :shock I dunno I went trick or treating when I was in 7th grade but not with a group of friends it was with my baby cousin so I used her as an excuse to get candy. :teehee I think there should be a limit but I have no idea what that limit should be.

I guess I'm used to being on Maui where after a certain age you just went up to Lahaina on a street called front street. They close it down every year and people from everywhere go and dress up. It's like an adult thing so as you reach a certain age you just switch from trick or treating to that. :D It's really neat going there and seeing all the different costumes which some of them are pretty neat. :)

i had some teens come-i dont have a problem with it-i would give an adult candy too if they were wearing a costume...maybe i'm weird-lol

I don't care how old a person is. If you're dressed up & say trick or treat you can have some candy

If you have a costume, you'll get candy from me....no matter your age (yes...adults too...lol). Its supposed to be a fun night. Why bother with being uptight about it and setting age limit rules....its one night...just have fun with it....this is my viewpoint for myself.