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Bridge Day Commission OKs finger scans despite concerns from jumpers

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The commission that oversees the popular Bridge Day Festival at the New River Gorge Bridge says newly required finger scans for participants will be less intrusive than previous background checks.

The Bridge Day Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to require scans for all jumpers and vendors taking part in this year’s festival, slated for October. A controversy erupted last year when information first surfaced about fingerprint scans.

“I think there was a lot of misconceptions that it was fingerprinting and there was ink and all that goes with fingerprinting, but it’s not,” said commission chairperson Sharon Cruikshank. “It’s just a finger scan.”

Festival officials said the scan will only reveal if a participant is on a terror watch list or wanted for a felony. Cruikshank said it’s actually a lower-level background check than they do now.

“It’s less intrusive. We are not retaining any information. We’re not asking for your Social Security numbers any longer,” she said.

Some base jumpers are still threatening to take their parachutes elsewhere. Commission members for the Fayette County event are planning informational meetings with jumpers in hopes of getting out the correct information.

“I know sometimes change is difficult, but I also look at it as an opportunity. We want to have the best and safest event that we can have,” Cruikshank said. “If you’re not in the system you don’t have anything to worry about. No bells or whistles will go off.”





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