Updated: 2/20/2009 7:27:34 PM
A bill signed into law on New Year's Day means amusement park rides in Tennessee will be watched closer than ever. All rides, big or small, now have to meet the same inspection standards.
Huge rides dot the skyline of Pigeon Forge, entertaining visitors all year long. But back in 2004, one family's vacation turned tragic. June Alexander, 51, died when her safety harness allegedly malfunctioned while she was on a ride at the Rockin' Raceway. Her family watched her fall some 60 feet to the ground.
The ride is now gone.
"Prior to that incident, we were trying to get legislation passed," said Dollywood's Director of Safety and Security Robbie Fox.
Fox was part of the group that helped push the new safety legislation through.
"You have true oversight now by the state and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development," he said.
Now, all rides from the smallest merry-go-round to the tallest roller-coaster, at either fixed or traveling attractions, will be subject to the same scrutiny.
"This law applies to any amusement ride, whether that ride is at a fixed park like Dollywood, or if it's a traveling show that goes to each county to fairgrounds. Any ride that is set up has to be inspected.
"Simple things such as the hydraulic fluid that may be necessary on a ride or the thickness of a brake fin on a roller-coaster," Fox said. "There are many things they look for on a ride."
Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens says the park was used as a model for how rides across the state should be evaluated.
"Safety is non-negotiable for the Dollywood Company," Owens said. "It's the number one thing that we all think about on a regular basis, so we need to insure that our rides and the park itself operates safely. Hopefully, all operators feel the same as we do because, if anyone has an incident, it affects the industry as a whole."
Inspections will take place twice yearly for fixed parks and randomly at traveling attractions.
