Cliff jumping now illegal at Smith Mountain Lake
Alternative content
Cliff jumping now illegal at Smith Mountain Lake...
The land owners say they're concerned about safety, which could be a liability. They also explain the company will develop that land in the future.A popular summer pastime is now being banned at Smith Mountain Lake. Even if you’ve never done it, you’ve probably heard about the cliff-jumping at the lake in Franklin County.
It’s been an attraction for years, and when Ten On Your Side was there Friday afternoon, there were about a dozen jumpers.
John Merritt is the project manager with Optima Properties, the company that owns the land. It’s where The Coves are, a subdivision in Union Hall.
“One person that gets hurt is one too many,” he said.
Conservation officers say there have been minor injuries with the cliff-jumpers over the years.
Workers hammered in a new private property sign, which had Merritt telling the jumpers they were trespassing. If they’re caught, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says it will be a class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, the maximum penalty is a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
There are three cliffs where swimmers can jump. From lowest to tallest, they range from 15 to 45 feet high.
Merritt has used “no trespassing” signs in the past, but he said they just got torn down. Now, it’s officially posted and law enforcement can get stricter.
“It can be a liability, absolutely,” Merritt said.
Jumpers saw the signs, but they came anyway and don’t want to see the cliffs banned.
“Whenever I have friends come out here, that have never been to the lake and never been to the cliffs, I always bring them out here,” said one teen.
While safety is a big concern, Merritt also explained Optima Properties will develop that piece of land in the future.
“Well, to me the most important part of the cliffs is the beauty of it. After Smith Mountain, this is the most significant natural landmark on the lake,” Merritt said.
The jumpers slowly left throughout the day and we saw one last jump before we left. Although there could possibly be more jumpers in the future, they will be illegal.
Reader Reactions
Time to find some new cliffs. It’s a big lake, and we will rise again to new peaks!There are definite possibilities on the Roanoke.
Bubbatech,
You missed my point entirely! Nobody pushes these people off the cliff, if they hurt themselves then that’s the price.
Perhaps lawyers are the blame for sueing for stupid things people do.
If federal, and local govenrments take it upon themselves to guard the people for their own stupidity, then where will it end. You can’t fix STUPID. Any and all unfortunate situations that we put ourselves in should be banned.
And where else am I supposed to jump when my significant other tells me to ‘go jump off a cliff’.
We as a people, have gotten by for thousands of years without so many laws, kinda weeds out those that have some sense.
Lawyers and politicians shouldn’t regulate that, it’s just evolution that keeps the the smart people alive.
It is Sad, that posters like johnava think this is a “New” law.
This is a Very old law, criminal trespassing is a very old law, and allowing people to do dangerous things that can cause permanent injury or death without proper liability is a small step to bankruptcy.
I wonder if people understand what dangers they put themselves in these days?
People complain about not being able to jump off a cliff, but if they were to be paralyzed, would be the first to sue the property owners for money. We can’t have it both ways.
As far as the freedom, you are free to break the law, and get a fine, if you are caught, just don’t count on the ability to sue for messing yourself up now.
When is the isanity of creating stupid laws going to end! Smith Mountain Lake is hardly anything but fun anymore just a tourist trap as is. If someone wants to jump in the water off a cliff that should be left up to them. Our freedoms are being eroded on stupid law at a time. When is soceity going to wake up and let Americans be free to enjoy life without governments deciding what, we can and can’t do. I grew up in an era of if you do something and get hurt you did it to yourself so get over it. How many people have been hurt jumping off cliffs at SML versus driving a car or boat. Lets ban those activities first!
Advertisement