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Inventory of State Amusement Ride Safety Regulations

Adobe PDF iconThis page offers an overview of amusement ride safety regulations in the 50 U.S. states. The inventory and scoring system are intended to facilitate a rough comparison of amusement ride laws and regulations implemented at the state level. Results are approximate. Some of the scoring criteria are subjective. To view the scoring details for a particular state, click on the state's score. Click on the PDF icon for a printable copy. Last update of scoring parameters:  July 22, 2008

This work product has been gathered by Saferparks as a public service. It is believed accurate when published, but there are regular changes in this information; therefore, Saferparks gives no guarantee of accuracy. If you identify any errors or omissions, please contact Saferparks.

Sorted by Score (Descending)
Re-sort table by Score (Ascending)  State (Ascending)  State (Descending)
 
NOTE: The inventory has 52 state program entries rather than 50 because two states regulate part of their amusement rides under different rules.
- California regulates permanent rides (Ca1) under separate statute than portables (Ca2).
- Florida regulates portable rides and rides at smaller parks (Fl1), but state law exempts rides at major theme parks (Fl2)
State ProgramTallyMaNjPaIaNcCa2ArKyMiOhOkCa1CtGaMdNhWiIlRiWvAkFl1LaVaWaMe
Score3030272525242323232323222222222222212121202020202019
Program Type45/52GovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGovGov3rdGovGovGov3rd3rdGov
Regs Cover:
...Fixed Site Rides		45/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
...Portable Rides45/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
...Inflatables (Park/Carn)24/52■■■■■ ■■ ■■ ■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■
...Inflatables (Rental)16/52■■■■■ ■■ ■■   ■ ■  ■   ■■■
...Go-Karts30/52■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■
...Bungees37/52■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■  ■■ ■■■
...Waterslides28/52■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■
Rides Must Be Registered38/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Insurance Required42/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 
ASTM Compliance25/52■■■  ■■ ■■■■■  ■■■■■  ■■■ 
Owner Must Inspect Rides41/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ 
Adult Ride Ops16/52■  ■■   ■   ■  ■■ ■■■   ■ 
Report:
...Severe Injuries		37/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
...Medical Treatment20/52 ■■■■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■■■■    ■
...Major Equip. Damage12/52■■ ■ ■■■■    ■    ■     ■ 
Accident Scene Preserved25/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■  ■■■ ■  ■
Gov. Audit Inspections32/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■
Gov. Shutdown Authority36/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Gov. Investigates Accidents30/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■
Easy Access to Records28/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■ ■■■■ ■■■■ 
CARES Member Agency28/52■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■ ■■  ■■■■■
Requires USAID Plates4/52■         ■  ■       ■    
ASTM F24 Member8/52■■■■■   ■              ■  
Attends ASTM F247/52■■■  ■     ■           ■  
Rider Responsibility Rules20/52■■■■■ ■ ■■■  ■ ■   ■  ■■ ■
Extra Credit Points231221
Points Subtracted1111131
StateMaNjPaIaNcCa2ArKyMiOhOkCa1CtGaMdNhWiIlRiWvAkFl1LaVaWaMe

 

State ProgramTallyMoNyNeTxCoInScHiMnOrDeNmKsNdVtAzTnSdFl2IdNvAlMsMtUtWy
Score191917161515151414149988877644400000
Program Type45/523rdGovGov3rdInsGovGovGov3rd3rdInsInsInsInsInsInsInsIns-Elec------
Regs Cover:
...Fixed Site Rides		45/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■      
...Portable Rides45/52■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■      
...Inflatables (Park/Carn)24/52■  ■   ■    ■             
...Inflatables (Rental)16/52            ■             
...Go-Karts30/52■■ ■  ■ ■  ■   ■          
...Bungees37/52■ ■■■■■  ■■■■■■■■■        
...Waterslides28/52 ■ ■       ■   ■          
Rides Must Be Registered38/52■■■■■■■■ ■■■  ■           
Insurance Required42/52■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■        
ASTM Compliance25/52■  ■■■■ ■■                
Owner Must Inspect Rides41/52■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■ ■■ ■       
Adult Ride Ops16/52 ■     ■■■    ■           
Report:
...Severe Injuries		37/52■■■■■■■■■■        ■       
...Medical Treatment20/52  ■■■                     
...Major Equip. Damage12/52       ■ ■                
Accident Scene Preserved25/52■■■   ■                   
Gov. Audit Inspections32/52 ■■ ■■■■           ■      
Gov. Shutdown Authority36/52■■■■■■■ ■■■               
Gov. Investigates Accidents30/52■■■    ■■                 
Easy Access to Records28/52■■ ■■■            ■       
CARES Member Agency28/52■■■ ■ ■           ■       
Requires USAID Plates4/52                          
ASTM F24 Member8/52                    ■     
Attends ASTM F247/52                    ■     
Rider Responsibility Rules20/52■     ■ ■           ■   ■ 
Extra Credit Points112
Points Subtracted231211
StateMoNyNeTxCoInScHiMnOrDeNmKsNdVtAzTnSdFl2IdNvAlMsMtUtWy