Halloween Plans? Mesa Police Urge Drivers to Plan a Sober Ride Home

By Ciara Perez | iSkyNews.com
October 29, 2026

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MESA, Ariz. — As families head out for trick-or-treating and friends gather for Halloween parties, Mesa police are reminding everyone to make a plan for getting home safely.

The Mesa Police Department will conduct its annual Halloween DUI Task Force operations October 30 through November 1, with enforcement focused on the hours between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The effort, in support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, is intended to get impaired drivers off the road and prevent collisions throughout the Valley.

For anyone planning to drink, the safest time to arrange a ride is before the celebration starts. Choose a designated driver who will stay sober, arrange a rideshare or taxi, or plan to spend the night. Hosts can help by making sure their guests have a safe way home.

Watch for Warning Signs

A vehicle drifting across lane markings, braking for no clear reason or nearly hitting a curb could be a warning that something is wrong.

Other signs of possible impairment include unusually slow driving, sudden changes in speed, wide or abrupt turns, delayed responses to traffic signals, and driving without headlights after dark. These behaviors do not prove someone is impaired, but they are reasons to give the vehicle space and alert police.

If you encounter a dangerous driver, keep your distance. Do not approach the vehicle or try to stop it. Have a passenger call 911, or pull over somewhere safe before making the call. Share the location, direction of travel and vehicle description, along with a license plate number if you can read it safely.

Call 911 if the driver poses an immediate danger. Mesa police’s non-emergency number is 480-644-2211.

Halloween Trick-or-Treaters Walk Through a Decorated Neighborhood at Dusk / iSkyNews.com

Look Out for Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween also means more people walking through neighborhoods after dark. Slow down, watch between parked cars and be ready for children to step into the street unexpectedly.

Families walking between homes should use sidewalks where available and cross at intersections or crosswalks, looking carefully for approaching and turning vehicles.

Whether the evening involves a neighborhood candy run or a party across town, planning ahead can help everyone get home safely.

Source: Mesa Police Department announcement provided to iSkyNews.com. Additional safety guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Maryland Highway Safety Office.

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