Professional BASE Jumper Arrested For Rope Swing In California

You don’t usually think of rope swings as an illegal activity, but it can have some interesting consequences depending on where you are. Filmmaker and professional athlete Nick Coulter shared a short documentary surrounding a rope swing in a California state park. The incident wound up getting professional BASE jumper Chase Reinford arrested.

According to the video, Chase is facing four charges in the California court system: obstructing justice, disturbing plant vegetation, event without a permite, and “dangerous games.” Dangerous games refers to Cal. Code Regs. 4319, “Games and Recreational Activities.” According to the regulation, engaging “in games or recreational activities that endanger the safety of persons, property, resources, or interfere with visitor activities except as permitted by the Department” is prohibited.

There are other laws that could theoretically prohibit cliff jumping and rope swings in California state parks. For example, CCR 4656 prohibits diving in any unit of the State Park System. In this context, “dive means to plunge from any height, especially, but not limited to, head first into water.”

Whether or not Chase broke the law isn’t what Nick questions through the video. Instead he’s questioning whether or not the laws are fair, especially if they planned to take down the rope swing immediately after use.

• Categories:  
• California
• Cliff Jumping