NANAIMO — Be visible, be sensible: it’s a simple message from local police ahead of Halloween weekend.
With Halloween itself falling on a Saturday, local Mounties are anticipating a spike in calls for service related to people’s behaviour, conduct in bars and clubs, and the lighting of fireworks.
Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said they’ll likely be very busy responding to calls across the city.
“We have an operational plan in place for extra resources and planning for the what-ifs. The only thing we can’t control is the behaviour of people, and that’s where we hope people will be sensible. Have fun, but be sensible, and not put themselves or their neighbours at risk.”
Aids like flashlights or glow sticks, coupled with trip-free costumes are two great ways to ensure the candy collection goes seamlessly Saturday night. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
For trick-or-treaters, O’Brien said the key is to ensure costumes are visible and free from any tripping hazards.
He credited parents for making adjustments over the years to ensure their children can get around, house to house, unencumbered.
Drivers are being told to make adjustments too, specifically during the prime trick-or-treating hours in the early evening.
“For motorists, the expectation is that you will go slow. There’s upwards of 5,000 kids on the street, so what’s your rush? Go slow and be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice.”
Fireworks remain banned in the City of Nanaimo, with bylaws in place to penalize those who choose to light them off.
O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the penalties can be substantial depending on the circumstances.
“You could be looking at a charge under the bylaw, you could be looking at Criminal Code charges if you’re possessing or detonating them in a way that’s dangerous to yourself or anybody else. At the end of the evening, there are a lot of situations going on that people are putting themselves in precarious situations, we don’t want anybody to be injured.”
He said concerned citizens can report fireworks to them via the non-emergency line (250 754 2345), but it’s likely they won’t be able to respond to every call on Friday or Saturday night.
“We try to get there as quick as possible, but we have to prioritize the calls. We may not swing by your neighbourhood, and that’s maybe because the situation kind of resolved itself, and we’re dealing with another situation where there are 100 kids partying and firecrackers going off.”
Police are also planning an increased presence downtown to monitor and respond to any reports at local bars and clubs hosting Halloween parties.
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