“They are later than a lot of states,” said Jim Barber, spokesman for the National Association of Amusement Safety Officials. “(But) I heartily applaud Tennessee in their efforts to establish a program because there are still probably 10 or 11 states that have nothing, zero.”

The state was paying no attention before 51-year-old June Carol Alexander of suburban Nashville fell 60 feet to her death from a swinging gondola ride called The Hawk in March 2004 in Pigeon Forge. Her safety restraint failed because of short-circuiting by Rockin’ Raceway manager Charles Stan Martin, who was later convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced to four years’ probation.

Moved by the tragedy, state Rep. Richard Montgomery, R-Sevierville, sought new oversight for an amusement park industry that’s largely concentrated in his East Tennessee district, where Dolly Parton’s Dollywood is located. Montgomery sponsored a 2005 law that required operators to have $1 million liability insurance policies, annual permits from county clerks and proof of inspection by an “authorized insurer or its designated representative.”

Now comes an even tougher law sponsored by Montgomery that went into effect Jan. 1 creating a state inspection program. It requires twice-a-year inspections of the state’s 120 stationary park rides and random inspections of mobile rides traveling to some 60 county fairs and carnivals statewide.

“There are many expectations with this new law,” Montgomery said in a statement. “Riders expect to be safe, owners can expect a more thorough evaluation of their equipment and Tennessee should expect fewer accidents.”

The program will start with just one inspector, but he comes highly recommended — Lee Bentley, who has been with Dollywood since 2006 and with Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., for 17 years before that.

“This obviously is just a start, but I think one person can cover the territory,” said Jeff Hentschel, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Labor.

Bentley’s expenses are expected to be covered by the cost of inspections, which will range from $25 to $200 depending on the size of the ride and the time required.

Hentschel said Tennessee’s inspection program has been modeled after North Carolina, considered a regional leader. Bentley will have authority to immediately shut down a ride until it is repaired.

According to the California-based nonprofit consumer group Saferparks, 28 states now have government officials with ride safety training and some kind of significant oversight authority. Sixteen others rely on insurance companies to watch the industry.

State Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley praised the program. “We want parents and visitors to know that these rides are in safe working order,” he said.
Published in The Messenger 2.25.09