JCPD Halloween Safety Tips & DUI Enforcement

JCPD NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS AND DUI ENFORCEMENT

As many Johnson City residents plan to celebrate Halloween this weekend under the full moon, the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) wants to remind everyone about the dangers of impaired driving. The Johnson City Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to place additional officers on the lookout for impaired drivers as part of the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign to remind everyone that only a monster would drink and drive.  

In addition to extra officers working on Halloween to provide additional safety the Department would also like to send out a list of tips to make trick-or-treating trouble free. 

·         Create a map of a safe trick-or-treating route and set a time limit for your children to trick-or-treat.

·         Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups. Parents should accompany young children. Make sure older kids trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so you will know where they are going. Tell them to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.

·         Children should know their parents’ full names, home phone number and/or cellphone numbers.

·         Try to get your kids to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If it’s dark, make sure someone has a flashlight, add reflective tape to costumes and bags, and pick well-lit streets.

·         Never go into homes — stay on the porch or stoop when asking for treats.

·         Never go anywhere with strangers or get into strangers’ cars.

·         Look in all directions before crossing the street, and obey all traffic signals. Walk, never run, across the street, and use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.

·         Do not take shortcuts through backyards, alleys or parks.

·         Check all treats before eating.  Let an adult inspect the candy and if in doubt, throw it out.

Adult Halloween safety

·         Motorists should drive slowly and be on the alert for excited and costumed trick-or-treaters.

·         NEVER drink and drive. Halloween is a great time for socially distanced activities, but if that means drinking do not get behind the wheel after BOO-zing!  Remember: Booze it and Lose It.

·         Keep your driveway and porch lit whenever possible and clear your walkways of any tripping hazards for trick-or-treaters.

The THSO provides grant funding to support Johnson City Police Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

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