| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8733 | 2010-10-27 | Troop L | Keep Safety a Top Priority this Halloween |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent TROOP L NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release October 27th, 2010 Keep Safety a Top Priority this Halloween With the upcoming Halloween weekend, Troop L wants to remind parents, children, and motorists to remain vigilant and keep safety a top priority. As area children and parents prepare to embark on the annual pursuit of candy and treats throughout their neighborhoods, it is vital to remember important safety tips to ensure that everyone has a safe and memorable holiday. Honoring the tradition of trick or treating, children will be walking house to house and depending on the availability of sidewalks, they may be near or actually on the roadway. With all the trick or treating excitement, children may inadvertently dart across the street into the path of moving vehicles. Because of this, motorists are being asked to not only drive with extreme caution, but also to drive extra slow in neighborhoods and residential areas near major highways. By driving with headlights on, children, as well as other vehicles, are more likely to see them from greater distances. Motorists are not the only ones being reminded to take extra safety precautions this Halloween. For trick or treaters, especially parents, the following safety tips may be beneficial. First and foremost: stay off the main roadway. If sidewalks are not available and walking on the street is necessary, pedestrians are reminded to walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. This is in accordance with Louisiana law. Costumes should always fit properly. Consider using face paint instead of masks as they can obstruct a child’s vision. Trick or treaters should always carry a flashlight. For added visibility, consider using “glowsticks” and/or reflective tape attached to the costumes and bags. Before crossing the street, always look in both directions twice to make sure there is no vehicular traffic. In an effort to allow motorists to see pedestrians, stay away from parked cars as they can obstruct the view of both the pedestrians and the motorists. In addition, parents can find accurate information regarding the presence of sex offenders and predators in their neighborhoods by visiting the Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry on line at: http://www.lsp.org/socpr/default.html Citizens are encouraged to review the list of registered sex offenders living near their neighborhood. The mapping and address feature found on the website pinpoints exactly where an offender lives, therefore, educating citizens on which houses to avoid while trick-or-treating. Under current State Law, it is illegal for a registered sex offender to participate in Halloween trick or treat activities. If you become aware of a sex offender who is attending costume parties where children are present or giving out candy, notify your local law enforcement immediately. Contact Information: TFC Nick Manale Public Affairs Unit Troop L Louisiana State Police Office: (985) 893-6250 Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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