Tougher rollercoaster regs considered

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is considering a renewed push toward a new set of federal regulations for amusement parks following last week’s fatal roller coaster death in Dallas. 

Markey said he favors a set of minimum federal standards for rides at large, permanent parks like the Six Flags location where Rosa Ayala-Gaona fell to her death Friday from atop the 150-foot New Texas Giant coaster.

{mosads}The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has regulatory authority over traveling amusement parks, but states are supposed to supervise fixed sites.

“There is a patch quilt called state regulation,” Markey said.

“Parents assume there is federal regulation of these parks. There is not,” he said. “In some cases, there is almost no regulation.”

Markey, who previously served in the House, pressed legislation that would bring fixed parks under the CPSC’s jurisdiction — and is now in the process of deciding the best legislative course in the Senate.

The National Amusement Park Ride Safety Act, introduced by Markey in every Congress dating back to 1999, would authorize an annual $500,000 appropriation for the CPSC to carry out the additional duty.

The Tarrant County, Texas, medical examiner said this week that Ayala-Gaona died from multiple traumatic injuries due to the fall. The investigation is ongoing.

Six Flags did not immediately respond to questions about whether additional regulation is in order.