Oklahoma highway patrol targeting chasers today (May 18)

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Chasers be aware that the roads are crawling with OKHP positioned to catch chasers tonight. Just now, at Hinton, I saw a chaser get pulled over. A second car - a non-chaser - was pulled over right afterward, but was immediately let go.

Watch your speed!
 
Chasers be aware that the roads are crawling with OKHP positioned to catch chasers tonight. Just now, at Hinton, I saw a chaser get pulled over. A second car - a non-chaser - was pulled over right afterward, but was immediately let go.

Watch your speed!

They let the non-chaser go but spent time grilling the chaser?

Do you know if the chaser did anything noticeable as far as breaking the law goes?

Also, do you know if they have ways of preventing someone from chasing or tickets/citations that they can write for something related to chasing?

Sorry for all of the questions, just curious as to what's happening out there. I've never chased storms in any state that has heavy chaser traffic, so I've never had to worry about being viewed negatively or harassed.
 
The Hinton one was a speed trap on US 281 spur and I-40, where the speed limit goes from 70mph down to 35mph. Police were waiting there at the curve across from the Cherokee Trading Post truck stop.
 
The Hinton one was a speed trap on US 281 spur and I-40, where the speed limit goes from 70mph down to 35mph. Police were waiting there at the curve across from the Cherokee Trading Post truck stop.

I wonder how much of it has to do with seeing it as a good opportunity to collect a healthy portion of revenue with heavier and more aggressive traffic, compared to not wanting chasers to be on the roads in their jurisdiction (due to a perceived danger/public outcry/etc).

Basically, I just wonder if they have a real issue with storm chasers in general.
 
It is not like chasing is not all over the news now. CNN just did a story on chasing. http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/18/us/st...-convergence0113AMVODtopVideo&linkId=37769542
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/18/us/st...-convergence0113AMVODtopVideo&linkId=37769542
My guess it is just a speed trap where locals are told to slow down and see you at the game this weekend while out of town drivers who would almost never take anything to court to dispute are given their donation citation for speeding and if their chasers they might get more B.S. looking over for possible additional fines obscured windshields, cracked windshields and such.
 
Sounds similar to how they are with truckers. They'll have a speed trap, knowing a fully loaded semi often can't slow down in time if there isn't enough warning. Once they have the truck pulled over, they'll do an inspection looking for something they can add additional fines for, whether it be related to the truck or related to the log book.
 
They let the non-chaser go but spent time grilling the chaser?

Do you know if the chaser did anything noticeable as far as breaking the law goes?

Also, do you know if they have ways of preventing someone from chasing or tickets/citations that they can write for something related to chasing?

Sorry for all of the questions, just curious as to what's happening out there. I've never chased storms in any state that has heavy chaser traffic, so I've never had to worry about being viewed negatively or harassed.

There are not any laws that I am aware of that target chasing storms in particular. However, they can initiate roadblocks, which make chasing harder. Also, it is possible to try to target storm chasers for very selective enforcement of colloquially minor traffic violations, which non-chasers would never be stopped for, e.g., speeding a few miles over the posted limit, stopping over stop lines, signaling less than ____ feet from a turn, having a tire slightly cross a solid yellow line, equipment in the window or open laptop within driver's view, etc. If nothing else, these are perfectly legal ways to "profile" chasers within the confines of the law, because in each case you are technically breaking the law, it's just that these are infractions most officers never even bother to waste time enforcing.
 
Pretty sure Oklahoma has a law against suction cup mounting to the windshield, hell I'm guilty of it myself (dashcam). That is one thing I can see OHP getting nit picky about.

I can find the exact verbiage of the law later and edit this post if necessary.
 
Pretty sure Oklahoma has a law against suction cup mounting to the windshield, hell I'm guilty of it myself (dashcam). That is one thing I can see OHP getting nit picky about.

I can find the exact verbiage of the law later and edit this post if necessary.

There were chasers 5-6 years ago who reportedly were cited by KHP for this. They claimed it was at the big turnpike stop in Wellington, KS, south of Wichita, and they were flagged to pull over at the toll booth by a KHP officer who was standing by the toll attendant's booth. I believe they posted a copy of the citation and it looked legitimate, some sort of an obstruction of view charge.

I was stopped west of Dodge City two years ago. I received a speeding citation, which was justified, and he told us to remove the camera from the window and let it go with a warning.
 
As I've always said, you don't need new laws to stop chasing. If they want to crack down hard, it's not difficult to do. I believe we will see more and more of this selective targeting. Ticketing is just the first part. If you have to appear before a judge and he / she does not like chasers, you might be cleaning the side of the road wearing orange as chasers go passing by. (Man that would suck!)

What I foresee are more "reckless driving-type" citations. Those are very serious traffic offenses. You could have your license suspended or be thrown in jail. It's up to LEO to determine the justification, e.g., passing emergency vehicles that are not actually blocking the road.

I also see a new television commercial coming soon: "Hello storm chasers! This is attorney Saul Goodman. Have you or a loved one been pulled over while chasing and charged with a serious traffic offense? Don't throw your rights to the wind. Call me now for a free consultation."
 
As I've always said, you don't need new laws to stop chasing. If they want to crack down hard, it's not difficult to do. I believe we will see more and more of this selective targeting.

The whole thread is about how this was a typical speedtrap... What about "selective targeting" seems to indicate only chasers got a ticket?
 
We came through town just as they were leaving the police department. There was three police vehicles gearing up. My guess they have done this before and knew where the chasers would be. We were lucky (because I needed gas) to go through the 35mph area before they got there. I did pass a cop on his way and I took down my gear quickly as he approached.
 
The Hinton one was a speed trap on US 281 spur and I-40, where the speed limit goes from 70mph down to 35mph. Police were waiting there at the curve across from the Cherokee Trading Post truck stop.

The speed limit there drops in steps from 70 to 60, 55, 45, and 35. By definition, that is not a speed trap.
 
Fair enough, though it is a pretty short stretch of road there where it drops. I saw the signs and slowed down, but it's one of those things where if you were a little sluggish in braking, you'd be at risk. The patrol vehicle was right at the 35mph sign. I pulled this from my dashcam:

 
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