Cameras on Roller Coasters??

Has anyone ever gotten on a roller coaster and somebody in front of you or behind you has a video camera trying to tape the ride. This happened to me several times at the last park i was at. I felt really uncomfortable with someone trying to hold a camera up and catch the reaction of their friends as we are going through a loop. I was wondering if anyone else has had this expirience.

I never saw a video camera, But I have seen many cameras though.

On the Beast ERT last year at BeastBuzz the guy in front of me kept pulling out his camera and taking pics. I really hope he was just one of the ACE guests and not one our Coasterbuzz Attendees, I was quite disapointed in the flagrant violation of the rules.

By the way, this topic has been discussed many, many times. Others may mention that to you.

Oh, and your Signature is considered spamming by the TOS of this site. You may want to get rid of the before your account get deleted. I am not trying to be a jerk, I am just to warning you what may happen when the Mods see it.

*** Edited 3/26/2005 12:53:08 AM UTC by James K*** *** Edited 3/26/2005 12:53:52 AM UTC by James K***

thanks. and sorry. i didn't know this was discussed before. everytime i post something it has been talked about before. maybe i'll just stop posting.

Yeah, actually I went to SFMM 2 weeks ago for the first time (first time out to the west coast too). I was sitting right next to a guy in the front row of Superman: the Escape, and the ride ops said NOTHING (and he didn't hide it at all or anything). I didn't feel too uncomfortable considering I was sitting beside him, although I would have been very worried had I been behind him.

I just tell whoever is next to me if that camera hits me, I will do the same to 'said owner'. It usually goes away then.

My prediction of the number of posts left before this turns into the inevitable "cameras are OK/cameras are not OK" debate: 6

Hockeydude, no need to stop posting... it's very difficult sometimes to avoid repeat topics on a site as comprehensive as this one is. Don't sweat it!

(I can't believe I just said "Don't sweat it!", and I can't believe I didn't just go back and edit it...)

I sat next to a guy on Raptor, in a trench coat, during the Summer. It was no surprise that I saw him pull out a camera during our time up the lift.

I've actually taken a few photos on coaster before. But only if I have my camera with a strap on it that I can put around my wrist so it doesn't go flying off. Coasters I've taken pics on include BBW and Loch Ness Monster. That was 3 years ago. I've though about shooting video with my Digital camera but I don't think I would do it. Parks in the east don't mention no cameras like parks like CP and PKI do.

I have on-ride video of a few coasters.

In every case, I had reason to believe that shooting the video in question was allowed at that time, on that ride. That's kind of an important distinction, as my collection includes rides where photography is no longer permitted, or is normally not permitted.

So right there is the first issue: Is it permitted on the ride in question. If not, that should be the end of the story. If so, anyone shooting photos should take appropriate precautions--

1) Insure that your actions will not injure anybody else.

2) Insure that your actions will not injure you.

3) Try to get a decent shot.

I'm not going to get into the rightness or wrongness of the practice. But I think it is important to say that if you're going to shoot photos or video on a coaster, please be sure you know what you are doing.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

James K, don't start bashing ACErs. Most ACE members follow the rules. Some don't. The same is true of all segments of the population including Coasterbuzz members. Just my 2 cents.

I've seen a higher percentage of ACErs be complete idiots at parks than I have Coasterbuzzers. Actions speak louder than words.

I don't think that this thread has to turn into a my club is better then your club thread. ACE has a lot of bigger membership base than Coasterbuzz. Of course you are going to have more people acting less responsibly.

I personally am not an ACE member, and am a Coasterbuzz club member. I have nothing against ACE, and I may join in the future.

I think that as long as the person acts responsibly(Gets permission, makes sure that the camera is secured by a wrist strap, Etc) that it should be a problem.

I will probably get my ass reamed for this...

But I have taken a camera on coaster before... however, they're small digital still cams, not video cams... and with each instance that I have, to protect myself, my camera, & other riders... I have ALWAYS had the cam strapped tight on my wrist as well as a very good grip on the cam, and have only done it to a few select coasters, and only take the pic during the lift up the hill... Never did it on anything like X-Flight or Millennium Force, however. By the time I'm done, I have the cam securely put back in my zipper pocket upon reaching the top of the lift.

Video cameras, no matter how small, it's a major problem. Small digi cams... as long as they're very secure with a strap around the neck... er... wrist of the rider & also a very strong grip used only during the lift... is ok by me.

Ohio is the only state where it is actually illegal and will cause problems.

though photography is ALLOWED on the Americana (ferris wheel) at GL...but only when the ride has stopped (that was a pain to enforce)

pkidelirium-

It's not illegal in Ohio to take cameras on rides.

The only law for rider conduct set forth by the Ohio Revised Code states simply that all riders must follow instructions given to them or they are guilyt of a misdemeanor.

Example:
The sign in the Delirium queue at PKI that says "Ohio state law prohibits dropping objects" is true, but only because the park tells you not to drop objects. Had the sign said instead "Ohio state law requires all riders to wear baggy pants and shout lyrics to hip-hop songs while riding" then, guess what, failure to comply is illegal.

Ohio is not the only state that has a law like this Pennsylvania and California (among others) have codes similar to the wording of Ohio.

Basically, all Ohio law says about rider conduct is that you have to do what the park says. They offer no further suggestions (other than not hurting yourself or others).

Actually, the text of most state laws says that you are required to follow park safety rules. I'd like to see someone convince a judge that wearing baggy pants and shouting the lyrics to hip-hop songs relates to safety. :-)

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DawgByte II said:
But I have taken a camera on coaster before... however, they're small digital still cams, not video cams.

Video cameras, no matter how small, it's a major problem. Small digi cams... as long as they're very secure with a strap around the neck... er... wrist of the rider & also a very strong grip used only during the lift... is ok by me.

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What the hell does small have to do with it? There are really small video cameras out there too. Look up the JVC Enverio, which is 4.1 x 1.6 x 2.8 inches in dimension. That's about as small as even the smallest still-image cameras, so if a small camera is good, I dont see an issue with a small camcorder.

*** Edited 3/27/2005 10:48:22 PM UTC by RamblinWreck***

Jim-

I'm searching for the text of the law now that you mention that. Just from memory I can't remember if it says "all instructions" or "all safety instructions."

I think many of the loose articles rules are dumb including the no camera rules. Back before there was any of that nonsense I took pics on rides and everything was hunkydorey. Now, if there is a rule, I will follow it myself, but I don't care what someone else does and I don't get scared just because someone else take a camera out on the ride. It's the park's silly rule so they can enforce it themselves...along with the help of anyone who likes to feel important and better than other people.