Cop Blocked

[Todd Lemery]

I had a thought that occurred to me and I was wondering other people’s thoughts. I understand why the police block traffic and generally don’t fault them for doing it. One thing I do though, is when I see I’m about to be cop blocked, I immediately start looking to see if I can find a route around it. I’m sure a lot of us do. Then it occurred to me that if I was already under the circulation, I wouldn’t run into any blockades because they all would be farther away rather than right under the storm. In theory, you could avoid getting cop blocked by keeping yourself in a dangerous enough position that the police wouldn’t venture into it to try and block roads.
It sounds stupid, I wouldn’t try it myself and it would be tough to pull off. That said, have you ever considered it or known someone who has tried that to avoid the cop blocks?

 

[Jeff House]

One can also position farther away to avoid. In normal visibility it's a great low stress option. Can set up for several minutes, rather than scramble. Still get the thrill because, well.. tornadoes!

 

[Joey Ketcham]

One can also position farther away to avoid. In normal visibility it's a great low stress option. Can set up for several minutes, rather than scramble. Still get the thrill because, well.. tornadoes!

I second this, I've always preferred being in a position where I'm not 2 feet away from the circulation and able to be at a distance where I can observe a broader view of the storm while still getting to see and enjoy the tornado. Zero stress and in 23 years of storm chasing I haven't ever came across a road block, nor have had any bad interaction with cops. Seems to me that those who want to be 2 feet away from the tornado are asking for problems from law enforcement, and seemingly it's those who seems to have the negative encounter with them. Nothing against chasers who likes that style of chasing, just not my cup of tea. Being extreme and wanting to make a name for myself isn't why I got into chasing.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Blocking any traffic during a tornadic storm is very dangerous. Yes, if you have enough knowledge to know a tornado is about to cross a road, block it. I’ve even blocked roads (for general public) when a violent tornado was about to cross and I know for sure it saved someone a lot of grief. But blocking traffic for no damn reason, like stopping chasers is foolish. Any delay could spell disaster if a secondary storm or tornado threatened.

 

[Randall Bragg]

1) No, do not try to "stay under the circulation" or right under the storm.
2) No, do not "keep yourself in a dangerous enough position" to avoid police blockades.
3) Yes, "find a route around the cop block" to get in better position.

Last week a Channel 9 (KWTV-OK) storm chaser politely asked a LEO if he could proceed thru his blockade to continue his chase. The cop allowed him to pass, I assume based on his vehicle markings as a TV professional chaser. You might wanna ask the officer if you can proceed as an experienced chaser, spotter, or university researcher. That has worked for me before.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Why not just go around? What are they going to do, chase after you and pull you over in the path of the tornado while letting everyone else they were trying to block through?

 

[James Wilson]

I usually just go around and wave at the cop. I have yet to have one come after me but I am sure they are pissed about it.

 

[Lou Ruh]

Just talk to them. They may be blocking the road for a specific legitimate purpose (maybe not even storm related). It's not that hard.

 

[Jeff House]

We had always been waved through until last Wednesday. Near Miami OK they were very firm. We did find side streets though. Just in the past several times they just waved us through, mostly Kansas. Getting more strict or just OK?

 

[JohnHuntington]

Just talk to them. They may be blocking the road for a specific legitimate purpose (maybe not even storm related). It's not that hard.

Exactly. Blowing by them just makes all chasers look bad. Also I rolled up recently with a cop blocking the intersection and thought he was keeping people from the storm but it was a serious accident.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Getting more strict or just OK?

OHP has always been firm if that is who blocked....I've never been able to go around them. Back on 4/14/12 one chased several of us off right off of 412 south of Waynoka as the tornado was developing to our north. When I tried to explain where this tornado was gonna go, he was having none of it. Now locals OTOH have been way more easier to get along with--they are appreciative for the info I provide to them.

 

[Warren Faidley]

There was a tread about this 2-3 years ago after a "Fire Chief" went Looney Tunes when chaser went by him. I recall the chaser was not at fault. Other chasers have been cited. It's really the luck of the draw and how much you challenge their authoritah, especially in Colorado.

 

[James Wilson]

Exactly. Blowing by them just makes all chasers look bad.

No one is "blowing by" we stop by them wave and go around and almost every time they wave back.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Yeah, I typically wave or head nod as I pass. Done it plenty of times and I haven't ever been cited. Was stopped once by OHP as I was trying to maneuver around their rolling roadblock but they let me go real fast.

 

[Mark Blue]

In May 2016 I saw a brief tornado in a field south of Wiggins and realized my only road option was north. Yep, north back into the hail. I drove about a mile until I saw a Sheriff looking south, so I stopped across the road from him. I motioned where I wanted to go and he just shrugged his shoulders so I was on my way. I think acknowledging them is key and shows that you respect their authority.

It’s probably better to work with LEOs than against them because it provides a better end result when we’re working towards the same goal.