Traverse City Record-Eagle

Halloween Events & More

October 29, 2009

Police adding extra patrols for Halloween

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Police hope they don't have to fill the Grand Traverse County Jail with drunken vampires, goblins and witches.

Halloween falls on Saturday, meaning a busy bar night will intersect with the most active pedestrian evening of the year. Officers hope costumed revelers will show some good sense before climbing behind the wheel, and extra patrols are planned to nab drunken drivers.

"When it falls on a weekend like that, we do see an increase of people coming into town to go to the establishments," Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said. "Unfortunately, some of them drink too much, and we have to deal with them on the roadways. It is a concern with the amount of foot traffic."

There were 17 traffic crashes statewide involving pedestrians on Halloween last year, more than any other day of the year, according to the state Office of Highway Safety Planning. Three resulted in pedestrian fatalities, four involved children and teens under 17 and three resulted in pedestrian fatalities.

No significant local incidents were reported over Halloweens, police said.

A grant from the OHSP -- a division of the Michigan State Police -- will allow the sheriff's department and Traverse City police to put a combined three extra officers on patrol from 9 p.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday.

Trick-or-treaters are supposed to be off the streets by 8 p.m. Saturday, though some may still be out and about after the official deadline. Police said parents increasingly are bringing their children into town for trick-or-treating, leading to large crowds that don't quickly dissipate.

"If you've ever been down on Fifth or Sixth street on Halloween, you can't even move," Grand Traverse sheriff's Lt. Bryan Marrow said. "There's a potential for a lot (of problems)."

The OHSP wants officers to specifically target drunken drivers. Marrow said his department's patrols will focus on Garfield and East Bay townships, along with the southern edge of the city. The city's grant-funded officer will roam within city limits.

The city also plans to staff five extra, non-grant funded officers to patrol both on foot and in cars on Halloween evening.

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