TAMPA — Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means trick-or-treaters, parties and big downtown events all on the same night. Tampa police say they'll be ready for it.
The Tampa Police Department is putting extra officers on the street, both in uniform and in plainclothes, from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1, 10 Tampa Bay reported. The focus is impaired driving and what the department called “deterring reckless behavior.”
“Halloween brings our community together in many ways, from neighborhood trick-or-treating to the large-scale events taking place throughout the city,” Acting Chief Brett Owen said in TPD's announcement. “We ask residents and visitors to look out for one another, use good judgment, and do their part to keep Halloween fun and safe for everyone.”
If you're drinking, police say to plan ahead with a sober driver or a rideshare. Report anything suspicious right away. Call 911 in an emergency. TPD's non-emergency line is (813) 231-6130.
The forecast
The breezy northeast wind of the past few days should be gone by Saturday. Expect highs in the mid-80s with about a 30% chance of scattered afternoon showers or a stray storm, leaving a warm, muggy evening for trick-or-treating, according to the ABC Action News forecast. Better rain chances build into Sunday.
Watch the street, not the candy
Dr. Alexa Ragusa, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, told FOX 13 that the biggest danger is traffic.
“One of my biggest concerns is a child stepping into the street unexpectedly, especially after dark,” Ragusa said.
- Be seen: Add reflective tape or stickers to costumes and candy bags, and give kids a flashlight or glow sticks.
- Check the fit: Costumes and masks that don't fit well can block a child's view.
- Cross smart: Use sidewalks and crosswalks, don't cross between parked cars, and put phones away while crossing.
- Go along: AAA recommends an adult with children younger than 12.
Drivers should slow down in neighborhoods, skip the phone, and check all the way around the car before backing out of a driveway. AAA says to expect extra weekend traffic with people headed to parties.
Skip the e-bike
Crowded streets and sidewalks on Halloween are no place for e-bikes and electric scooters, Ragusa said. “Walking is just going to be the option on Halloween night.”
Anyone who does ride should wear a helmet that fits, not carry a passenger on a one-rider device, and watch for capes and loose costume pieces that can catch in the wheels. If a child falls from an e-bike, scooter or golf cart and isn't acting normally, gets unusually sleepy or gets worse, don't brush it off.
Check your route
Hillsborough County has more than 2,000 registered sexual offenders and predators, FOX 13 reported. Those on probation aren't allowed to take part in Halloween: no handing out candy, no decorations and no porch lights on. Breaking those rules can lead to an arrest for a probation violation.
You can type in your address on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sexual offender and predator search to see who's registered near your route.
When to go to the ER
Ragusa says call 911 for trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, severe trauma or bleeding that won't stop. A serious head injury, a possible broken bone, a deep cut that may need stitches, a significant burn or a severe allergic reaction can also call for an emergency room visit.
Big night downtown
If you're heading downtown, plan for crowds. The “Nightmare on Channelside” concert with Kodak Black, Kevin Gates and Meek Mill is Saturday at Benchmark International Arena, Creative Loafing reported, with tickets starting at $71.05.
Looking for decorated houses across the bay? A St. Pete dad built a free Fright This Way map of spooky yards around Pinellas, mostly in St. Petersburg neighborhoods like Old Northeast and Crescent Heights, the Tampa Bay Times reported.