TCA § 68-121-118 — Responsibilities of owner or operator of amusement device — Report of fatalities, physical injuries or incidents — Inspections — Penalties

The owner or operator of an amusement device shall immediately cease to operate any amusement device upon which a fatality, serious physical injury, or serious incident has occurred. An owner shall report any accident involving a fatality, serious physical injury, or serious incident resulting from the operation of an amusement device to the commissioner, in writing, within twenty-four (24) hours and contact a qualified inspector from the list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to § 68-121-119 to conduct an inspection. The cessation shall remain in force until an inspection has been performed by a qualified inspector, the inspector has determined that the amusement device or related equipment is safe for public use, and the department has authorized the owner or operator to resume operation of the amusement device. The qualified inspector shall initiate the inspection within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the report of a fatality, serious physical injury, or serious incident caused by the operation of an amusement device and shall perform the inspection in a manner that proceeds with all practicable speed and minimizes the disruption of the remainder of the amusement devices at the site where the amusement device is located, as well as unrelated commercial activities. The cost of an inspection shall be paid for by the owner of the amusement device. The amusement device may resume operation, upon authorization from the department, immediately following the reasonable determination by a qualified inspector that a principal cause of the serious physical injury was the victim's failure to comply with the posted safety rules or with verbal instructions. If an owner or operator of an amusement device fails to comply with any requirement listed in this section, that owner or operator shall incur a penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) each day, enforceable by the department, until full compliance is achieved. Any penalties deposited or collected shall be deposited into the general fund.