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75 ejections so far... good for them. I wish everyone who enforced this kind of policy would, well, enforce it.
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I don't think people deserve to be ejected for smoking in a non-designated area. Although there are signs throughout the park, many people would not be expecting an amuesment park to be smoke-free, so they wouldn't notice them. I do not have a problem with smoking in a designated area, I think it's a good idea to increase the family atmosphere of the park, but I think ejecting people caught with a cigarette is too far. I think that the no-smoking policy should be up to the park to decide. Having a legal backing to this seems to me to be going too far. If the park wants to escort people out for smoking, that's up to them. I disagree with it, and think that it is making too big of a deal out of something trivial. However, legal backing seems to be going too far.
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Wouldn't the fact that the park is private property give them the right to control or ban smoking? Are they just looking for cover from lawsuits? I support private business owners right to decide if smoking is permitted or not on their property. I do not support government entities making that decision for everyone.
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As a non-smoker, I don't see it as trivial. I HATE having to smell second hand smoke. People light up all the time in line for TTD or Millenium Force at Cedar Point, then try to cover it up when a park policeman shows up. They KNOW they're doing something wrong...but like most people, don't really care, cause the world was made for them. If you can't take on the responsibility of following the rules, then legislation gets passed. Isn't that the way things work in the US these days? I'd agree with you about the legislation being overkill...IF people followed rules.
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"75 ejections so far... good for them. I wish everyone who enforced this kind of policy would, well, enforce it." Hopefully this will include the parks in Ohio.
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Getting cancer from second hand smoke is not TRIVIAL. What if I was at your house Mike blowin' smoke all over you and yours? You would probably throw me out. Now think of all the folks who have to work around this second hand smoke caused by A**holes who can't read signs or use the specially designed smoking areas created for THEM. This is a theme park were talking about. Not a bar. If you can't follow the rules then you should be ejected.
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^ I agree. Smoking out of a non-smoking area is not trivial. If you want to harm your body with smoking, then that's your choice. But at least the park was nice enought to create smoking areas for smokers and not ban them altogether. People have no right to harm the health of those around them with smoking. I'm glad that the park is finally enforcing the rules. I wish they would do this more with line jumpers, as well, but that's more trivial than smoking, since it doesn't really affect your health the way that second-hand smoke does.
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I wonder how many were ejected from GAdv for line-jumping? Seriously, someone is smoking outside the designated area. Your park security reminds them they need to refrain from smoking until they are in a designated area. They comply, everyone's happy. They argue, you show them the *other* side of the gate. Seems simple to me...maybe too simple?
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I think that the no-smoking policy should be up to the park to decide.
Did you read the article? It already is up to them and it's the choice they've made. They want the legal backing because it helps protect them from lawsuits (which would be silly anyway because it's private property and they can do whatever they want).
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I was in line for Nitro on 4/6 and a 16yr old girl was smoking so I waved to security and told him. He walked over to her and told her there was no smoking in the line and told her to go with him. She had the nerve to say I didn't know and the security guard said what does the sign behind you say. Right behind her on the fence in the que was a no smoking sign (I had to laugh). Nitro was my last ride that day so when I was leaving I saw the girl standing outside the gate waiting for her friends. I like parks to enforce there rules its the only way to make them work. If I see some breaking them I have no problem telling security and I will definitely say something to cutters because they are worse. I am a smoker but I don't even bring them into the park anymore.*** This post was edited by Ajrides 4/17/2007 12:16:40 PM ***
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Two things to remember. First off, Six Flags wants to promote a family image. Second hand smoke can be especially harmful to young children, much more so than adults. So, it is in their own family interest to be stricter in their enforcement of this policy. Second, in terms of the need for an ordinance. This is NJ, the state that does not allow you to pump your own gasoline. The park may (rightfully so) feel that it needs an ordinance to stand behind its own policies without the fear of a lawsuit from a park patron. It's possible that someone could claim that smoking is addictive and the park is somehow in violation of the ADA act. (Don't laugh... Stranger lawsuits have been filed... and won...)
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Nothing riles up the troops like a good 'evils of smoking' debate. 
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I don't see why they need the law. They seem to be doing all right without it.
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First of all, WAY TO GO SIX FLAGS!!! I am still not happy with the mess you created in Aurora, but what I just read is starting to make me recant some of the negatives things I have said about your company. Now if you enforce this in ALL your parks, I might have to go out of my way, and get another season pass again. I can't imagine the enforcement working too good in the heart of tobacco growing country (Kentucky). Hell, they are chewing tobacco down there before they can talk. Jerse got the ball rolling. Lets get it going at Kentucky Kingdom and the rest of the parks in the chain.
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I say watch what you wish for because you might get it. Go running to the government to enforce one of your own rules, and what's to stop them from coming back again and again telling you how they think you should run your business and what you can and can't do on your own property. Sure, if you're against smoking, it sounds great to bring the state in to help ban smoking. What about the next ordinance the township passes? What if it's a noise ordinance? Or a light pollution ordinance (don't laugh, they have those out there)? What if it's a huge amusement tax? How about a ban on fats and junk food? Or they pass a law that minimum hourly wage in the township is $15.00 (and guess who pays for the increased labor costs)? Then what will you be saying?
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On the money Bear. It sounds like an invitation for the local government to regulate their business. Must be the libertarian in me.
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Jeff: Yeah it's private property and thus not lawsuit should be able to hold up. But that doesnt mean that they wont still have to go to a judge to have the suit thrown out. That's a time/expense that wouldnt even be needed if they had the shield of a law. RGB: I so totally agree. Keep the government out of (relatively) minor niggles like this. You may like the laws passed today, but believe me, tomorrow, *you* (SFI) will be in the cross-hairs. In general, I'm not a big fan of first-offense ejections. I'd rather see them do something like take them to Guest Services, take their picture and dismiss them with a warning. Caught a 2nd time? BOOM! Yer outta here!
not that I smoke anyway....
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Can I get an ordinance against bouncing basketballs in parks? PLEASE. I would so LOVE for people to get ejected from parks for that. I hear Bonfante has already gone smoke free.
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I guess it's the difference in respectful people and non. At HW in most cases you will see us smokers vollentaraly visit the smokers pavilions and not carelessly and blatantly violate the rule. Just the same as we used the provided ashtrays prior to the new rule. A rule or a law does nothing without enforcement and whats worse is where drastic measures have to be taken to enforce it. Chuck, who just don't see minnimum wage workers povoking potentially violent situations.
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Guests are susposed to get one warning at the SF parks this year and if they choose to not comply to the warning then they are to be escorted out, the parks have been told to be very strict with the rules.
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"Chuck, who just don't see minnimum wage workers povoking potentially violent situations." Haha, tell me about it. I certainly won't be going out of my way to stop people from smoking this summer.
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That's because you're about as thin as a cigarette; They would just pick you up and smoke you instead. 
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Kinda think that moreso than protection from lawsuits over the smoking in specific, the last line of Jeff's summary gets RIGHT to the point. "The park says the ordinance would give them a legal basis for the ejections." You're basically being ejected for breaking the law...not only can you be ejected, but your pass can be revoked, the police can be there at the park to escort you OUT, etc., and you don't have any real recourse - those are the benefits the PARK would get from this being made into LAW.
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First of all I think if you were to read my post again I never said that smoking was a trivial matter, I said that I do not think being ejected from the park (implying for a first offense) does not seem like proper punishment. Most people from this country understand that smoking in queues is against the rules, but do not realize that you're not allowed to smoke in the park. Some people are oblivious. Also, I really do not appreciate the analogy of coming to my home and blowing smoke on my family. Let's try to keep this civil. And rollergator I hope your post was to point out what's wrong with turning this into a law, and not trying to back it. Smoking in parks ordinances sometimes mark it as a misdemeanor and attach a fine to it. Hopefully this will not be the case at the park. Being kicked out of the park, fined, having a misdemeanor, possibly being dragged down to the station; it seems like a bit much for (in most cases) making the mistake of starting smoking and are unable to break the addiction.
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Congrats Six Flags. I think it's great they're actually enforcing rules now. But, at Great Adventure, I found line jumping to be WAY more offensive than smoke. I'm very sensitive to smoke and I've never noticed someone smoking in line. Cedar Point is another story though. I think they should start ejecting people for line jumping too. Those are way easier to catch than the smokers. But, I guess this is a step in the right direction.
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My problems at SFGADV had nothing to do with smoking but a general lack for following rules to begin with. Went to get a drink once and what was basically a GANG was sitting on the water fountains just kinda protecting their turf. Being smart, I just walked on. Rampant line jumping and of course. Massive amounts of closed rides. I hope they get the majority of the problems fixed. All I can ask the park to do is to provide the opportunity to have fun and provide a safe place to do it. Chuck
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"Guests are susposed to get one warning at the SF parks this year and if they choose to not comply to the warning then they are to be escorted out, the parks have been told to be very strict with the rules." We'll see how this works at Magic Mountain. They would probably have to kick out half the park each day. Of course you would actually have to find security to do this.
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mike okay said: ...I hope your post was to point out what's wrong with turning this into a law, and not trying to back it. Neither! Not arguing for or against, just pointing out why the park would find it in the park's best interests...
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I want to know if GAdv with continue with the no smoking policy. GAdv is known for enforcing the rules for the first few months, but by the middle of June, they are back to their old ways again.
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There is no excuse for ignorance of the rules. Especially if they are posted everywhere throughout the park and printed in the park brochure. Getting ejected from the park lets a person know that they should pay attention to the rules just like everybody else and not be so "oblivious" to them . Most of the people who smoke in line Know that they are breaking the rules. This is the behavior that Six Flags is trying to discourage. If an oblivious smoker is made aware that smoking is not alowed, how can they still be oblivious? A sign that says NO SMOKING should be enough warning. If you can't play by the rules you have no right to be in the game. ( I hope that analogy is more civil).
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Hey Buna, Go to Jackson, watch how many out of staters attempt to pump their own gas at the pump. THATS AGAINST THE LAW THERE TOO. Bet you were ignorant of it. HUH? Chuck
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I am a former smoker who was asked to "put it out" once while in line for BTR at GAdv in '93, I took that as a sign to not smoke in any of the other queue lines at any park from then on. That same year there were several instances of marijauna smoke lingering in bathrooms (I was earning that exta 15 cents per hour on Grounds... woo) and a few instances of people in the act of smoking it on the Big Wheel and most commonly on the Sky Ride. Taking it ahead a few years, I was at BGE waiting in line for (my favorite) Alpengeist and several people commented around me that they smelled crack/cocaine burning. That was probably the worst smelling stuff I have ever caught wiff of, not to mention it could kill a person who is alergic to it. Could it be that SF is trying to cut all forms of smoking in an attempt to control the uncontrollable and that tobacco users are just caught in the middle?
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