carrying loose objects on coasters in Ohio

This is somewhat related to a couple of posts in another thread, but now someone I know is telling me the answer given there was wrong. So...

Is it a felony or a misdemeanor in Ohio to disobey posted ride rules (i.e., bringing loose stuff onto a coaster)? I know it's at least a misdemeanor; I was there a couple years back but can't remember. Don't worry, I'm not figuring on trying anything there, I'm just curious. Thanks...

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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)

Actually, I believe that its against the law to disobey any written or verbal rules/warnings. I think disobeying is punishable, according to Ohio Revised Code with a misdmeanor, but I`m not certain.

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Coney Island (Cincinnati) ride operator

It is against the law to disobey posted/verbal signs/warnings in regards to rides (in Ohio). However, I personally have had a rather hard time getting any law enforement officer to actually enforce it when I moved carnival rides. Nothing would irk me more than stupid town marks that always insisted on standing up and surfing the walls of the Gravitron after repeated warnings not to do so. I take that back, nothing irked me more than other operators who would do it with marks on the ride, setting a bad example for them.

Most officers simply lectured them, escorted them off the grounds at best. Now at an park, I would imagine it may be a different story...

*** This post was edited by Gruelurks on 8/8/2002. ***

(ahem)

Ohio Revised Code Section 1711.551 requires all guests to follow safe conduct rules. Any guest in violation of posted safety rules and regulations is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for any subsequent violation.

'nough said?

That's the info I was looking for acer. 'Nough said. Thanks!

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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)

You bet they enforce it at CP. The CP police have cited people.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Yea, even if they are not charged with a crime, if you do something stupid you're likely to find yourself booted out of the park with no refund. Someone on this year's Magnum crew said that a guy was escorted out of the park at 10:20AM for standing on the lift. Oh well, hopefully he enjoyed that "extra-secure" ride on Magnum since it was probably his only one for the day! :)

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Jeff, that brings up a more general question (maybe a dumb one, but a question nonetheless): Do CP and other large parks have their own police force, capable of issuing citations and such, or do they have officers from the local city/counth/whatever stationed there? I've always assumed it was the latter but I'm always too busy running from them to turn around and look at the uniform....okay, I've just never paid close attention.

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PLEASE READ: This post wasn't meant to offend or anger anyone; I apologize in advance if it does. So please don't post a reply just to rant about it. :)

Cedar Point does, the others don't. I suppose it has to do in part with the fact that they're pretty isolated out there on the peninsula, and also patrol the chausee. They are authorized to issue citations.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Jeez - at Hersheypark I was able to carry on my bulky Canon SLR and even take pictures with it. They didn't say a word and I didn't try to hide it. Too bad I ran out of film before we crested the top.

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WARNING: May be habit forming

Kings Island does its own police department. Usually mason is called in also if the cops are needed

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Part of a Flight Attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of us."

On Millennium Force they inforce it strictly but I didn't find it on other coasters.

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-Sean

I'm pretty sure PKI has security, not a real police department.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

I was wondering why PKI was so overbearing on the camera issue, even stopping trains on the lift of Adventure Express. Now I know.And to be honest, it's a major reason in me not wanting to go back anytime soon.

I don't know if this will make sense to anyone but me, but I'm finding that the more rules these parks (in this case state I guess) heap on the less likely I want to go to these places anymore. It's just not fun if the parks get carried away and spend all their time yelling at people and putting signs everywhere. And it is not the relaxed escape I am looking for when I go to a park either. Plus, sometimes I like to take photos off of a lift hill if it provides a view that cannot be gotten another way or doing on-ride video if the ride is special to me. (Europe was great in that respect...few rides that a camera could not be taken on...most of the time they didn't care and I appreciated that!)

Certain rides I can see placing additional restrictions on loose articles if they have extreme forces, like Xcelerator at Knott's for instance, but on PKI's Adventure Express? Um...no.

And speaking of Knott's....the funny thing about Knott's is that they insist you keep loose articles off of Xcelerator (logical) but insist that you take loose articles WITH YOU on Ghostrider, which I found kind of odd.

Coasterbuf- IF you had a six year old daughter that had stitches in her head, beacuase she got hit by someones camera or cell phone, I bet you would change your tone, real quick, and probably even try suing the park.

1ej

I am iffy on this issue, I like to take cameras on coasters and up untill recently I had a video record of every coaster I have been on, so you can imagine anti camera rules upset me but I also can't imagine how horrible it would be to be hit by one on a ride and can understand why most parks don't allow this. I will admit I have snuck my camera on some coasters, but I also have made some changes to the hand strap it is a buckle so there is no Velcro to pop open and an additional strap that extends around the inside of the wrist so the camera is accually attached to my arm, and it is so small if I wear baggy pants it can be in my pocket and unless you know its there you would never know. It upsets me the park you pay to get into wont allow loose objects of any kind on the rides, and no effort is made for the guest. You either pay for one time use locker or risk leaving it in the station. Since the park requires loose articles to be left behind they should be held responsible for stolen or damaged items. If I had my say each station would have a set of free lockers by the exit so at the very least you know your things will be waiting for you when you return either way you shouldn't be forced to either risk you stuff getting stolen or to pay to use a locker each time you go on a ride. At parks like SFMW I took my camera on the rides with me because there was no way I was going to leave it in the station with the kind of crowd that park has in it. I also think if the park wont allow cameras on the rides they should produce and sell like a video postcard of the park that would include a complete POV of all of the coasters.

Does any agree with this? I am going to shut up now sorry I got a little carried away

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Aughhh look out there are Mice all around

PKI has their own police force, and are capable of citing guests that disobey posted safety rules. And the judge that sees the cases in Mason court is not very lenient (sp?) on these violators. And if you had to go under Adventure Express in the off season and pick up eleven garbage bags full of destroyed hats, cameras, sunglasses and stuffed animals, you'd change your tune.

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CP does enforce it, and I've seen several people forfeit their place in line to get a locker. There's signs posted everywhere. That doesn't stop people from not following rules. On Millies first drop, someone from the front of the train let a bottle fly. It didn't hit anybody, but people are persistant, and always find a way around the rules.

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Thank You for challenging TOS: The Ride. We hope you enjoy the rest of your day, here at SFCB.

Whizzer Boi said:
"It upsets me the park you pay to get into wont allow loose objects of any kind on the rides, and no effort is made for the guest. "

What kind of effort would you like them to make? Yes, you pay to get into the park so you would like to film on the ride, but others who pay to get into the park expect to have a safe ride and not have a camera smack them in the head during a ride. It's about liability. Now, I am talking both ways as I have taken a camera on rides. However, I called the park ahead of time for permission and used a lightweight disposable camera (according to the kitchen scale it weighs 3.8 ounces, a little different than a video or other non-disposable camera). I am not complaining about you, since you made ajustments to your camera to keep it safer but some people talk like it is their god given right to blow off the park rules and film the ride when it reality they could be posing a danger to others and setting themselves up for ejection from the park.

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com
The World of Thrills

I just think if they don't allow objects on rides they should provide a secure free place to keep your stuff while you are on the ride.

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Aughhh look out there are Mice all around