5/19 Chaser Convergence

[John Farley]

Thought I'd chime in as we were a part of that traffic jam and that someone posted a video of the TIV with a colorful commentary.

I'll keep it short. The TIV passed slower moving vehicles with a broken yellow line as we were approaching a hill. As the TIV is in the lead of our convoy and has a good visual of what is ahead by me standing in the turret at times we are giving a "clear" signal to those behind us over our radio as a safety measure. We have had a meeting so that everyone on the team acts responsible and drives with respect for other drivers.

The only other issue I'd bring up, I don't know if it's been addressed, but while driving people should allow for ample gaps between vehicles.

While I appreciate your willingness to come on here and discuss it, what you did was still ILLEGAL - passing in a no-passing zone. And others not affiliated with your group saw you doing it and did the same thing. And they did not have a turret or spotters ahead. Not your doing, but you contributed to it by the example you set. It is very fortunate there was not a serious accident. Please obey the law in the future.

 

[Michael Nicolaou]

Thought I'd chime in as we were a part of that traffic jam and that someone posted a video of the TIV with a colorful commentary.

I'll keep it short. The TIV passed slower moving vehicles with a broken yellow line as we were approaching a hill. As the TIV is in the lead of our convoy and has a good visual of what is ahead by me standing in the turret at times we are giving a "clear" signal to those behind us over our radio as a safety measure. We have had a meeting so that everyone on the team acts responsible and drives with respect for other drivers.

The only other issue I'd bring up, I don't know if it's been addressed, but while driving people should allow for ample gaps between vehicles.

Sean,

While your response may in fact describe the clip posted by Steve Miller it in no way corresponds with this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQ_-ECVVag

This was obviously taken at a different time and different section of road, and with the multiple views we can all see no "broken yellow line".

I look forward to your response regarding this "event".

 

[rdale]

I had come across someone stating that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has became aware of all the videos posted yesterday and will be coming down hard on the TIV and Discovery Channel crew.

No. They can talk to them, but they cannot enforce anything after the fact based on public video. Let alone without video of the drivers.

For example - if you live in an area with red-light cameras, you know they have signs on every intersection with the camera. They have to advertise that your actions are being recorded, and when they review the pictures if they can't ID a driver then you're off the hook too.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

No. They can talk to them, but they cannot enforce anything after the fact based on public video. Let alone without video of the drivers.

For example - if you live in an area with red-light cameras, you know they have signs on every intersection with the camera. They have to advertise that your actions are being recorded, and when they review the pictures if they can't ID a driver then you're off the hook too.

That was along the lines of what I was thinking, without having proof of who was in those vehicles and who was driving, it would be hard to hold any specific person responsible. But I do think if this is true and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has seen the videos as someone said, the most they could probably do is have a stern talking with them.

 

[Jon Faubion]

Sean,

While your response may in fact describe the clip posted by Steve Miller it in no way corresponds with this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQQ_-ECVVag

This was obviously taken at a different time and different section of road, and with the multiple views we can all see no "broken yellow line".

I look forward to your response regarding this "event".

 

[John Dissauer]

That was along the lines of what I was thinking, without having proof of who was in those vehicles and who was driving, it would be hard to hold any specific person responsible. But I do think if this is true and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has seen the videos as someone said, the most they could probably do is have a stern talking with them.

OHP could also make their travels a little more difficult the rest of the season.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

I would be satisfied with an admission of guilt - not excuses - from the TIV and a promise to do a better job of driving when chasing.

The other fellow ('Mike Weiss'?) - that ran the blue/red lights & siren - owned up to his mistake and promised not to do it again.
Fair enough!

 

[Doug Ott]

TWC and V2 complains bout convergences, but yet I just heard them say "If you are one of the 100 storm chasers out there we will tell you where to go to get up close and pers" then commercial break. Guessing that was not part of script and commercial break came little too late. I guess with out any convergences there would be no drama of convergences associated with the V2 team. Storm chasers at fault, or TWC at fault? Where is Sherlock when we need him?

 

[Doug Ott]

Sorry bout that last quote. Betty Davis actually said "If you are one of the 100 storm chasers out there, we'll show where the best chances are to get up close and personal" then commercial break.

 

[rdale]

OHP could also make their travels a little more difficult the rest of the season.

If they don't break any laws, how could OHP do that?

 

[Tim Vasquez]

We have deleted a couple of posts about the passing incident as they were too close to the "ad hominem" fence. Heated one-on-one exchanges need to be done via PM or e-mail. You have every right to contact the other party privately if you want to really get into it with them. However we're not going to tolerate community drama and an emerging flame war on our boards.

That's not to say we're disallowing discussion about incidents like these or ignoring the seriousness of the topic. However people need to pay closer attention to what they're posting. Rob Wadsworth's post above is an example of the same sort of commentary but is civil and respectful while still getting the point across.

Tim

 

[Jay McCoy]

Tim I guess I am confussed. you yourself posted that if we see anybody active dangerous you would help find who they are and call them out on ST. Now we have video proof of such actios by the TIV/ Discovery group and after we call them on it Sean comes back and tries to justify his illegal actions and even blames others for not leaving enough space between vehicles (so they can sqeeze in I took) and when we call him out again and confront his excuses our posts are deleted. How are we to call out these lawbreakers if our posts are deleted if it seems too personal? It is personal. We arent talking about a whole group but just certain individuals. We called him out and he refused to take responsibility so we call him out more and now we are put on a leash.

I have been a member here for many years and have tried to behave and give respect (have had a few posts deleted in B&G about politics ofcourse) but when something can effect chasing in general and makes us all look bad in the media/public I think we have to address this in the strongest possible terms or else we will all pay for it. I refuse to allow a couple of wreckless media hounds ruin it for me and everybody else. Obviously he will ignore PM's since even after all the posts he still doesnt get it. best way is to contact his sponsors (which many of us have) and let them know how is acting so it will effect his bottom line and he will think twice before doing it again. ST will play an important role in helping to curb future acts like this.

If something in our post becomes too personal or seems to be an attack then have a mod contact us and have us edit it to remove that part but dont delete the whole post. Why use a hatchet to remove a wart when a scalpel will do?

 

[Jason Foster]

Wow...I too am surprised that a comment like maybe time to find a new hobby was considered an attack. Post deleted..no infraction, so no complaints by me...but I guess I'm reading Chinese on what is and isn't allowed.

I'll repost what I was saying, just in general to everyone which I believe is allow since it doesn't single any particular member:

If someone feels the need to justify what they are doing, and feels more frustration than enjoyment chasing storms, especially to the point where they conduct themselves in a certain manner ALL DAY LONG rather than just a few moments in time, then perhaps storm chasing isn't for them.

 

[Terry Kern]

Side note:

Hey Terry.....two hands on the wheel...LOL...J/K buddy. I'm sure the pic was just before you realized that tin can was passing you the way it did.

I should've knocked him off the road when I had the chance. With 315,000 miles under it's wing, my truck's a tough little SOB.

 

[MatthewCarman]

Sean I thank you for coming in here and discussing your actions on Wensday.

I don't see how you can see over a big hill from inside your turret. From the video I saw I doubt you could see over the hill. The other side of the hill is low and there is no way you could have seen if a car was coming up the hill.

People would not need to leave gaps in between vehicles if everyone stayed in the lane their supposed to be in. If I was in a line of hundreds of cars I would assume passing is not an option. I don't even pass when there is only THREE cars in front of me. Why? Because it is not safe and I don't want to cause an accident. What you did was unsafe and wrong. This is not the first time you have driven in the oncoming lane. (I saw it on storm chasers) You should apologize to everyone here for what you did. If you don't I will lose a lot of respect for you and I will not be the only one.

We have to set an example to everyone around us. If you drive in the oncoming lane you are only encouraging other people to do the same thing.