Operation of ride to cease, when — notification of serious incident to fire marshal — inspection, costs

The operator of an amusement ride shall immediately cease to operate any ride upon which a fatality, serious physical injury or serious incident has occurred. The owner of such amusement ride shall immediately notify the office of the state fire marshal of such accident. The cessation shall remain in force until the department has performed an inspection of any such amusement ride or equipment and has determined that the ride or related equipment is safe for public use. The department shall cause such inspection to be initiated within twenty-four hours of receipt of the report of a fatality, serious physical injury or serious incident caused by the operation of an amusement ride and shall perform the inspection in a manner that proceeds with all practicable speed and minimizes the disruption of the amusement facility at which the amusement ride is located, as well as unrelated commercial activities. Such inspection shall be performed by a qualified inspector employed by the department either directly or through contract. The cost of any such inspection shall be paid for by the owner of the amusement ride. Such inspections may be completed immediately following the reasonable determination by the qualified inspector or by the director's designee 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.