Daily Southtown wrote:The smoker claims she was evicted from Six Flags Great America in Gurnee for lighting up.
"I was smoking in an open area, not near any lines or other people, when all of a sudden a park employee came up to me and said I would have to leave," Teri Melendez said.
Melendez said she and a friend were then escorted out of the park by two men who told her smoking was only allowed in designated areas.
I don't want to comment on this particular story as we only have one side of it - but I will say this. If what the Teri said is true, then the park did over-react imho. If what she is saying is false, then the park did exactly what it should have done.
I don't know about others, but during my trips to the park, I never see security evict people from the park - which is what I always hope to see when I see people line jumping. I think that is because there is very low security presence inside the park (as it's mostly up at the front of the park) that it's rare to see security catching someone in the act. I can't think of the last time I've seen it happen, in fact.
So, for those who have been to the park this year more than I have, is security any better inside the park? Are they enforcing rules and actually - gasp - kicking people out for violating them? Or is security just as lax as it always has been and the story referenced above is just an isolated incident of someone getting kicked out of the park?
A lot of people complain to corporate about security being lax, expect to see a lot more people kicked out of the park.
There is plenty of signage at every ticket booth, park gates, Carousel Plaza, back of each park employee, front of each park employee. There is NO excuse to smoke outside of a designated area.
I cant believe the woman expects to get her money back. Learn to read (or comprehend no smoking logos). People like this deserve to die...
Last edited by BP317 on September 12th, 2007, 12:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
^ Not to mention park pages given every 30 minutes or so....
It's not a tough rule to follow, and it very easily could be no smoking anywhere, so people should be grateful they still have the option to smoke. I would say that this woman obviously did something to provoke the fact that she was ejected, like putting it out and then "re-lighting" as an employee walked away, or trying to fight/argue back since security isn't just going to kick the first person out that lights up in the middle of a midway. They may escort you to the nearest smoking section, but as I stated, I don't think they would automatically kick you out unless you acted in a manner to be kicked out.
I do think security is VERY lax inside the park and I have seen WAY TOO MANY people line skipping/smoking/being profane etc with no security around to take proper action.
But im GLAD this lady got thrown out, if she cant obey rules then she should suffer the consequences for her actions. Hopefully it has been done before and hasnt been reported or it is a start by the park to strictly enforce the rules.
Last edited by Bob O on September 14th, 2007, 11:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a smoker. Even before the designated smoking areas I followed the rules of not smoking in line. I have a hard time believing that the woman in the article couldn't find a smoking area. As for the lack of security I have to agree. I've seen more people in shirts and ties walking around than security. In my opinion the woman must have been warned before or copped an attitude with the employees. I was even thanked by two employees during the summer for smoking in the designated area by Triple Play.
I think the AE line should get more security. For some reason, everyday I go, a fight breaks out there. I was sorta between the two people fighting. The ops didn't do anything because it was "too late" even though they were getting off the ride and still screamin at eachother. Line jumping sparks many things...
Quote from the story:
Melendez told me she didn't recall seeing any such signs.
She must be blind. Every garbage can, every employee shirt.
Cryptkeeper wrote:
So, for those who have been to the park this year more than I have, is security any better inside the park? Are they enforcing rules and actually - gasp - kicking people out for violating them? Or is security just as lax as it always has been and the story referenced above is just an isolated incident of someone getting kicked out of the park?
This is exactly what happened to this lady. She probably was not offered a chance to move to a smoking area. I know for a fact there is a ZERO tolerance policy on smokers. If you are found smoking outside of a designated area, you will be gone from the park. No refund, no nothing. I think the PR lady should speak with the Park Ops Manager. There are 10 designated areas in the park. There is no reason to light up in a non-designated area. Good job Tim & Jerry!
Six Flags employees do not have to give any option, they may if they would like to. If you smoke outside designated areas, you get ejected from the park with no refund. If you tell person to put it down, after 10 minutes, he will do the same, and tell others he didn't know, and so on and so on. If u kicked them out they will remember, and make sure nobody from their group does it.
Six Flags Ameirca as the number 1 park at SFI.... this is JOKE!
Good, she deserves it. I'm not bothered by people that smoke in an open area, but i've been known to take cigarettes out of people's hands in line for rides and put them out on the ground. It's rude and, for people like me with really bad allergies to that stuff, it's disrespectful. Which is why the smoking areas were made and if this lady doesn't like it, tough smack, go somewhere else if you don't like the rules here...
RIP: Trailblazer and Deja Vu...heck, even Alien Encounter
^ Agreed. I got pissed of when some 20 guy started to smoke in line for Deja Vu, and I was taking a few of my friends. I wouldn't anything to him because i dont want his possy after me. My friend got a headach and stomache ache from the idiot, and didn't got on vu. I think it's good that they are kicked her out. She just wants money, although I don't see a lawsuit out of this, because of all the other Six Flags lawsuits filed. People like this seriously piss me off. (not smokers, but the ones that have to stand out.
SFGAM can put up flashing neon lights that say no smoking they can also hire people to personally follow you thoughout the park to remind you not to smoke every minute. But there will always be someone who does not know that there is a no smoking policy
Another smoker's input here lol. I do remember when you COULD walk around freely with a cigarette in the main Midway areas. It was nice for people like me and especially ME. But I could see how it wasn't cool for other people, especially the little ones that frequent the park. I'd still "try" to be corteous, only smoke when walking or in an area with not many people or no one at all. On days when lines for seemingly everything where 2 hours long I'd probably have one in the open air section(s) of the line, yeah hit me lol, but would never in the queue areas. I would even get kinda angry at the folks in the queues for it too. Well anyways flash forward to this year, my first since the NSP was enacted. I noticed the sign, got a lil shocked, but said eh well, whatever. I smoked in the designated areas, in fact the one by Crazy Buffalo in SWT was nice, I got a beer next door and relaxed a bit while the people in my group went on GD. It didn't ruin my day or experience. In fact kinda made it better I'm trying to cut down and things like this actually help me along my way.
Push down, then pull up. Exit to your left/right. And, enjoy the rest of your day at Six Flags! Your friendly enthusiast Kyle.
just got around to reading about this, so I thought I'd reply.
I'm glad this happened. I don't know how you can not notice that there's a new smoking policy. Like mentioned before, there are enough billboards (both walking, employees, and on trash cans and in park maps) that you should notice it. I've had several experiences in line with people smoking, and it really bothers me. I remember being there one time and a friend had some kind of allergy or something to the cigarette smoke, and a person blew it in her face when we asked if they could put it out. It was horrible. It's stuff like that that makes me glad there's a smoking rule at the park.
The main thing mentioned in the article is that, though it was not OFFICIAL park policy before to boot people who smoke outside the designated smoking areas in the park, it is NOW the official park policy to do just that, according to the person currently in charge of PR at the park.
Interesting development, if you asked me. Shapiro & Co. aren't backing down on being strict on their smoking policy, as can be seen from this "official" policy.
The only things that changed about this policy is...... they don't ask u anymore to put down cigarette, cause u r getitng ejected from the park. Before they could do it if people constantly did it, or some people were just picked. <- since that wasn't fair... now everyone will get ejected. I do believe the smoking areas should not be near restrooms, cause kids go there a lot. Also the policy about no smoking is very clear, not so much the designated smoking areas.
Six Flags Ameirca as the number 1 park at SFI.... this is JOKE!
That is good news. Definitely makes it more family friendly place to bring your kids. That is good PR for the park to promote that plain idea right there. Glad they finally decided to turn towards that, hopefully all the employees will enforce this policy.
Universal Orlando Mechanical Engineer Marathon down, Goofy to go.
I not sure if anyone notice but when they give you the map after you pay for parking, in the map there is an insert that’s Clearly States that there is a Zero Tolerance Policy. If you smoke or Cut it line it says that you will be ejected from the park without refund.
yay! I'm excited for this. I really haven't had problems with the smoking this year, since they've cracked down on it, but it's nice to know that they're planning on enforcing it better...
Carlo wrote:I not sure if anyone notice but when they give you the map after you pay for parking, in the map there is an insert that’s Clearly States that there is a Zero Tolerance Policy. If you smoke or Cut it line it says that you will be ejected from the park without refund.
Yep, all those signs say that on the Code of Conduct, and they have been around all year. Violate the Code of Conduct, and your out, which I think is a good thing.
I personally seen loud, obnoxious smoker being escorted out Saturday near Superman. While walking and swearing loudly, the guy shouted to the Superman line, which was extending out to Rue Le Morgue, "Don't smoke or they will kick you out!". I actually heard people clap, and one guy yelled "Good!". Clearly, the general public thinks this is good.
I have a theory as to why this happened but its just a guess. I think that this lady was actually an actress that the park hired to scare anyone who wants to smoke outside of the safe area's in the park. That's probably why it was in the news as this probably happens a lot at other parks. The park probably paid the newspaper to report the story. I am not trying to make a rumor or start a fight or anything, but that's my opinion on this.
I'm 
