We’re just weeks away from Halloween, which means that families all over the country are picking out their costumes, planning their candy selections, decorating their homes with spooky ornaments, and, of course, gearing up for a night of trick-or-treating to remember!

Well, most families are doing this, but if they are part of a handful of unlucky cities in Virginia, the night might shape up to be a real bust. In a post published by HR Scene, a total of nine cities have placed strict provisions on the traditional activities usually celebrated on the creepy holiday.

The nine areas–Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and the counties, Williamsburg/James City County and York County–all have very strict laws concerning trick-or-treating. For instance, in Chesapeake, trick-or-treating hours are only permissible between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and only allow children 12 and under to participate.

Though the city admits that officers won’t be “actively seeking out violations of the time or age limits,” they will be patrolling to ensure that the activity stays safe for everyone involved. That said, if an officer does find that a child over the age of 12 is partaking in the tradition, the teen could be fined anywhere between $25 to $100. Apparently, the child can also face up to 6 months behind bars, if convicted of the “crime,” this is according to Code 1970, § 17-13.1; Ord. of 10-26-70.

Nope, we’re not kidding.

As for the other 8 cities and counties, most have similar codes and city laws enacted, with each and every one legislating an 8 p.m. trick-or-treating stop time.

So, what does this mean for you? Well, it means that it’s probably time that you get re-acquainted with your local laws. Nothing like bailing your 8th-grader out of the pokey on Halloween night, eh?

We can’t wait to hear your take on these trick-or-treating laws. Do you agree with them? Do you think teens should be able to trick-or-treat? Does your town have any stringent laws like these?