Athens Police Capt. Tom Pyle's first advice to students this Halloween was, Don't get arrested. If you're planning to follow that, here are some tips from him and other experts:
1. Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself.Partiers with eye-catching behavior or costumes are more likely to be confronted by police officers, Pyle said, adding that he remembers previous Halloweens with partygoers dressed in Ku Klux Klan outfits, police uniforms and sexually explicit costumes.
2. Know your rights if approached by a police officer.If an officer asks for a student's identification, that student is not required to show any particular ID, such as a driver's license, that would incriminate themselves if not under arrest, said Stephanie Pleli, director of Ohio University volunteer organization Students Defending Students. Students should ask if they are free to leave, she said.This doesn't mean it's OK to pick a fight, Pyle said. The worst thing a student can do when confronted by a police officer is argue, he said.
3. Be careful whom you invite.Students are responsible if their guests registered in a residence hall act up, Pleli said. Also, if guests have their wristbands taken away, they won't be allowed back in the dorms, and parents of minors could be notified, she said.
4. Protect your house party.Palmer Street residents got smart this past Palmerfest, Pleli said, by setting up fences and handing out wrist bands. If a party looks open to the public, undercover police officers can enter. Signs posted at houses reading no one under 21 can drink can help by giving the appearance of control, said Pat McGee, managing attorney for the Center for Student Legal Services. They won't, however, protect the residents legally.
5. Be careful in the dorms.Resident assistants don't have the right to open dorm room doors, Pleli said, but if a police officer is denied entrance, the student can be charged with failure to comply. If opening the door means facing more serious charges, Pleli said weigh your options
adding that three narcotics dogs will be roaming the dorms this year.
6. Don't sleep in a car.Anyone who passes out in the driver's seat with the keys could be arrested for a DUI, Pleli said. The keys don't have to be in the ignition.
7. Keep that drink on the lawn.If a student holding a beer steps out of the yard and onto the sidewalk, he or she is on public property with an open container and can be cited for it, Pleli said.
8. Be careful with crowds ...Pleli said students who don't distance themselves from crowds moving into fights could be mistaken for participants in a riot.
9. ... But stay in a group.A student walking alone is more likely to be approached by a police officer, McGee said, adding there also are serious safety risks for a lone partier.
10. Seek advice in the event that anything does happen.For the students who fail to follow Pyle's initial advice, Students Defending Students and the Center for Student Legal Services offer confidential services. Advice from SDS is free. The $8 fee for the center is included in tuition. 17
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Erin Barker
[B]10 ways to not get arrested this halloween[/B]
