BELLEVILLE - Come Halloween, Belleville teens looking for late-night Snickers and Smarties fixes may have to loot their younger siblings' treat bags.

An ordinance signed Tuesday by Belleville Mayor Mark W. Eckert limits trick-or-treating in the city to those in eighth grade or under, although older siblings can accompany them. Special-needs children are exempt from the grade limit if they're accompanied. The City Council approved the ordinance Monday night.

The ordinance was prompted by complaints from homeowners spooked by late-night trick-or-treaters.

"We were hearing more and more about bigger kids knocking on doors after 9 at night, and the people who lived in the homes were scared," Eckert said. "The seniors were especially scared. They didn't want to be the recipient of some kind of trick; they didn't want to open their doors late at night, either."

Eckert said he and the City Council discussed over the past year how to protect children on Halloween and how to address the concerns of homeowners troubled by teens who knock on their doors late, demanding treats.

"We believe that Halloween is for little children," Eckert said.

Police Chief William Clay knew of no other city with a similar ordinance, though he said Belleville's was pieced together based on "a collection" of approaches from others.

Tim Fischesser, executive director of the St. Louis County Municipal League, said he was unaware of any cities with restrictions similar to Belleville's.

The topic of over-age trick-or-treaters, however, is a big source of conversation among parents, and parent-centered Web sites are filled with comments and debate on the issue.

"I've heard people say they've turned away kids who they thought were too old for trick-or-treating," blogger Jennifer Jordan recently wrote on parentdish.com. "I've also heard people say that it's the parents' responsibility to not only take the kids trick-or-treating, but to tell them at what age to stop."

Clay, the police chief, said the department will expect "responsible parents" to enforce the new rules in Belleville.

"Ninety-nine percent of them are going to make sure their children abide by the rules," he said. "You're going to have that few who will not, and they will need our assistance."

Clay said officers most likely will stop older kids and trick-or-treaters who are out past curfew and ask them to return home. If that doesn't do the trick, the offenders' parents may be fined $25 under the ordinance, he said.

One provision in the ordinance restricts the wearing of masks and disguises in public areas by those 12 and older except on Halloween. Clay said it's important that the identities of adults not be hidden.

"We don't want teenagers and older folks running around concealing their identity on public streets on any day other than Halloween," he said.

Another provision in the ordinance prohibits anyone convicted of a sex crime involving a child from participating in Halloween events involving minors, other than their own children. Such offenders are required to turn off their outside lights on Halloween night and not hand out any treats. Illinois already has a state law with similar provisions.

Eckert said Belleville wanted to make sure such sex offenders didn't have access to children on the holiday.

"Sexual predators can't have parties," Eckert said. "It's not right, it's wrong. They lost that privilege."