BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
PASCACK VALLEY, N.J. — Our best advice for would-be ghouls, goblins, and princesses gone astray come “mischief night” and Halloween: Pack it in early—and leave the eggs, toilet paper, shaving cream, spray paint, and paintball guns at home.
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Parents, don’t say the police didn’t warn you.
The Hillsdale and River Vale police departments, for example, are staffing up to conduct a zero-tolerance policy on shenanigans during mischief night, Oct. 30, and Halloween, Oct. 31, enforcing an 8 p.m. curfew and other measures.
Police departments across the valley tell us they’re keeping an eye on the clock and for signs of trouble. It’s vital, they say, to ensure the safety of children and the protection of property.
Just for the record, sunset is at 5:54 p.m. on Oct. 30, and 5:53 p.m. Oct. 31. Don’t get caught too deep in the darkness.
Curfews of 9 p.m. and zero-tolerance policies are in place mischief night and Halloween in Emerson, Montvale, Park Ridge, the Township of Washington, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake as well.
“We are urging parents to take an active role in order to assist us in this endeavor,” said Hillsdale Police Chief Robert Francaviglia, who added that, historically, Hillsdale has suffered “significant property damage” as well as mischievous and criminal behavior by unsupervised juveniles and young adults on these nights.
“We also had problems with juveniles congregating in large groups in various areas of town,” he said.
Parents and guardians should be aware of the activity that occurs when their children are out unsupervised. Most property damage and criminal activity occurs when seemingly harmless behavior and pranks escalate out of control, Francaviglia explained.
He said parents should talk with their children about unacceptable behavior “and more importantly not allow their children out without adult supervision. Parents must be cognizant of their children’s actions and behavior.”
He warned to be on the lookout for children leaving the home dressed in dark clothing and/or in possession of such “malicious” items such as eggs and shaving cream, which he says constitute “a formula for trouble.”
This year, police recommend that all parents limit their children’s “mischief” to their own property. Homes and moving vehicles have been the target of eggs, rocks, and in some instances, paint ball guns.
Toilet paper strewn across utility lines has created visibility hazards, which can easily lead to serious danger for the motoring public and children.
In the Township of Washington, Police Chief Glenn Hooper said what some kids call “clean fun” he calls vandalism.
Township kids have been caught in relatively minor tomfoolery such as toilet-papering trees—which disappears with the first rain—but also in more aggressive, costly, and mean-spirited vandalism such as egging houses and spray painting cars.
Hooper said police understand that revelry is a part of the Halloween tradition but making life miserable for others shouldn’t be part of it.
“When I was a kid I never did that stuff,” Hooper said. “It’s uncalled for.”
He’s been here 41 years and says the curfew is a fact of life.
He declined to comment on staffing levels for mischief night and Halloween but he did say his officers will be out to enforce a zero-tolerance policy.
Parents have to take an active role in order for these standards to be successful, he said.
“Remember that certain activities are unacceptable even at this time of year. Damaging the property of another is against the law. Juveniles caught participating in any form of criminal mischief will be brought to police headquarters for appropriate action and will only be released to a parent or guardian,” he said.
Parents should speak with their children about unacceptable activities or not allow their children out on these nights without adult supervision, he added.
According to Francaviglia, the names of unsupervised juveniles out in his jurisdiction on mischief night and Halloween will be recorded, and children found with items that police believe pose a significant threat to persons or property will be brought to headquarters and processed.
Those items include eggs, spray paint, and paint ball guns.
Anyone who operates a motor vehicle in violation of the law will be issued the appropriate motor vehicle summons.
Police will supplement their normal patrol force these two nights to prevent criminal mischief, criminal activity, and aggressive driving and to ensure kids’ safety.