Pierce County moving toward ban on Lake Tapps bridge jumps

Jumping from bridges into lakes and rivers is pretty common around the Puget Sound area, but Pierce County is moving to restrict what some consider a risky activity.

Two years ago, a 20-year-old man apparently drowned after his jump from the Sumner-Tapps Highway bridge at the north end of Lake Tapps. Now, the Pierce County Council is considering an ordinance to ban the jumps from two bridges over the lake east of Sumner.

Besides the danger to jumpers, County Councilman Dan Roach says parked cars along the roadways near the bridges is an added hazard.

The News Tribune reports a county council committee unanimously approved the ban last week.

Jumping from bridges is already against the law in seven other places in unincorporated Pierce County.