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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- State Rep. Mike Morley is considering legislation making that ski operators have authority to stop drinking on the hills and prohibit open containers on the lifts.
"This is a shot across the bow" to warn ski resorts to get a handle on the problem before more serious action is taken, the Spanish Fork Republican said.
Dangerous and reckless skiers or snowboarders can already have their ski passes confiscated by ski-patrol members or operators.
Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah, said all Utah resorts operate under the American National Standard for Safety guidelines, which calls for operators to deny anyone access to a lift if they feel they are a danger to their guests.
Morley said a constituent complained that he had ridden on a ski lift last winter next to a man who was drunk and drinking from an open container. The constituent complained to the hill operator and the manager of the resort.
"He told him that he couldn't do anything about an open container on the lift, that he didn't have any authority to handle that," said Morley. "We believe he does. But if resort operators won't act responsibly, if he won't do it, then the state will."
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Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
