Question for Ride Ops that check height req.

I spent 2 years(96-98) as a lead on JP at USH and I've seen and heard it all. There are reasons why these rides have these requirements, I have seen way to many kids get hurt because they "slipped by", so I would make it very easy for parents.
I would tell them that those requirements are for the child's safety, and I'm sure that you wouldn't want to get them hurt would you? That seemed to work for me.
So parents please, you think that disappointment they feel would be worse then if they had a bloody nose or loose a tooth because there face got slammed into the restraint?
Another year won't kill them, Hell I had waited all my life the ride the motorcycles at KBF and the year I was tall enough they were GONE and I lived. *** Edited 12/18/2004 1:51:27 PM UTC by ExJPranger*** *** Edited 12/18/2004 10:29:18 PM UTC by ExJPranger***

One time, when I was about to ride Shockwave (had a 54 inch requirement) at Great America, a father of a girl that was about 50 inches tall was yelling at the ride op, telling that they let her on Demon. The ride op then asked him if they wanted her to fall out. So, he calmed down. Now, there is hardly any difference, if none between the trains on Demon and Shockwave; Demon has a 42' requrement. So, I was wondering, is it just the maturity factor going into it (because it is so much larger,) or is that what Arrow specified?

Also, I have always been wondering how Viper has a 48' requirement, when Demon has 42', and it has 4 loops.

I've seen quite a number of kids at Dorney that were a good 6-8" under the 48" requirement for the waveswinger, proudly toting a red wrist band on their wrist (the color code for 48). Most times it was visibly stretched, and there just happened to be an older brother or sister in the group that just barely made 48, but no wrist band.. hmm... I wonder where that 42" kid got it from ;)

ExJPranger, I feel your pain - the same thing happened to me for the Flying Dutchman at Dorney Park.

coasterwiz, the height requirements are based on the manufacturers recommendations based on the design of the restraints. Those coasters with lower height requirements that go upside down likely will have more problems with.. umm.. "larger people". I also know the feeling on comparisons with other rides not the same height. While working Hang Time (Topspin) at Dorney, I had countless people who were between 54"-56" and would get off Talon(54), try to get on Hang Time(56) and get angry because "we just got off Talon, and that goes upside down".. My response? "Yeah, but it doesn't hold you upside down."

Also, appealing to the child's safety doesn't always work. I had a parent try to tell me how to do my job and claim that it was up to them, the parent, to look out for the safety, not me. This mother went on to say that she'd know better than me if it was safe for her child, and claimed that "all these rides are designed to be ok with a parent beside a child"