Even the Most Frightening Ghouls Need to Be Careful HAVE A FUN & SAFE HALLOWEEN!
CHOOSE SMART COSTUMES Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without costumes! They should be fun, but you can also make them safer by following a few simple guidelines. Add reflective tape to candy bags and costumes and wear light colors to stand out in the dark. Buying or making the right-sized costumes is also important. If they’re too large, they create a tripping hazard, and if they’re too tight, they can restrict movement. If your child wears a mask, make sure they can see out of it properly. MAKE A PLAN Before heading out to trick or treat, create a plan and discuss it with every member of your family. This ensures that if someone in your group wanders off, they’ll know where to look for you or where to go. In case you’re separated, label your child’s costume with your name, address, and phone number. If your children are old enough to trick or treat without adults, make sure that their cellphones are charged and on them at all times, and schedule regular check-ins.
FORFEITURE Indiana is allowed to seize property related to suspected criminal activity . This property is usually in the formof cash, but it can also include houses, cars, or even electronics. MARC’S TIPS AND TRICKS Before heading out for some good old-fashioned trick-or-treating, take the time to go over basic safety tips. Teach kids to look both ways before crossing, use crosswalks and traffic signals, cross streets on the corners, and never run across the street. Making eye contact with drivers before walking in front of their cars is also a good way to make sure the driver knows the child is there. Generally speaking, the State of Indiana simply confiscates the property, files a forfeiture action, and counts on the fact that the owner won’t kick up a fuss. More often than not, this approach actually works. Many people are too scared to fight back. Some may not even realize that fighting back is an option. The first thing you need to know is that it is possible to contest a forfeiture action. Forfeitures are technically civil in nature—not criminal—meaning the burden of proof is on the State to prove that it’s more likely than not that the property was used in criminal activity. The second thing you should know is that no forfeiture action is a lost cause so long as you have a valid (legal) explanation for the property that’s been seized. The absolute worst thing you can do is nothing . If the State seizes your property, and you take no action, you lose . It doesn’t matter if you’re charged with a crime and acquitted. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re ever charged at all. If you don’t take steps to recover your property from the State, you’ll never get it back. This is exactly what Indiana wants. If you’ve had your property seized by the State of Indiana, you owe it to yourself to call the Marc Lopez Law Firm at (317) 632-3642. Give us a fewminutes, and we’ll give you a game plan to try to get your stuff back. Happy Halloween, you goblins, ghouls, witches, and spooks! It’s that time of year again when kids and adults alike can dress up and roam the streets as their favorite heroes, frights, or princesses. While kids are eager to show off their outfits and fill their pillowcases with sugary treasures, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential dangers on Halloween night. PRACTICE STREET SAFETY Make sure your kids understand basic road safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “Children are more likely to be struck by a vehicle and killed during Halloween than any other day of the year.” The real question in Indiana forfeiture law is“What counts as suspected criminal activity?” Like pretty much everything else, this is open to interpretation.
Homemade
MARSHMALLOWS
Ingredients
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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
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3 packages unflavored gelatin
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1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
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1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
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Powdered sugar, to coat
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1 cup light corn syrup
Directions
syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.
1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over
medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves.
3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
(317) 632-3642 • 3
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