Australians gearing up for Halloween on Thursday have been warned that wearing a costume while driving could land them with a hefty fine.
With Halloween’s popularity soaring in Australia over the past twenty years, Sydney lawyer Avinash Sing warned that face coverings, such as masks, can interfere with a drivers vision or their ability to control their car.
‘If police see a person driving and they believe the costume affects their ability to properly exercise control of a vehicle or maintain a proper view while driving, then it is not unusual for them to stop the driver and issue a fine,’ he told Yahoo News.
The rules and fines for obstructed vision while driving vary across the country, with New South Wales imposing a hefty fine of $2,200.
‘The community should be aware that police conduct specific operations on special occasions — such as Halloween,’ Mr Singh explained.
‘When they expect an increased number of people to be out and about, there is an increased risk of being charged with an offence or fined.’
For Aussies wanting to avoid a fine, it’s advised they change in and out of their costume at the event so they’re not driving in it, avoid heavy makeup and test-run their costume to tell if movement is restricted ahead of time,
Aussies celebrating Halloween have been warned there are hefty fines if they drive in a costume that restricts their movement or wear a mask or face covering that restricts their view (pictured stock photo of a Halloween costume)
The rules and fines differ across the country, but a fine in NSW could set a driver back $2,200 (pictured stock of a scream mask)
Halloween started as a Celtic tradition in Scotland and Ireland in the 16th century.
Early celebrations included children dressing up in costumes and going door to door, where they would either receive food or, if not welcomed, threaten to curse the homeowners.
The phrase ‘trick or treat’ originated in Canada, but this tradition can lead to legal trouble for Australians.
Mr Singh said there had been an increase in incidents of cars and houses being egged and vandalised, mostly by teenagers.
He warned that most teenagers are unaware of the seriousness of this crime and warned them that property damage can result in a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
