Austin police share Halloween safety tips

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With Halloween celebrations happening around Austin this week, the police department shared safety tips for everything from trick-or-treating to going out on Sixth Street.

Trick-or-Treating

The Austin Police Department (APD) gave the following safety precautions parents can follow if they take their children trick-or-treating.

• Know your trick-or-treater's route.
• Take a flashlight.
• Be sure costumes, shoes, and treat bags are safe.
• Remind children not to enter a stranger's home or car.
• Set rules about not eating treats until your children are home.
• Inspect all treats before allowing kids to eat them.
• Candy that has been opened should be thrown away.
• Any homemade treats or fruit should be inspected closely.
• Remember drivers have a hard time seeing people, especially at dusk.
• Never cross the street from between parked cars.
• Watch open flames from jack-o-lanterns as they present a fire hazard for costumes and long wigs. Review the "stop, drop and roll" procedure in case your costume catches on fire.
• Only visit well-lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses.
• Don't enter any homes unless you know the people.
• Carry a spare Halloween bag -- in case it breaks, or your original one is filled.
• Make sure fake knives, swords, and guns are made from cardboard or other flexible materials to avoid accidental injury or worse - having them mistaken for the real thing.
• Don't cut across yards. Use sidewalks and stay out of back yards.
• Follow traffic signals and do not jaywalk or cross at mid-block.
• Always watch for cars backing up or turning.
• Never accept rides from strangers.
• Respect other people and their property.
• Be polite and say, "thank you”.

APD also noted that it is important to ensure homes are safe and accessible to trick-or-treaters. Below are some steps APD highlighted to make trick-or-treating safe for everyone:

• Turn on your porch light.
• Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard.
• Drive slowly all evening.  You never know what little “creature” may suddenly cross your path.
• Report any suspicious or criminal activity to the police.
• For adults celebrating Halloween, there are some things to consider when wearing that "perfect" costume.
• Make sure any accessories, such as fake guns, knives, and other potentially dangerous items are not mistaken for the real thing.
• Fire safety and visibility are important for adult costumes. Apply the same standards to adult costumes as you do to your children's.
• Remember adults that are dressed up can be scary to young children.
• Make sure to plan a safe ride to and from Halloween festivities.

Sixth Street safety

APD anticipates large crowds in the entertainment districts of Austin on Halloween night Thursday.

Sixth Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Brazos to Red River Streets on Thursday, and cross streets will be closed between Fifth and Seventh Streets, according to APD. Barricades will be put up to mark the closures.
 
Closures should be completed by 8 p.m. and vehicles parked on Sixth Street and cross streets (Brazos, San Jacinto, Trinity, Neches, Red River and Sabine) will begin at 6 p.m. Owners of vehicles that get towed can locate their vehicles using Auto Return’s website and have their license plate or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) available.

There may also be closures of IH-35 exit ramps depending on how much vehicle and pedestrian traffic there is in the Sixth Street area, according to APD. Those exits include the IH-35 southbound Eighth – Third Street exit and the IH-35 northbound Sixth Street exit.

APD listed the following reminders about laws and regulations on Sixth Street: 

• No illegal weapons of any type will be allowed. Anyone with illegal items will be subject to arrest and property seized.
• Open containers of alcohol are prohibited on Sixth Street
• Glass containers are prohibited on Sixth Street
• This past April 2024, the city launched Sip Safely, a pilot program designed to raise awareness about the crime of drink spiking.
• Drink spiking is the act of adding additional alcohol or drugs to a drink without the knowledge of the person consuming it.
• And a spiked drink makes the person drinking it susceptible to criminal acts including sexual assault and robbery.   

Police shared the following ways to protect yourself and others from drink spiking:   

• Never leave your drink unattended
• Watch your drink being poured
• Be cautious about taking a drink from someone you don’t know
• Use a drink cover
• Watch out for others in your party 

Symptoms of drink spiking may start showing within 10 to 30 minutes. These may include: 

• Inability to clearly communicate
• Poor coordination or vision
• Hallucinations/paranoia
• Confusion/disorientation
• Nausea/vomiting
• Unconsciousness

APD also reminded people not to drink and drive and said the department will be conducting a no-refusal initiative.