LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : Ride Safety and Park Liability

* Concerning the article about Knott’s Berry Farm’s efforts to pass a law limiting its liability (“Knott’s-Backed Bill Gets Panel’s OK,” April 18), this is just another example of what is wrong with our legislative system today. It is increasingly run by special-interest groups, and the rights of the common person and consumer are always secondary.

Since big business currently has the Republican-dominated Legislature in their back pocket, this is only one example of the constant erosion of individual rights and of corporate responsibility.

Corporations don’t care if they hurt people due to their negligence or defective products as long as their bottom line is protected. Unfortunately, the consumer does not have special-interest groups, like big business does, to coerce the legislators.

Everything I have read concerning the proposed bill involves rights that amusement parks already have. They already can require riders to obey posted safety rules and to eject non-compliers. They also have laws that make injured guests liable for their own negligence.

They are trying to obtain blanket immunity for all injuries and have the gall to place a phony title on their proposed bill calling it the “California Rider Safety Act.” It should be called the “The Amusement Park Immunity Act”

MARK A. O’CONNELL

Santa Ana