Chaser for a day

[J. Kyle Brown]

I used to be a Local "hanger-on" when I was first introduced to spotting way back when. I think my biggest difference is that I wanted to learn, and I did ask questions. Only on one occasion was I asked to leave an area, and that was more than likely due to me being an obnoxious teenager back then. (I got better.) I had been out a few times during the last season, and most of the time when I came across locals, it was in a parking lot or gas station. They would politely ask me a few questions, and then be on their way. I do have SKYWARN Magnets for my chase vehicle, and that has prompted a few conversations with locals and law enforcement, but I've never used them for or expected them to let me break the law/get away with anything. And finally, remember anyone can by these things to stick all over their cars, and they'll give just about any idiot a credit card nowadays (including me.)

 

[Karen St John]

I used to be a Local "hanger-on" when I was first introduced to spotting way back when. I think my biggest difference is that I wanted to learn, and I did ask questions. Only on one occasion was I asked to leave an area, and that was more than likely due to me being an obnoxious teenager back then. (I got better.) I had been out a few times during the last season, and most of the time when I came across locals, it was in a parking lot or gas station. They would politely ask me a few questions, and then be on their way. I do have SKYWARN Magnets for my chase vehicle, and that has prompted a few conversations with locals and law enforcement, but I've never used them for or expected them to let me break the law/get away with anything. And finally, remember anyone can by these things to stick all over their cars, and they'll give just about any idiot a credit card nowadays (including me.)

You know what has gotten me out of tickets? Being a girl. I'm not suggesting anything, but if it is really important to you to not get tickets...

 

[jcooper]

well,to put in my two cents worth here,I have wondered the same thing for a long time about some kind of license or I.D. not only for the road but so we can i.d. people who say they are chasers but are not(e.g. Meg Gould)but thats a diff. subject all together.lol.

But as much as we think we should have chaser i.d.'s it could never be done.There are too many,and what would be the criteria?I think this is a thing that the responsable chasers will have to put up with.I mean there are people in every sport/hobby that act stupid,you just have to forget about it and move on,keep doing what you love to do!I also think that the chaser community is tight knit enough that if someone is really acting really irresponsable then other chasers will let them know that don't approve either through ST or FB.

 

[Tim Shriver]

But the long-accepted basic difference between chasing and spotting is movement.

Hmm,,not for me..

Chaser - Sells video/images to media points. Travels
out of state/cross country.

Spotter - Does not sell storm images to media points.
Travels in a smaller area, county or portion of state.

We have mobile spotters and static spotters. Always have.

Tim

 

[Jason Foster]

Chaser - Sells video/images to media points. Travels
out of state/cross country.

Spotter - Does not sell storm images to media points.
Travels in a smaller area, county or portion of state.
Tim

Associating chasing with money making is not accurate. While some do it, it's still a minority.

Shane is right...the difference is movement. Not the minute you start moving...but....well this is all been discussed in a different thread.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Associating chasing with money making is not accurate. While some do it, it's still a minority.

Shane is right...the difference is movement. Not the minute you start moving...but....well this is all been discussed in a different thread.

Sorry, it might be different from place to place but the NWS has it like this:

Q. What is the difference between a storm spotter and a storm chaser?

A. A storm spotter is volunteer or paid county or municipal employee who is spotting as a community service. Most spotters work as part of an organized network and are in communication with their community or organization, which is in turn in communication with the NWS. Some spotters are "mobile" spotters in vehicles, but most spot from fixed, strategic locations around the community or county. The purpose of spotting is to alert community officials and the NWS and assist them in warning the public. Schools, hospitals, and other facilities are encouraged to have spotters to alert people in their care of impending severe weather.


Storm chasing involves following a developing thunderstorm to view or photograph severe weather phenomena. Chasing may be done for educational purposes or scientific research but is mostly done for personal fulfillment.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=spotterfaq


Notice that the NWS does not mention that storm chaser
do it for public safety. But then that can fall under research.

Not a big deal overall though...

Tim

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Although some spotters are mobile they rarely leave their immediate area. I feel the biggest difference between a spotter and a chaser isn't whether or not that they report to the NWS but the distance they are willing to travel to see storms.

Just about every real chaser I know, no matter if they make video sales or not, report what they see via SN or over the radio or cell phone. I really don't consider my self a spotter because of how far I travel when chasing but public safety and helping others is my primary mission when chasing. Filming comes second.

 

[Jason Foster]

Tim...no it's not really a big deal. In the end it'll just be difference of opinions. I just pointed it out because you used the "sells" which is completely different than "photographing". Using "sells" implies commercialism and that is far from the fact. I think the NWS quote you made is a bit different than what you posted. That is all I wanted to point out. Nothing major.

In the end...there is not a solid, concrete definition...which I believe was the basically the final conclusion of many other older threads.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Its just like any other hobby, there a dumb ones and good ones. For example, train spotting or rail fanning (whatever lol)... some trespass and put their lives at risk around giant trains which gives the good ones a bad name... if we require them to be certified, it just a waste of time, effort and money IMO... same with the chasing HOBBY which is all it is...