Kansas Highway Patrol and chasers on 4/24/16

Winston Wells

Winston Wells

EF1
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
99
Location
Jacksonville, IL
I just came across this tweet from what appears to be the legitimate account of the public information officer of the Kansas Highway Patrol. He reports that a KHP officer issued four speeding tickets to what he intimates were chasers yesterday, and he notes that all of them were travelling 95 mph or faster.

If true, this is just stunningly stupid behavior on the part of some members of the chaser community - broadly defined, of course. I find it infuriating that anyone would use such tactics to chase ANY storm, much less a storm that by all accounts only produced large hail and a brief, deceptive-looking scudnado. I'm certainly no saint behind the wheel, but these excesses only add to our increasingly bad reputation in Kansas and elsewhere. If I could name-and-shame these clowns I'd do so in a minute.

https://twitter.com/TrooperBenKHP/status/724387343830917120
 
Some would say that just being a chaser is stunningly stupid.
I have never before heard of this particular infraction however. Do you mean to tell me that speeding is going on? In River City?
 
Before we throw responsible chasers under the bus again.... it's very important that we find out if these were local guys or otherwise. I'm sure someone here knows who they were. That speed is really over the top. Just wait until their insurance company or rental car company finds out. Going that speed is grounds for immediate insurance cancellation according to my insurance guru.
 
I was going five over at most, and still managed to get decent pics. Now, I noticed a chase crew at least going 80+ in a 65. I don't know who, but the Media always views Storm Chasers as insane.
 
Personally I've seen more chaser tour group drivers acting stupid than I have chase teams.

I'd still love to know who the jackwagons were driving the vans with Michigan plates were who tore through Council Grove, KS running cars off the main drag trying to get to U.S. 77 to go North a few years ago. Their driving caused 2 accidents that I saw from locals trying to avoid colliding with them.
 
Not to be a d**k, but them getting caught speeding isnt really THAT big of a deal, in my opinion. Nothing other chasers do will ever have an impact on me chasing storms. So what really? So they go a ticket... Just like anyone else who breaks the law. The only thing to really take from this is either A) buy a good radar detector B) dont speed or C) become a LEO so you can speed and get away with it. Other than that, if people want to break the speed limit, go right ahead. Its really none of my business. At least not enough to get bent out of shape over it.
 
The lack of concentration is the more dangerous part - obviously the speed thing doesn't help, but fiddling around with laptops, cell phones, cameras, etc, when you should be driving, is not good. It's interesting to see states starting to get with the picture and ban these kinds of things.
 
Unfortunately, Kansas isn't like many states in which 95mph would be a criminal reckless driving charge (http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/laws.html). If that were the case, these incidents would be matters of public record, and we'd know the whos and the wheres easily. That being said, I think it's important to find out the whos and the details in light of the fact that this will be cited in some new article somewhere. Based on Spotter Network, there were likely 400+ chasers out across Kansas on the 24th. So we have maybe a dozen troublemakers out of that bunch. To the reporters who I know will be reading this thread, may I suggest finding out who these individuals are and doing a story on them instead of the entire chase community? And I know someone has to have this on video - either the speeding itself or the traffic stop.
 
I have seen people that very certainly appear to be speeding, and..."selectively obeying" other traffic laws, on streams now and then back when I used to watch them. I don't know if it's some kind of entitlement thing (in their minds) tied to the chase, or whether they drive like idiots all the time. People could stand to make an effort to obey the law at the very least, if they want to combat the media perception of the chaser as a reckless adrenaline junkie.
 
The only time you need to speed like that is if you are in imminent danger from the tornado. Other than that there is no reason to be doing those speeds anywhere other than a racetrack
 
Justin Wilcox said:
Not to be a d**k, but them getting caught speeding isnt really THAT big of a deal, in my opinion. Nothing other chasers do will ever have an impact on me chasing storms. So what really? So they go a ticket... Just like anyone else who breaks the law. The only thing to really take from this is either A) buy a good radar detector B) dont speed or C) become a LEO so you can speed and get away with it. Other than that, if people want to break the speed limit, go right ahead. Its really none of my business. At least not enough to get bent out of shape over it.
Click to expand...

Totally agreed Justin. I'm a responsible driver, but have opened it up a time or two to get in position - so what? Didn't hurt no one, nor did I get busted for it. Who cares! Everyone is always quick to condemn in this community. If it's not affecting you, mind your own business and move on, sheesh!
 
I went to Salina that day. Did I go faster than the posted speed limit on the highway to get there? Potentially. Does that happen by nearly everyone on a daily basis? Likely. I only saw a chaser caravan once, and they didn't appear to be breaking any rules of the road. With that said, I can't tell you how many locals I saw driving with their phones out of their window getting video and pictures. I don't really like to chase in metro areas, so I've never gotten caught in bad chaser convergence, but it made me wonder if such a thing was really as wide-spread as people think. It would also probably help if people stopped flying through towns if they have a big vinyl I'M A STORM CHASER LOOK AT ME sticker covering their whole back window. The unfortunately reality is local governments can pull in some good money on chase days, and lots of tiny midwestern towns can have speed limits that go from 65 to 25 real quick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top