May I see your storm chaser license?

[Shawn Gossman]

Hey all,

So in regards to chasers doing foolish things such as blocking the roadway and making it difficult for emergency services to respond, newbie chasers doing all the wrong things, people going out chasing to capture a tornado on their iPhone to get on TWC but not knowing anything about doing it safely and so on and so on... do you all think that a storm chasing license is needed? In most states, you have to have a license to be a clown, yes that is correct however, anyone could dress up and act like their a clown but the law states (in most areas) that you have to be licensed... the same could work for storm chasing and requiring a specific amount of training, re-certification and so on.

How do you all feel about this idea? Keep in mind that we were ALL new at one times... Thoughts?

 

[Andrea Griffa]

I appreciate so much this idea, Shawn. I think this could be very positive for us and more fit to be seen by law enforcement when they stop us along roads.

As for my opinion, maybe a license is more difficult to do, but the best would be something like a Stormchasing Card under the sign of Stormtrack or what else we want.
It would be good the hear the opinion of tim Vasquez or Tim Marshall.

Hey all,

So in regards to chasers doing foolish things such as blocking the roadway and making it difficult for emergency services to respond, newbie chasers doing all the wrong things, people going out chasing to capture a tornado on their iPhone to get on TWC but not knowing anything about doing it safely and so on and so on... do you all think that a storm chasing license is needed? In most states, you have to have a license to be a clown, yes that is correct however, anyone could dress up and act like their a clown but the law states (in most areas) that you have to be licensed... the same could work for storm chasing and requiring a specific amount of training, re-certification and so on.

How do you all feel about this idea? Keep in mind that we were ALL new at one times... Thoughts?

 

[Patrick Martin]

Far more lives are put in danger and lost due to people that are crappy parents, but nobody needs a license to be one of those.

 

[Terrence Cook]

Too bad there is not a dislike option.

 

[WillTownsWx]

Licensing Storm Chasers would greatly reduce the amount of potential eyes in the sky there for less reports = Shorter Warning Times = More lifes lost.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Rather than requiring people to have a Storm Chasers license. Would not be easier to be able to write tickets to people for being stupid and rude . You would not have to be a storm chaser to be eligible for these tickets

 

[Rob H]

This comes up every year, along with "how close is too close" and "looks like a ridge setting up - season's over".

Without granting some special privilege, there's no reason to have a license, unless you're looking for a meaningless way to increase your chaser "cred". Also, there's nothing illegal about driving around during bad weather with a camera.

 

[MClarkson]

Awful idea. This is America. Land of the Free. We already have way too many permits, licenses and other such nonsense paperwork in this nation.

 

[Todd Renshaw]

Remember, every gawker with a camera phone gets lumped in with either the storm chaser community or the media. No exceptions. If we were all licensed, there'd be absolutely no more problems with those people, right?

Technically, I've already got my storm chaser's license. (Although around these parts, we just call it a driver's license.)

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Although the idea of keeping the local police out of our business is fine; we just need to conduct ourselves in a way that keeps us out of their business - is all. Easier said than done.

But to have a license is to ask for regulation upon freedoms as well as yet one more reason to make you pay out more money.
That alone carries a big 'no' with me . . .

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Oh, that's for sure...At least till someone enters your car window.

Also, there's nothing illegal about driving around during bad weather with a camera.

 

[Marcus Diaz]

Shawn Gossman is my hero.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Shawn Gossman is my hero.

LOL, why am I your Hero?

 

[joel ewing]

Dangit....I had a really nice couple of paragraphs written in response to this question, and darn if I didn't hit some weird button on my pc and "poof" ....it's long lost. Well, maybe that was for the better.
Anybody that knows 'ol Joel fairly well will know how I feel about this subject. Allow me to be short and succinct: I feel that anything...anything...that local / state / federal governments get involved with.......quickly become ruined. Another way to put it is FUBAR. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart. My God folks....do everything within your power to see to it that the government stays far far away from this beloved passion of ours. You won't regret it. And this is for another time perhaps, but I've long felt that the BEST way that we chasers can turn around some of this negative "heat" we've accrued over the last few years is to generate some legitimate good will out in the field. A lot of chasers already have. By this I mean, if you're chasing and you see some very recent damage to neighborhoods, schools, or homes...quit the chase and get out and try to help people who may be trapped and / or needing medical help. Do what you can...within your abilities. It wouldn't take too many "good samaritan" events next season to generate some favorable light on us. Do what you can to make the people to think of chasers as "first responding Angels". Seriously....there's no reason we can't turn this around. Thanks joel

 

[joel ewing]

Sean, I don't know you, and I say this with complete respect.....I see at the bottom of your page that you're the owner of the "biggest network" and owner of the "biggest Skywarn" site...etc. etc. I would hazard a guess that you're a guy who really likes to organize things and oversee them. With that in mind.....is this where you were going with the "licensing the chaser community" business ?? Do you have designs on becoming the new "Storm Chasing Czar"?? Thank you.