Cedar Point new security checkpoint

With mention o the "pre 9/11" world I'm curious if there is an age trend or correlation between groups of people that think this is all just peachy and those of us who have an issue with having to be searched and wanded in order to carry out mundane daily activities like walking into the amusement park.

Maybe, but if so, there are always exceptions to the rules. I'm in my twenties and am appalled by the amount of security theater we have to go through.

I've even had a receipt checked at a Walmart for an 88¢ water bottle. That's a theft rather than violence concern, but why would you automatically assume that someone is stealing just about the least expensive cold drink you have?

What happened to being innocent until proven guilty? That went away as soon as the government (and companies) could claim things like "national security".

I think the thing being forgotten in this discussion is the fact that these are private businesses we're talking about. Within certain limitations (i.e. not discriminating against individuals on the basis of race or religion), these companies have the right to set the ground rules for using their services or setting foot on their premises. Just as convenience stores do, they may ban backpacks or book bags within their doors. As is the case with theaters, they may bar outside food or drink. Night clubs and restaurants may enforce dress codes of their choosing. And if Cedar Fair decides that all guests must submit to a CT scan, an anal cavity probe and a vaginal ultrasound before stepping within the gates of its parks, we have two choices: (1) go along with it, or (2) don't go in.

This isn't to say that I agree with practices, or that we don't have a right to grouse about it. And I'm about the furthest from a corporate apologist on these boards. But in point of fact, the security measures being debated are within the purview of these private companies. Don't like it? Stay home and build another virtual park for yourself. I hear Hypercoaster 1 is a good value.

I'm sure there is some connection between age and acceptance of this stuff, though of course there will be exceptions. That's why cavalier attitudes toward this bother me so much. If we continue to allow hysteria to overpower common sense, each generation will be willing to give up more than the one before it. And eventually our descendants will think living in a complete police state is perfectly OK. And that will be the irreversible end of The Land of the Free.

With regard to receipt checks, I don't mind making a scene in most cases. Costco would be an exception, considering how that store is setup. Another exception is when I'm purchasing a big ticket item that can't be put in a bag or otherwise made clear that I'd purchased it.

I remember in Circuit City's waning days, I was there in the afternoon when it wasn't busy at all. I was one of about 10 people in the entire store, and one of maybe two at the checkout area. I paid for my merchandise (which was placed in a bag), and made my way toward the exit, where I was, of course, stopped. I politely but firmly told the guy that I'd be happy to wait for the police to arrive, but that was the only way he was going to check my purchases (purchased that were made in his direct, clear view). He of course offered no resistance once I asserted my rights. Funny how that works.

There are always exceptions I just can't help but wonder does coming of age in an era of ecessive security measures and 24 hour news coverage and hype of tragedy condition younger people to accept this loss of privacy and its inconvenience as normal becaue they don't remember any other way? Like they don't miss what they never had?

Ensign Smith said:
And if Cedar Fair decides that all guests must submit to a CT scan, an anal cavity probe and a vaginal ultrasound before stepping within the gates of its parks, we have two choices: (1) go along with it, or (2) don't go in.

That is what bothers me about the entire thing. Cedar Fair as a company had an excellent security policy, even removing magnetometers at the former Paramount patks. Now we have to go through this new crappy security theater, which someone mentioned on here that a cop told them will be everyday next year. What happened??? Was it a new hire who wants to justify their job? Are they using some consultant like the ride operations consultant women (forgot the company name)? What is driving the madness?

Has anyone wrote to the park to express their opposition on these checkpoints? If I ever encounter these checkpoints on any future visits, I'll be writing to them.

Ensign Smith said:

I think the thing being forgotten in this discussion is the fact that these are private businesses we're talking about.

I'm not forgetting that at all. And I have argued elsewhere that a private company absolutely gets to make the rules "in its house."

But security checkpoints are nothing but theatre, diverting resources away from maintaining safety and security to providing the appearance of maintaining safety and security

And what Thabto mentioned is probably the best course of action one can take.

Let them know.

Often.

Agreed, every time you walk into the park and are subjected to a search and/or scan, send a comment to the park letting them know your thoughts on this.

Agreed. That's certainly the most productive reaction to the practice.

To quickly respond to a point

Pete said:

Not scanning would push the full liability on the deviant guest because the guest broke the rule (clearly displayed) that no weapons are allowed in the park.

While I understand your reasoning, I feel as though a lawyer could easily counter this by saying the park did not do enough to prevent the deviant guest from bringing that weapon in. It's an active vs. a passive approach.

Two other quick things. One, the resources that CP has in place will almost surely increase. It would be almost idiotic to redeploy the individuals they have to the gates without covering the positions they were already in. Not outside the realm of possibility, though not smart. Though I'm sure many of you wouldn't put it past them at this point ;)

Two, as multiple other individuals have said, if you don't like it, you don't have to go there. Don't forget that the biggest vote you have is with you wallet.

I'm glad that everyone has such strong opinions on this kind of stuff, it's always nice to see some perspectives from outside the field. That being said, just remember what are wants and what are rights, what are expectations and what is reality.

I think writing to the park and giving your opinion of these checkpoints will be effective. I will do that before I vote with my wallet. I may even say in my email that I may consider not renewing my pass if these checkpoints become standard procedure.

Even Frontier City added a checkpoint with detectors. They didn't have them in the spring when we visited. But, were there last weekend. It is possibly due to a concert scheduled that night. I forgot to ask. The funny thing was that the detectors were not consistent for me. When we went in the first time, took fanny pack off and walked through without it going off. Later, when we went back in with our chairs (handing them to employee first), went through the same exact detector and set it off. It was my watch. Weird that it didn't set it off the first time.

I don't mind these checkpoints, as long as it can be done in a timely & courteous manner. All anyone wants to do is go to a park and enjoy their day, without having to stand in long lines just to be checked.

Thabto said:

I may consider not renewing my pass if these checkpoints become standard procedure.

As a platinum pass holder for the past two years I'm right there with you. I haven't been on an airplane but twice since the TSA started their insecurity masquerade. I know it has been said before in this post, but "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" - Benjamin Franklin.

Those who believe that this security theater anywhere, let alone at the park, is protecting them, are paving the proverbial road to hell with their "good intentions". Ignorant fools, all of them. They obviously haven't ever studied the founding fathers writings about what liberty actually is.

"You can't fix stupid" -Comedian Ron White

Luckily, I haven't had to deal with these checkpoints at the park during my visits this year.

Also, to the "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" crowd. That's the motto of tyrants and creed of slaves.

The park officials may agree with you about the "security theater", the fact that someone is going to get a weapon or explosive in some way if they really want to.

Legally, in order to protect themselves from potential massive lawsuits, they are most likely doing what is 'reasonably expected' in order to provide a safe environment.

The term 'reasonable', which varies form industry to state to individual, is usually met when you are meeting or exceeding the standards in your industry for any variety of potential lawsuits.

The management does not want to inconvenience guests, upset guests, make guests feel unsafe, or for that matter incur the additional expenses that come along with these checkpoints.

That said, we here have no idea what threats or actions the park is responding to and most certainly never will.

(Note: the Sandusky Register has been reporting on the large gang problem in the city and four murders attributed to that. For a city of 25,000 that is a huge problem. So some of this may be to dissuade gang activity. And yes, this type of theater would dissuade gang activity. And, unfortunately in our politically correct state, profiling is a bad thing- so everybody including Grandma and Junior get the same treatment as Juggalo Thuggalo)

So if I'm a bad guy with evil intent...I can try to figure out how to smuggle a small, limited capacity firearm or other weapon passed security and into the park, OR I can wait until there are several hundred people conveniently detained in mass at the front gate (see post above "lines well into the parking lot") where I can drive by, in the convenience of my climate controlled "getaway" vehicle and kill hundreds with my AR15 and multiple loaded 100 round drum magazines - all without breaking a sweat. THANKS CEDAR POINT.

^ And that right there is what makes the least amount of sense about this "security" theatre business.

So, you concentrate a relatively large group of people into a relatively small space, put security way up at the front, and somehow there's no chance that someone will attack from behind if they really wanted to?

45Wheelgun said:
...in the convenience of my climate controlled "getaway" vehicle and kill hundreds with my AR15 and multiple loaded 100 round drum magazines - all without breaking a sweat. THANKS CEDAR POINT.

Save the ammo and just use your climate controlled vehicle. I'm sure you can get a pretty good chunk of the detained people with one or two good passes through the entrance plaza before everyone scatters.

If it is a response to gang activity hopefully it would remain sporadic and random.

Well, today they have the checkpoint set up at the Marina gate. They hired Tenable instead of using CPPD. I had to stand there and be wanded in front and then had to turn around to be wanded in the rear (no pun intended). Although the lady was very nice the entire experience was stupid and said "welcome to county jail". You can bet I will visit guest services over the weekend to put in a comment on this " security ".