State lawmakers say they plan to hold hearings to look into Pennsylvania's method of inspecting amusement park, carnival and fair rides — a system that usually relies on inspectors employed by or hired by ride operators.
Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Lawrence County, told The (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat that House and Senate agriculture committees may hold a joint session or may convene separately.
But he said lawmakers in both chambers want answers from the Department of Agriculture, which has just four inspectors to monitor the approximately 9,300 rides in operation in the commonwealth.
Walt Remmert, director of the bureau of ride inspections, acknowledges that inspectors have hundreds of operators to keep track of, but he says they quickly learn which police themselves and which need careful scrutiny.
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