Jason Boggs
Maybe you and Sean should go fishing...right now, you're in the same boat he is....you guys just don't get it!
5/19 Chaser Convergence
- Thread starter James Hilger
- Start date
Maybe you and Sean should go fishing...right now, you're in the same boat he is....you guys just don't get it!
Jason Boggs
He's just an immature kid that knows no better! I really think he was serious with that post. I really hope not, but if he was, it sure is unfortunate.
Brandon Goforth
Joey Ketcham
Oh ok, so basically what you're saying is that reckless driving isn't a problem and isn't something we should worry about until an innocent family is killed? That makes no lick of sense dude. I really do not understand this mentality. I will say that luck was in their favor on May 19th and nobody was killed, but what about next time? Maybe they won't be so lucky. Why not be proactive and try to prevent that? Why are you and so many others against that? Would you rather see an innocent family killed before we should be concerned about reckless driving like that?
I have probably been more vocal about this and the TIV's recklessness than anyone else, and I am generally the one who stays quiet in the corner while drama like this unfolds. But in this case, this isn't about storm chasers anymore, this is about all the innocent lives out on the same roads as us who are now in danger because of certain people's recklessness.
I don't care about what people think of storm chasers, if they want to hate us then hate us. That won't stop me from chasing. If a storm chaser wants to drive into a tornado, then go for it dude. I won't be the one to tell you that it's wrong to do. I don't care. But when we put innocent lives in danger because of our irresponsible actions, I have a huge problem with that and I would rather be proactive and deal with it now before an innocent family is killed.
Since yesterday I've seen many comments made on facebook by people who say "nobody was killed, move on". In reading those, I am reminded of an incident that occurred in the town I live in back in the 1990's. A girl that lived down the road from me was being harassed, stalked and was receiving death threats from a guy. This was a girl I saw on a daily basis walking by and talked to on occasions. When she began to receive death threats she called the police department who basically said to her, "we can't help you, the guy hasn't killed you yet". Perhaps not in those exact words, but they might as well have. This girl was found decapitated in her apartment and the very same guy she reported to the police is now serving a life sentence. A senseless murder that could have been prevented if the police acted on the reports she made, if the police would have been proactive rather than brushing it because "she hadn't been killed yet".
Needless to say, policies changed rather quickly within the police department after this in regards to how they handled death threat reports. Point being, why should we have to wait until someone is killed before we should worry about this? The recklessness is occurring, and someone will be killed if not stopped. Being proactive can save lives, why wait until someone is killed? We need to prevent that from happening, and if we continue to allow this type of behavior to occur then mark my words, someone will die. Now I don't know about you, but that's not something I want to see happen.
Saying "nobody died, move on" is a very weak argument. You are correct, on May 19th nobody died as a result of the TIV's recklessness, but what about next time? Maybe then they won't be so lucky and end up slamming head on into an innocent family killing them all.
None of this has anything to do about storm chasers or the public's view of storm chasers, it's about innocent lives being put in danger cause of certain people's recklessness. When innocent lives are put in danger, that pisses me off. It's not about us, it's about the innocent family with a car full of kids driving down those same highways as us. I don't want to see them dead because of people like Sean Casey who is out driving recklessly to get some stupid shot of a storm. No shot is worth putting others in danger.
I will also add that a friend of mine who is a police chief was telling me just recently how a friend of his almost got into an accident with the TIV as a result of them driving recklessly. If you defend this type of recklessness, than I'm sorry, you're just as stupid as the person who is driving recklessly putting innocent lives in danger.
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Jason Young
EF2
Today the Murray county Sheriff pulled me to the side at the gas station and gave me hell about a Blue Chevy " with Ant. and Toy's " . That was pulled over between Davis and I-35 on Hwy 7 Wednsday night doing 100 mph in 60 zone ! He would not give the guy's name , but the guy called his self a chaser . I am a chaser , plus a member of the county EOC. So to that Blue Chevy .........Thank's.
Chris Allington
EF4
I haven't said its not a problem... I'm asking what sitting here and writing 19 pages of garbage and rehashing the same scenario 19,000 times does about the problem? Maybe it will come to a point where someone is killed... obviously no one wants that to happen. That being said, it could also be exactly what needs to happen for the point to be made, either that or some kind of harsh reaction from law enforcement that will discourage this kind of reckless behavior in the future. You ask why we wouldn't want to prevent this from happening... but what are you doing to prevent it besides bitching and moaning on a public forum? Turn over the video to the law enforcement authorities and move on. Let the people who want to display a reckless abandon for other lives pay the consequences and worry about your own driving in chaser convergences.
I agree that we shouldn't let what others think about storm chasing, or what others motives or methodologies might be play into our thoughts as individuals, but if you really feel that way then why are we here arguing about things that aren't going to change simply because this discussion was had on a small forum dedicated to a hobby.
As for the text message analogy, traffic laws and death threats are 2 very different animals...
I am not defending what the TIV and Discovery crews did, it was plenty stupid and ignorant of possible consequences, that being said its not like your going to stop what people do during a passionate moment while out there chasing (even more so for Discovery given money is on the line) by sitting here and going on for 20 pages.
Joey Ketcham
I fail to believe that none of this is going to make a difference. Just today I heard that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has became very aware of these videos and this situation and it has now become a hot topic within the agency. Then I came across two different news stories tonight about reckless chasers, one of the stories which you have an OHP official talking about cracking down on storm chasers and the other showing the video of the TIV driving recklessly. Then to add to that, you have TWC doing stories about reckless storm chasers.
Discussing this is a part of being proactive, if we brush this under the rug then what does that solve? Putting this out into public has a potential of seeing significant results in cutting down on this recklessness. If you disagree and think this thread is pointless, move on. Nobody is forcing you read this thread which you find to be pointless, yet you contribute to. That in itself doesn't make sense to me, but whatever. If you don't like this thread, then move on to the next. Nobody is twisting your arm making you read the discussions here.
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Chris Allington
EF4
The video has made a difference... not much thats been said on this forum has. Putting this into the public (which was done by displaying the video) won't be done by playing the blame game on a small forum. As I said, I don't find this pointless and I stated in an earlier post that many feel that the chaser community should be self policed. I just fail to see how some simple name calling is going to change any behaviors.
Aaron Estman
I wonder how they're going to force that... There is no law against storm chasing... they cannot just pull you over because they feel like it...
"Honigsberg said citizens who are interested in being a storm spotter should contact him and set up appointments to learn the ropes. He said it isn’t enough to attend a one-day training session and call yourself a pro."
Because I'm sure this guy is a meteorologist and has the equipment to teach people to become spotters. So what he's suggesting is forget about going to the National Weather Service for their Spotter class that is taught by Meteorologists, and come to his office and 'learn the ropes'. Is this a joke?
"Apparently the thrill-seekers are not just local residents. Lee said he saw license plates from Florida, Connecticut and Alberta, Canada, as he tracked a storm Wednesday"
^ Awesome..... -_-
"“It’s a mess,” he said. “There are way too many cars out there for all of them to be ‘official’ storm chasers"
So what qualifies someone as an 'official storm chaser'? They have to chase for a television network? That they have the NWS Spotter Training? Or do we need to make new decals that say "OMG OFFICIAL STORM CHASER LOL".... I mean seriously....
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Mike Peregrine
EF5
Just my thoughts on this subject (FWIW).
Michael King
No problem with mass chaser convergence in Australia. Of course we don't get the storms you do. If two chasers encounter each other in Australia, their meeting almost takes on the level of significance of Stanley meeting Dr Livingstone in the African jungle. I do however know the odd Australian chaser who drives like they are trying out for the grand prix circuit.
Michael Boyd
It is interesting you mentioned that Chris because I received a phone call from a State Legislature last evening asking to speak to me specifically about the incidents and what I knew about them. I believe the 'tone' you speak of is there and the legislation now is starting.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
The media is also on to this.
I received a phone call yesterday from a cable news company and received an email this morning from an Oklahoma City newspaper. As usual, I declined both since I generally no longer grant interviews.
It's likely going to be easy to draft up a State law forbidding anyone from loitering (stalking) near severe weather. The video footage alone would persuade many representatives. Passing the law and enforcing it would be difficult and legally problematic. There would have to be exemptions for storm spotters, volunteer fire / rescue, media and researchers. Of course, if someone is unlucky enough to be charged, it would be a pain. Proving that someone was indeed "stalking" a storm might be difficult in court. (Unless you have light bars...lol). Someone could always claim they were "waiting on the side of the road for the storm to pass," etc. What I see happening are blitzkriegs of LEO blocking roads and enforcing existing traffic laws like reckless driving, criminal speeding, parking / blocking traffic, etc. I could also see drivers licenses suspended from video evidence. (Driving is a privilege and not a right). For the moment, this would just involve Oklahoma... unless it spreads.
The biggest problem will be the lack of respect and heightened attention towards chasers from LEO's, making it more difficult for everyone. I fear the poop we have been fearing for years has finally hit the fan.
W.
I received a phone call yesterday from a cable news company and received an email this morning from an Oklahoma City newspaper. As usual, I declined both since I generally no longer grant interviews.
It's likely going to be easy to draft up a State law forbidding anyone from loitering (stalking) near severe weather. The video footage alone would persuade many representatives. Passing the law and enforcing it would be difficult and legally problematic. There would have to be exemptions for storm spotters, volunteer fire / rescue, media and researchers. Of course, if someone is unlucky enough to be charged, it would be a pain. Proving that someone was indeed "stalking" a storm might be difficult in court. (Unless you have light bars...lol). Someone could always claim they were "waiting on the side of the road for the storm to pass," etc. What I see happening are blitzkriegs of LEO blocking roads and enforcing existing traffic laws like reckless driving, criminal speeding, parking / blocking traffic, etc. I could also see drivers licenses suspended from video evidence. (Driving is a privilege and not a right). For the moment, this would just involve Oklahoma... unless it spreads.
The biggest problem will be the lack of respect and heightened attention towards chasers from LEO's, making it more difficult for everyone. I fear the poop we have been fearing for years has finally hit the fan.
W.
Andrew Stoller
EF5
Sure they can! Law enforcement will pull you over and harass you if they darn well see fit. Is it illegal if they have absolutely no reason to? Possibly. Will that stop them? Hell no it won't.
I'm sure there are laws on the books in all states about not hindering emergency responders etc.
I doubt the OHP has the manpower to pull over and question everyone that is chasing, but they can surely close roads to through traffic and make your chase day a nightmare. I'm guessing they'll focus more on out of state plates as well, especially on cars that are obviously chasers (laptop, antennas etc.). It sucks, but it is what it is.
Andrew Stoller
EF5
Sheesh, I can't believe that chasing has come to the day when it might be illegal to loiter around a thunderstorm! The founding fathers are rolling in their graves...
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