Ignorance of few affect the many

[Joey Ketcham]

Don't be so sure.

I'm not only sure, but I'm confident. It won't happen, and in 20 years I will still be storm chasing freely and unregulated.

Tour companies, that's a whole other ball park since they are operating as a business. I could see regulation over tour companies, but not over individual chasers.. that won't happen.

 

[Jeff Miller]

Every year, since 2003, same conversation, and every year, nothing.

Just a little trend I've noticed.

That is all.

 

[Adam Lucio]

What would be the point in regulating a tour company in Oklahoma anyway, everyone knows on a given tour you can go anywhere from North Dakota to Texas in a week. National Legislation? Not likely...it may be crowded out there, but were still just a very small percentage of the overall general public.

I always say, if you hate the crowds, learn to chase in a month other than May...dont sit around and wait for your perfect setup, get out there on marginal days and learn to chase in March and November and be happy about it.

 

[Chris C Sanner]

What would be the point in regulating a tour company in Oklahoma anyway, everyone knows on a given tour you can go anywhere from North Dakota to Texas in a week. National Legislation? Not likely...it may be crowded out there, but were still just a very small percentage of the overall general public.

I always say, if you hate the crowds, learn to chase in a month other than May...dont sit around and wait for your perfect setup, get out there on marginal days and learn to chase in March and November and be happy about it.

What's the point in regulating interstate trucking companies with different regulations in each state?

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Its nice to see that I'm not the only one that sees regulations of some kind on the horizon. I posted a topic about this last year (I think) and was chewed up and spit out by most people saying it would never be regulated.

I guess only time will tell but I bet 20 years ago nobody thought there would be a day that we would have the kind of seat belt laws that we now have in most states. IMO, they wouldn't regulate storm chasing because they really care about keeping people safe but because they care about the 'bottom line' of the insurance companies who are funding political campaigns (i.e. seat belt laws - do we really believe the Government actually gives 2 craps about keeping us all safe or did the insurance companies get sick of paying medical bills for people who were injured when they would not have been if wearing seat belts?). In other words, similar to people not wearing seat belts, the insurance companies would get sick of paying for property damages/injury for people who wouldn't have experienced the property damage or injury had they not 'chased' the storm. Of course one could argue that right now storm chasing isn't popular enough to even be a blip on the insurance companies radar - maybe some day it will be or maybe it doesn't have to be. Instead some day there could be some kind of high profile 'incident' that raises concerns and one thing leads to another and given the fact people are pushing the limits more and more this seems to at least be a possibility. Who knows but I definitely wouldn't rule regulations out.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Its nice to see that I'm not the only one that sees regulations of some kind on the horizon. I posted a topic about this last year (I think) and was chewed up and spit out by most people saying it would never be regulated.

Because it won't. I have seen people suggest this as far back as 1999, and here it is 2010 and we've yet to see any regulation. We see this topic come up year after year, yet it never happens. And it won't. It will come up in 2011, 2012 and all the years after, but it will never happen.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Because it won't. I have seen people suggest this as far back as 1999, and here it is 2010 and we've yet to see any regulation. We see this topic come up year after year, yet it never happens. And it won't. It will come up in 2011, 2012 and all the years after, but it will never happen.

All I can say is I hope your right...what a pain in the arse it would be...

 

[Chris C Sanner]

Because it won't. I have seen people suggest this as far back as 1999, and here it is 2010 and we've yet to see any regulation. We see this topic come up year after year, yet it never happens. And it won't. It will come up in 2011, 2012 and all the years after, but it will never happen.

Yeah, because the "it's always been this way so it will always be this way" line of thinking always seems to work out in the long run. Glad to see that line of thinking was responsible for the continuation of several trends in an unchanging world throughout history

 

[Chad Berryhill]

For all of you that are bitching about us capitalizing, here is what WE (ECT) do! Watch the links below. That is how you run a professional chase tour. Don't run your mouth until you have run a tour.

http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/special_reports/videos/vid_266.shtml

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Storm-Chase-Links-94006469.html

 

[Joshua Nall]

I personally wear a football uniform. It might look ridiculous but it makes me feel better. Not sure what purpose the cleats serve yet but I have some ideas.

IMO tour passengers should wear nothing less than one of these.

I was thinking about the intercept vehicle with the eject button again... this is perfect for that, the added surface area would keep you afloat in the updraft longer and you would fit right in with the other hailstones.
Might need a larger parachute though as there surely would be some ice accumulation, additional weight.

Concerning the regulation question it has more to do with the general public's safety traveling the road way. If it gets to the point that convergences cause traffic confusion, hazardous driving conditions for the general public then they will do something. That is what big government does, it controls. It may have a hard time at it, enforcing it, but never say never. I know some places it's illegal to stop on the side of the road and watch wildlife, because it is a traffic hazard. What we need to do is spread out a little and obey the existing laws.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Yeah, because the "it's always been this way so it will always be this way" line of thinking always seems to work out in the long run. Glad to see that line of thinking was responsible for the continuation of several trends in an unchanging world throughout history

I will put a $200 on the table right now and say that 15 years from now, we will see no regulations. 15 years from now, you come back and prove me wrong I will personally hand deliver you that $200 and say "you were right". But I hope that it doesn't take that before we can actually meet in person, lol.. I'll be an old man 15 years from now. I would rather us meet somewhere on the plains underneath an amazing storm.

 

[Adam Lucio]

What's the point in regulating interstate trucking companies with different regulations in each state?

Ok, drive down the road, count how many semi trucks you see VS chase tour vans.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

I will put a $200 on the table right now and say that 15 years from now, we will see no regulations. 15 years from now, you come back and prove me wrong I will personally hand deliver you that $200 and say "you were right". But I hope that it doesn't take that before we can actually meet in person, lol.. I'll be an old man 15 years from now. I would rather us meet somewhere on the plains underneath an amazing storm.

Hate to get suckered into this thread...

I agree with the general consensus that general chasing regs are unlikely. However, the first media-covered death of a chase tour participant or participants caused by a tornado strike is going to result in regulation of chasing tour companies, at least in the state that it happens in. I feel pretty confident about that. The government has a pretty strong history of regulating minor, non-lobbyist-represented industries when said industries cause any kind of death or mayhem.

 

[Jason Foster]

.....15 years from now, you come back and prove me wrong I will personally hand deliver you that $200 and say "you were right".

In 15 years..$200 will buy a dinner...LOL..that's it. And do you think there will really be cash that you can 'hand deliver'?

Just throwing in a much needed distraction.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

In 15 years..$200 will buy a dinner...LOL..that's it. And do you think there will really be cash that you can 'hand deliver'?

Just throwing in a much needed distraction.

LOL. You make a great point... so in 15 years, I will offer him a lunch on me at Olive Garden. That or take that $200 and the gas for your first 15 miles of storm chasing is on me.