Tony Scott's Vincent Thomas Bridge Suicide Inspires Barrier Legislation

By Dennis Romero Fri., Feb. 22 2013 at 9:03 AM

Categories: Law

CIndiK / Flickr

Citing Director Tony Scott's fatal dive off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro last summer, a California legislator is proposing that new and rebuilt state bridges contain "suicide barriers."

San Francisco state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano says it's too easy to jump off bridges like the Vincent Thomas:

He says if bridges are constructed or rebuilt using state or federal money they should be nearly suicide proof.

Ammiano:

When director Tony Scott jumped to his death from a bridge in Los Angeles last year, I was reminded that our long effort to retrofit the Golden Gate with suicide barriers is not enough. We need to make all bridges safe.

Tony Scott / IMDB

The lawmaker was a director for the Golden Gate Bridge District when it decided to retrofit the landmark with suicide barriers.

He wants the same for the state's other bridges.

According to a statement from Ammiano's office AB 755 "requires that builders take suicide prevention into consideration when planning a bridge."

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

suicide, Tom Ammiano, Tony Scott, Vincent Thomas Bridge

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briansays

Ammiano is a far left politician always looking for the new shiny cause--not content to ruin SF he has been busy in the state assembly looking for more causes and feel good nonsenses including renaming SFO for Harvey Milk--fortunately he will be termed out in a few years but I'm sure he will be looking for higher office

fredquarters

1 Like

A well-intentioned but dumb bill.

cachacachacha

1 Like

as someone who has been affected by suicide, i can say empirically that if someone has decided upon suicide, it is highly likely that they will find an effective method, regardless of what kinds of barricades you try to put in their place. it is highly unfortunate, but i have witnessed it. this may be a good-hearted effort, but it is misdirected. the effort needs to be concentrated on the individual's emotional and psychiatric needs instead. it would be money better-spent.

storygirlx

"We need to make all bridges safe." Funny: I do not recall the last time I balked at a bridge crossing because of the ghosts of jumpers past. F the bridges...get a meeting with Pziser and if they won't take it, send them the bill for this nonsense.