Officers to keep streets safe on Halloween

For the first time in a decade, Halloween falls on a Saturday.

As ghouls and goblins roam Lynchburg-area streets tonight, so will law enforcement officers looking to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters, that Halloweens pranks don’t turn awry, and that intoxicated partiers stay off the streets.

Major Steve Hutcherson of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office said there will be extra patrols throughout the county.

“We will have extra people on like we always do,” Hutcherson said. “We are not anticipating problems. The last few years have been relatively quiet. … We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.”

Hutcherson said most of the Halloween-night calls involve traffic problems.

A full accompaniment of Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies also will be working.

Extra shifts have not been added for Lynchburg Police officers for the holiday, said Lt. John LaPrade. Instead, the department is using its power shift to monitor for any trouble. That shift starts at 3 p.m. to put extra officers on the road during times when there are more calls for service.

For the last several years, LaPrade said, there have been relatively few problems on Halloween.

LaPrade said residents should be mindful of surroundings and report any suspicious behavior.

“Call in and report suspicious groups,” LaPrade said. “If nothing else we can spook them into dispersing.”

LaPrade said property owners should make sure their homes are well lit, which can serve as a crime or prank deterrent.

The Virginia State Police also will be out in force looking for impaired drivers.

Nationwide, 58 percent fatal car crashes on Halloween night last year involved a driver who was over the legal limit of .08, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Though DUI-related deaths show a slight decline in the Commonwealth during the first half of the year compared to last year, 354 people still lost their lives in 2008 because of an individual drinking and driving,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, in a news release. “There are simple and effective precautions individuals can take such as riding with a sober driver instead of making a foolish choice to get behind the wheel drunk.”

If you plan on drinking, designate a sober driver, or call a taxi or a sober friend. Report suspected drunk drivers by calling the Virginia State Police at #77 from a cellular phone.

Trick-or-treat safety
- Stay on the sidewalks and obey traffic signals. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
- Carry a flashlight and go out with a responsible adult or teenager.
- Make sure the costume doesn’t drag, and that shoes fit, and refrain from wearing masks while walking from house to house. Also, wear clothing with reflective markings or tape.
- Approach only houses that are lit.
- Although tampering is rare, check candy before allowing children to eat it.
- Make sure your yard is clear of clutter that can trip trick-or-treaters and put pets up where they can’t get at children or near cars.
- Battery-powered jack-o-lanterns are safer than real candles.

For drivers:
- Watch for children darting from between cars and in roadways and driveways.
- Watch for children in dark clothing that may be difficult to see after dark.