BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The 2015 Bridge Day Festival remains a go on the New River Gorge in Fayette County, but new security measures approved by event organizers may limit one of the main attractions.
BASE jumpers said they still plan to boycott the Oct. 17 event if they are required to undergo a fingerprint scan.
“Jumpers are very independent-minded people. They’re not going to want to be fingerprinted like a bunch of criminals,” said Jason Bell, the coordinator of BASE jumping activities for Bridge Day. “It’s bad enough the jumping community is treated badly to begin with by the state troopers constantly bullying us and yelling and threatening arrest.”
Bell admitted he has big issues with personal privacy and believed he would be the loudest voice against the idea of the fingerprint scans. He said his opposition has paled in comparison to other parachute jumpers.
Bridge Day Commission chair Sharon Cruikshank told MetroNews on Wednesday the new finger scan would be less intrusive and more convenient than previous security checks. She said it’s not truly fingerprinting but a scan that is only checking for the person’s name on a terror watch list or if he or she is wanted with a felony.
Bell vehemently disagreed and said the logistics of the new system will not be acceptable.
“Unfortunately, unless they change the rules, as far as I’m concerned, rest in peace Bridge Day. Last year was the last year for BASE jumping,” Bell said.
“We’ve seen jumpers creating ‘boycott Bridge Day’ Facebook pages and they’re already organizing another Bridge Day event out in Idaho,” he said. “I’m really shocked the BASE jumping community feels even more aggressively about it than I do.”
The Bridge Day Commission enacted new security measures in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001—the year the entire event was canceled. It returned in 2002 and jumpers had to submit their name and social security number for a background check. Bell said the community was OK with those measures since it was a one-time check. He said the new restrictions are a dealbreaker.
“What happens if a guy traveled all the way from France? We’ve got 10 countries represented. If he’s turned down, he just spent $1,500 and he can’t jump,” said Bell.
Bell said jumpers are planning a Bridge Day weekend in Twin Falls, Idaho, where jumping is legal from 486-foot span year-round.
“They love us out there. It’s a very welcoming place,” he said. “Just the opposite of what you see in Fayetteville.”