Apparently, just because there's a law on the books, doesn't mean it's enforced.

When kids take to the streets on Halloween night to collect their fill of Halloween candy, there won't be cops badgering every single one, asking for proof of age. There won't be minors in handcuffs, and there won't be truckloads of 13-year-olds being hauled off to serve six months behind bars.

As long as everyone behaves themselves, that is.

Chesapeake's 51-year-old ordinance that says kids aged 13 and over could serve six months in jail if caught trick-or-treating drew the rapt attention of the nation last year. But after receiving a storm of phone calls and criticism from the public, city officials there want the world to know that not one single teen has actually been arrested for trick-or-treating since the law was established.

The ordinance was Chesapeake's answer to a trick-or-treating nightmare back in 1967 when a kid was stabbed for stealing another kid's candy—and another minor threw a firecracker into a treat bag. But as long as teenagers behave themselves, remain peaceful, and have fun on their Halloween neighborhood excursions, the city has no need to enforce its antiquated law.

"If a 13-year-old kid is out trick-or-treating with their younger sibling, they’re not going to have any issues," Heath Covey, Chesapeake's director of public communications, told Daily Press. "But say that 13-year-old goes out and decides to smash pumpkins in the streets and cause some mischief – yeah, we would have to deal with that."

The Chesapeake mayor himself said that his own children trick-or-treated past the age of 13. He also admitted that the threat of jail time is probably a little harsh for most situations, though we shouldn't expect the ordinance to change. 

"It's more a matter of the safety of younger children," Mayor Rick West said.

As long as the law is there, with the threat of handcuffs and prison garb hanging over their heads, teenage trick-or-treaters have the added motivation to keep their Halloween activities all in good, clean fun. 

As long as they keep their part of the bargain, Chesapeake police will leave them alone. Promise.

What do you think? Should Chesapeake reword the law? Should they enforce it? Is your teen going trick-or-treating on Halloween? Tell us in the comments!