- Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
- Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
- Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run across the street.
- Teach children to make eye contact with more drivers if possible before crossing in front of them.
- Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
- Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
- Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
- Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
- Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
- Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
- When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
- Wait until you get home to sort, check, and eat your treats.
- Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
- Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians, and curbs.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
- Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
- Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
- Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
On Halloween, Downtown Santa Cruz Is Designated
Safety Enhancement Zone
Annually, Halloween draws large crowds to the downtown during the evening and late night. The police department will utilize over 100 uniformed police officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and neighboring agencies to staff the event. To encourage respectful behavior, the Santa Cruz Police Department has enacted a Safety Enhancement Zone designation in the Downtown corridor for Halloween 2017. The Safety Enhancement Zone begins at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31st and runs through 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1st.
The Safety Enhancement Zone includes TRIPLE FINES for certain Municipal Code violations committed in the zone during the designated times. Examples of fines are included in the attached flyer. In addition to the Triple Fines, the Safety Enhancement Zone will also dictate road closures and No Parking zones.
