5:3-32. Definitions relative to carnival-amusement rides

2. As used in this act, except where a different meaning is clearly implied by the context:

a. "Carnival-amusement ride" or "ride" means any mechanical device or devices, including but not limited to water slides exceeding 15 feet in height, which carry or convey passengers along, around, or over a fixed or restricted route or course for the purpose of giving its passengers amusement, pleasure, thrills or excitement; and any passenger or gravity propelled ride when located in an amusement area or park in which there are other rides covered by P.L.1975, c. 105 (C. 5:3-31 et seq.); provided, however, that this shall not include locomotives weighing more than seven tons, operating on a track the length of which is one-half mile or greater, the gauge of which is three feet or greater, and the weight of which is at least 60 pounds per yard. Any facility exempted pursuant to this subsection shall be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation for the purpose of safety inspection.

b. "Owner" means a person who owns, leases, controls, or manages the operations of a carnival-amusement ride, including the State or any of its subdivisions.

c. "Ride operator" means any person or persons actually engaged in or directly controlling the operations of a carnival-amusement ride.

d. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

e. "Department" means the Department of Community Affairs.

f. "Advisory board" means the Advisory Board on Carnival-Amusement Ride Safety.

g. "Modification" means any material change to a load-bearing structural member, a mechanical, electrical or hydraulic drive or control feature, or a restraint or other protective feature. "Modify" means to make a modification, as defined in this subsection g.

h. "Amusement ride manufacturer" or "manufacturer" means a person who obtains type certification for a carnival-amusement ride and who has responsibility for the design and manufacture of any carnival-amusement ride to be used or installed in this State, or sold for use in the State, and includes any entity controlled by the manufacturer.

i. "New ride" means a ride of a type that has not previously been assigned a type certification by the department.

j. "Type certification" means a certification that is granted to a manufacturer by the department after review of a new ride application and that is applicable to all rides of essentially the same design and manufacture with regard to structural, mechanical, electrical, hydraulic drive and control features, and restraint and other protective features.

k. "Individual approval" means an approval that is granted to an owner or operator of an individual ride that is not type certified, which is granted by the department after review of a ride application and is applicable only to that individual ride.

l. "New Jersey serial number" means a unique identifying number assigned to each individual ride at the time that a permit is first issued for it, which remains with the ride so long as it exists in this State.

m. "Supplemental modification certification" means a certification that is granted to a person other than the manufacturer by the department after review of an application for modification.

n. "Safety bulletin" means a supplemental notification delivered by the manufacturer or the holder of a supplemental modification certification to the owner or operator that contains new information or new recommendations for inspections, testing, operation or training.

o. "Time tested" means a type of amusement ride which is found by the department to be simple in operation and impose insignificant forces on riders, or which is found by the department to have a long history of safe operation.

L.1975,c.105,s.2; amended 1979, c.2; 1983, c.274; 2001, c.166, s.1.