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1996 SESSION

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962254136
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 87 Offered January 19, 1996 Requesting the Board of Housing and Community Development to study spectator safety at certain racing competitions. ---------- Patrons-- Brickley and Abbitt; Senator: Houck ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, on May 6, 1995, three people were killed and six others injured when an off-the-road racing vehicle, participating in a race at the Bodatious Motor Sports Park in Cumberland County; and

WHEREAS, the physical condition of the race track, the construction of and modifications to the participating vehicles, the proximity of the spectators to the race track, and the construction and location of barriers separating the spectators from the race track all combined to produce tragic results; and

WHEREAS, it is highly desirable that the appropriate steps be promptly taken to ensure the safety of spectators at similar events in the future; and

WHEREAS, while no single agency of state government is charged with unified and comprehensive responsibility for the safety and protection of spectators at racing competitions or similar spectator sporting events, the Board of Housing and Community Development, through § 36-98.3 of the Code of Virginia, is involved with amusement park safety through its power and duty to promulgate regulations relating to safety of amusement rides, the Board of Housing and Community Development is also responsible, through its responsibilities relating to the Uniform Statewide Building Code, for safety of many structures other than enclosed buildings, and the Department of Motor Vehicles Board of Transportation Safety and Crash Investigation Team have responsibilities and expertise that may productively be brought to bear on spectator safety at racing competitions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Board of Housing and Community Development conduct a study of spectator safety at racing competitions generally, with particular focus on events involving "monster cars" and "mud dragsters." The Board shall consider whether some form of regulation of these events and the facilities where these events are held is in the interest of reducing the risk of injury to spectators. The Department of Motor Vehicles Board of Transportation Safety and Crash Investigation Team and such other agencies as may have experience or expertise relevant to this study shall assist the Board in conducting this study upon the Board's request.

The Board shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.