We're just days away from Halloween and state police are preparing to kick off "Pumpkin Patrols" to keep your family safe. It's a statewide annual effort aimed at preventing dangerous Halloween pranks and protecting drivers on the Thruway.
"Dangerous pranks can turn into tragedy, so the Pumpkin Patrols statewide help prevent this type of activity," said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. "Safety has always been our top priority.?
State police and volunteers will team up Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31. They'll keep a close eye on roads, bridges and Interchanges to keep drivers safe. They'll also be out looking for drunk drivers, speeders and aggressive drivers, and they'll be conducting seat belt checks.
There will also be teams of people available to check your children's candy to make sure it's safe to eat. This year, TLC Emergency Medical Services will team up with the Cortland County Deputy Sheriff's Benevolent Association and several local fire departments for the annual Halloween candy check.
On Halloween night, October 31, between 6 and 9 p.m., safety checks will be set up in the parking lots and fire stations across Cortland County. TLC staff members, firefighters and sheriff's deputies will inspect candy and use a metal detector to ensure the candy hasn't been tampered with. As always, parents are reminded to re-check their children's candy as well.
Here are the 10 locations in Cortland County where you can get your children's candy checked:
Food Bag, 155 Tompkins Street
Byrne Dairy, 117 Groton Ave.
NYS Armory, Wheeler Ave.
Cortland Fire Department, 21 Court Street
Cincinnatus Fire Department, 5722 Telephone Road, Cincinnatus
Cortlandville Fire Department, 999 Route 13, Cortlandville
Homer Fire Department, 45 S. Main Street, Homer
McGraw Fire Department, 7 West Center Street, McGraw
Preble Fire Department, 1911 Preble Road, Preble
Virgil Fire Department, 1195 West State Road, Virgil
