disorderlyvision
05-30-2009, 02:07 PM
http://www.rrstar.com/homepage/x702316677/Shoe-legislation-aims-to-spare-bowling-alleys
SPRINGFIELD — State lawmakers are busy handling the most pressing issues on their scheduled final few days of work. A new state budget. Ethics reform.
Bowling shoe safety? Yes, indeed.
The Senate voted 51-4 today for Senate Bill 1335, which tries to protect bowling alley owners from some lawsuits.
The measure would push alley owners to clearly place signs near entrances and exits warning that bowling shoes are “specialized footwear” meant only to be worn inside the alley. Users are cautioned that they could slip or stumble if they wear the shoes outside in rain, snow or other debris and then come back in.
Owners who post the signs then would be shielded from lawsuits if people ignore the signs and injure themselves while wearing bowling shoes outside and then back in.
Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said it’s a long overdue message to send to bowlers.
“Don’t hold us liable when you come back in and fall,” Trotter said.
Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, questioned whether lawsuits could still be filed by people who wear the shoes only inside and slip on an alley while bowling.
“Some people crack their tail bone, they injure their back,” Righter said.
Trotter said those lawsuits still would be possible. He also denied Righter’s playful suggestion that he was trying to get bowlers to wear helmets while playing, as senators heartily voted down mandatory helmets for motorcycle riders that Trotter proposed earlier this year.
The measure already has cleared the House so now it heads to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.
SPRINGFIELD — State lawmakers are busy handling the most pressing issues on their scheduled final few days of work. A new state budget. Ethics reform.
Bowling shoe safety? Yes, indeed.
The Senate voted 51-4 today for Senate Bill 1335, which tries to protect bowling alley owners from some lawsuits.
The measure would push alley owners to clearly place signs near entrances and exits warning that bowling shoes are “specialized footwear” meant only to be worn inside the alley. Users are cautioned that they could slip or stumble if they wear the shoes outside in rain, snow or other debris and then come back in.
Owners who post the signs then would be shielded from lawsuits if people ignore the signs and injure themselves while wearing bowling shoes outside and then back in.
Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said it’s a long overdue message to send to bowlers.
“Don’t hold us liable when you come back in and fall,” Trotter said.
Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, questioned whether lawsuits could still be filed by people who wear the shoes only inside and slip on an alley while bowling.
“Some people crack their tail bone, they injure their back,” Righter said.
Trotter said those lawsuits still would be possible. He also denied Righter’s playful suggestion that he was trying to get bowlers to wear helmets while playing, as senators heartily voted down mandatory helmets for motorcycle riders that Trotter proposed earlier this year.
The measure already has cleared the House so now it heads to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.