Covering your expenses??

[Adam Penney]

In an age where gas prices are becoming increasingly more expensive, I have often wondered why more chasers do not take avid severe weather fans with them, and charge them to cover your expenses. This is only a hypothetical question, as we all know the various legailities that would follow, if a chaser were to do something like this. However, I do know that there are some out there, who do not own a "business" and do solicit people to "ride along" and charge them a daily rate, I would assume to mostly cover their own expenses. My question is, why don't more chasers do this? It is interesting to imagine chasing all season and it not costing you a dime.

 

[Dan Robinson]

The problem lies in the fact that if you are the driver and someone pays you to ride along, you legally become a 'passenger transport for hire' operation. And if you do this while crossing state lines, you fall under the federal DOT requirements for a passenger-for-hire operation.

I looked into this and found that you must not only get federally-mandated $1.5 million commercial liability insurance, but you must acquire permits in every state you will be operating in (just like limo and taxi drivers must do). If you don't follow the laws to a T, any legal protections (like signed waivers) and insurance coverage may be null and void.

The only way to get around this is if you do not actually drive nor use your own car (you have your passenger do the driving in their vehicle). A liability waiver is still a must.

 

[David Drummond]

If your just asking them to cover the gas, eats and room without charging them for your services as well, I don't see how it's any different than all the ride sharing that goes on now in chasing.

Wanna go with me? Pay the gas, food and eats for us today and I'll supply the vehicle and equipment. Sounds like a decent trade.

Maybe, you might get in to the "transport for hire" area IF your making a profit, but I think that is debatable, because there is so much more to storm chasing than just getting someone from point A to point B.

Due to past experiences though NO ONE gets in my chase vehicle, be it friend, reporter, or fellow chaser without signing a waiver. That's the times we live in sadly.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Besides the legalities there is the factor of enjoyment. I enjoy the open road and peace and quiet of the open plains too much to risk getting stuck with someone who drives me crazy for hours on end. I like chasing with others and often do, though only my close friends who are fully dedicated chasers. I will take others on "local" one day chases, but you better be willing to do more than just cover my costs if you expect me to take an enthusiast on a chase trip and risk forfeiting a part of chasing that I enjoy. Is covered costs worth the gamble of being asked thousands of stupid questions, putting up with horrid music, hearing boring life stories, listening to screaming when your too close, the list goes on and on? Seems like there is a large chance that "covering costs" could quickly turn into a nuisance/chore.

 

[Tony Laubach]

I have often wondered why more chasers do not take avid severe weather fans with them.

Cause 90% of the time, there is NO severe weather to be had and they may not realize the bordom of that situation! LOL

 

[Tim Vasquez]

During my active chase years (1990s) I've found that a lot of potential passengers were rather fickle or unreliable and it often became a headache to cater the chase for them. This may not be true of die-hard enthusiasts but I didn't run into many of them. The more reliable folks... well, those quickly become "chase partners".

I've been chained down during the past eight years running the Hotline, but on the occasions when I do go out I actually prefer going out just by myself, as I am free to get into "let's see what happens if I do this" mode (like putting all my bets on another target) without worrying that I'm ruining the chase for someone else.

Tim

 

[Jason Boggs]

In the past 10 years of chasing for me, I have gone solo about 80% of the time. The only time I have taken partners is when I take a met for the station I'm chasing for. Right now, I prefer to chase by myself.

Sure, it gets boring and lonely sometimes without having someone to talk to, but I prefer it that way. I guess I have always been kind of a loner when it comes to chasing. I like doing things my way, and I couldn't deal with people griping and complaining about every little thing. I think being by myself creates less stress than if several people complained and argued about what target area to pick, where to eat, etc...

I would prefer to fork out the extra money, rather than dealing with that crap.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

You know, the TIV2's come up a couple of times recently. Funny as it sounds, I imagine somewhere out there there's a rich daytrader who'd be willing to plunk down 50K to ride around in the TIV2 as it tries to make history by driving into a tornado. I mean, you've got guys paying 50 mil to get shot into space or 60K to be led by the nose up Mount Everest -- 50K to be with a fameous storm chaser as he drives his tank into a tornado doesn't seem like much of a stretch.

 

[Shane Adams]

In an age where gas prices are becoming increasingly more expensive, I have often wondered why more chasers do not take avid severe weather fans with them, and charge them to cover your expenses. This is only a hypothetical question, as we all know the various legailities that would follow, if a chaser were to do something like this. However, I do know that there are some out there, who do not own a "business" and do solicit people to "ride along" and charge them a daily rate, I would assume to mostly cover their own expenses. My question is, why don't more chasers do this? It is interesting to imagine chasing all season and it not costing you a dime.

Chasing is my passion. It's something that means a lot more to me than an annual vacation or hobby to meet up with old pals. It's nothing I care to share with fleeting interests; nothing irritates me more than someone bringing up the fact I'm a chaser around muggles. I get to answer all the same questions over and over, and I have to be all excited and articulate about it or I come off as a jerk...meanwhile, in five minutes none of those people will remember anything I said.

I don't take random people chasing because I can't stand to be around muggles when I'm doing my thing. It's far more than spiritual when I'm out there, and having some clown who is only there to one-up his golf buddy who went skydiving the year before severely-messes with that energy. I'm not a people person to start with, and I sure as hell don't want a bunch of tourists asking a million questions and oohing and aahing at every dark cloud. Chasing is very personal to me.

Lastly, I've always had to work to get the things I want in life....so I know I'll always have gas money. It's easy when you don't have a choice