^ I'm glad it's an honors system approach - that's a fair compromise.
In a wierd way, the NAACP Know Your Rights guide applies here:
https://action.naacp.org/page/-/Criminal Justice/Racial_Profiling_Know_Your_Rights_Supplement_6-12-12.pdf
You are on Cedar Point property at the end of the day, which means you need obey their rules regarding safety and proper behavior (no smoking, no trespassing, etc.), or they can kick you off of their property. However, with cell phones, they have no right to actually look into your pocket without a police officer who has justifiable cause. The Ohio Revised Code section Cedar Point quotes (here's the chapter in it's entirety, which gives most guidance to operation of amusement rides in Ohio:
http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1711) could be used as justifiable cause,
however; since carrying a cellphone onto Steel Vengeance would qualify as a misdemeanor, a police officer would need to be present, witnessing the misdemeanor in order to take action - an officer cannot take someone else's hearsay as proof for action for a misdemeanor offense. Therefore, a police officer would need to be immediately there seeing you carry a cellphone onto the ride in order to qualifiably escort you off the property or arrest you - otherwise, they need a warrant.
Yet, if we take a look around other rides at the park, there are similar warnings that are enforced to varying degrees (aka not): Maverick technically requires all riders remove earrings, yet is no often enforced:
Other warnings on needing a strap to secure glasses are also posted, but too are often not enforced. So, it gets pretty ambiguous on Cedar Point insisting on enforcing some warnings, but not others. ... And anyone looking for an excuse to sue an amusement park has been given a great test case.
In general, I've taken to not bringing my phone to lighten the load when going around the park, but whole heartedly disapprove of this rule as it:
- Feels very unjustified versus other, high g-force roller coasters. Steel Vengeance is not the only roller coaster losing cellphones!
- It puts mandatory cost burden on consumers. This is inequitable, creates a lot of disgruntled guests, and overall serves a counterproductive experience. If Cedar Point was truly concerned about safety as a top priority, they would make lockers free for Steel Vengeance.