The fines for ducking ropes at ski resorts, leaving the scene of a collision, and skiing or snowboarding while intoxicated would more than triple under legislation unanimously endorsed by a House committee Tuesday.
Rep. Gary Lindstrom, a Breckenridge Democrat who is also running for governor, sponsored the bill that would raise the fines for violations of the Colorado Ski Safety Act from $300 to $1,000.
Already this season, resorts, law enforcement and search-and-rescue teams have had to conduct several searches for skiers and ‘boarders who got lost after leaving the boundaries of resorts, Lindstrom said.
Though Lindstrom initially said the increased fines “should create an additional deterrant for folks who are skiing out of bounds,” he later said they would not have that kind of effect.
If criminal penalties prevented crime, “we wouldn’t have any murders,” he said.
“They don’t lift the rope and ski under it thinking it’s going to cost them $300 or $1,000,” he said. “They just do it and hope they don’t get caught.”
But Summit County Under sheriff Derek Woodman said that higher fines may help prevent some violations. Summit County sees between 40 and 80 violations a year, he said.
“If it deters one person and we don’t have to put our rescue groups in harmful situations, then we feel that would be successful,” he said.
Ski-resort operators in the state also support Lindstrom’s proposal, said Chuck Tolton, director of mountain operations for Keystone Resort in Summit County. He testified for the bill on behalf of the industry group Colorado Ski Country USA.
The bill is not as popular with some skiers and ‘boarders.
“Well, he doesn’t have my vote,” said Annie Ray, a cashier at the bakery Baked in Telluride.
But Thad Eldredge, owner of the Carvers ski and snowboard shop in Breckenridge, said he supported the idea of deterring dangerous behavior on the slopes.
“I guess I’m for it,” he said. “I definitely read about people getting killed, and I wonder a lot of times if those people really aren’t as aware as they should be about going into certain terrain that’s closed.”
Staff writer Jim Hughes can be reached at 303-820-1244 or jhughes@denverpost.com.
