cifex

I hope this isn't an attempt to thwart "terrorism". How many people can fit in a gondola anyway? .....6? ....8? The traffic jam created by the pat down is a much larger opportunity for terror.

I personally would not ride at a resort like that.

EDIT: They are searching for flasks?!?! Wtf?

This article makes no sense. Uniformed public servants have no business searching for alcohol on private property. Are we sure this isn't in response to some kind of phone threat?

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mallrat

SOmething I'd be curious about is they say the resorts and runs are often on National Forest land but the lifts are privately owned. Well where does the pat down search actually take place? Also wouldn't they have to have something on the lift ticket stating you agree to submit?

Not a legal guy but seems like there are a lot of legal issues

killclimbz

Under Colorado law they do have the right. As far as allowing people to get on their lifts. They can make a pat down a requirement before getting on a lift. Of course, we are not required to give any resort doing this our patronage.

In reality this has been getting out of control for awhile. First it was upped ski patrol. Then it was cops on the mountain. The forest service (outside of any resort influence though) started staking out smoke shacks and busting people at them.

What they are forgetting is that these are resorts built for people to come to and have fun. You can't make "fun" a standard that everyone has to follow to the nth degree. People are going to choose to enjoy themselves how they see fit. With that comes some tom foolery and a little chaos. Sure you are going to have some bad incidents, but you will never get rid of those to anyone's satisfaction. There will always be something people will bitch about. Crack down on one thing, then they'll find something else. Before long they aren't cracking down on anything because no one is coming to their resort and they are going out of business.

JRosco

I used to like Steamboat a lot, now not so much!

cifex

I don't like the intermixing of public and private business. If the resorts want to search people for alcohol as they get on the lifts they own, that's fine. They can pay security guards to search people and I won't go there. Having public servants enforce private regulations (last time I checked it's not illegal to carry a flask) is complete and utter bullshit!

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killclimbz

I don't think they were handing out tickets for it. I also think that the public servants were probably off duty. Much like night clubs hire off duty cops to hang out at the entrance to their clubs.

Of course I could be wrong about them being off duty. If that is the case, than it is utter bullshit and if I was a citizen of Steamboat I would want to resort to compensate the tax payer for the expense.

JRosco

oh, and they are saying they are looking for alcohol, but what they are really looking for is the herbs, why else would it just be at the Ganjala? And you don't have to give up your lift ticket, just don't ride the Ganj, take the regular lift!

cifex

The article says they were 'uniformed police officers'.

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cifex

Long Arm of the Law | 5280 | Denver's Magazine Since 1993

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killclimbz

They are also uniformed at clubs and bars that hire them to work the doors when they are off duty. That is pretty standard. Just because they are in uniform doesn't mean they were on duty. It definitely ups the intimidation factor no doubt.