Celebrate Halloween in Metro Vancouver with these safety tips
Halloween in Metro Vancouver can be a scary good time, and police in the region are offering up safety tips on a number of subjects to help people celebrate.
A number of detachments will have extra patrol officers on patrol during the evening to help keep the evening a safe and fun one for all.
Here’s some advice from the RCMP on what you should and shouldn’t do:
Firecrackers
While firecrackers may be a popular draw during Halloween, it’s important to know where you’re actually allowed to use them. For example, all firecrackers are prohibited in the City of North Vancouver and using them can result in a fine of up to $500.
As such, it’s always a good idea to check with your local municipality regarding what you can and can’t do when it comes to firecracker use.
Fireworks
While many people may use Halloween to fire of a few rounds of fireworks, it’s important – much like firecrackers – to know where you can and can’t do this and what the consequences are for doing so.
In the City of Vancouver, fireworks can bought for and set off on Halloween, but there are steps to follow first. These steps include getting the proper permits, being over 19 years old, and only buying from licensed fireworks retailers.
But in a city like North Vancouver, for example, fireworks are flat-out prohibited and the purchase, possession, or discharge of fireworks and fines for doing so can be as high as $500.
Once again, check with your local municipality regarding what you can and can’t do when it comes to fireworks and save yourself a potential bylaw headache later.
Child safety
It goes without saying that one of the biggest draws on Halloween is for the kids who dress up and go door-to-door collecting candy.
But before they head out, it’s a good idea to heed some basic – but important – safety advice from the RCMP:
- Never let children trick-or-treat alone. Have them walk with an adult or a group of friends.
- Make sure children are highly visible. Dress them in reflective, bright colour costumes, or fasten reflective tape to their costume or bag. Avoid masks that restrict their vision.
- Don’t allow children to enter a house for treats, always have them wait outside.
- Don’t let children eat any candy until it has been inspected by an adult.
Motorists
With more children on the streets during Halloween and the excitement the evening brings for them, many may forget basic pedestrian safety rules.
As such, motorists on Halloween should remember to drive slowly in residential areas where children are more likely to be trick-or-treating. Reduce your speed and stay alert for young ghouls and goblins.
For a complete list of safety tips and tricks, visit the RCMP’s website.
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