Oklahoma Weather Tracking Licensure Legislation

[Jeff Smith]

So they want to bring TV chasers into the "code 3" echelon. Ok, let's look at a few examples (that I have personally witnessed)...these are examples of TV chaser behavior over the years as I have evolved from being a chase tour owner/partner into a less well known spotter/part time chaser (such behavior has pushed me into semi-retirement). I wont mention names or stations to protect the idiots.

1. Getting "zero metered" by a chaser damn near running me off the road in a no passing zone in RFD blinding rain after dark.
2. Watching a TV chaser freak out in full panic mode on live TV after turning around and driving the wrong way on a turnpike, driving up an underpass embankment, and begging the TV met to track his location and tell him where he was in relation to the tornado.
3. TV chaser blocking the road in his famously wrapped truck so I couldn't pass to get closer to a rotating wall cloud (he wasn't even close to the action).
4. May 6, 2024, I was at home watching local media coverage of what was to be the Barnsdall tornado. A well known TV chaser was doing a live phoner and was at Skiatook telling people on live TV that he saw no rotation or anything of concern while the tornado was OTG barely to his east. I was screaming at the TV like a football fanatic yelling "you are looking the wrong way dumbass!"

The latter has almost prompted me to come out of retirement and offer my knowledge and experience to help these guys. That is still under consideration as I don't know how what I would have to say would be taken.

I am sure these situations have happened to many of you. Maybe if we started calling them out more, the behavior would change, I dont know.

Sorry if my post seems OT, but I think it is valid and if lawmakers are seeing this thread, maybe they need to know just exactly whom they are attempting to give the golden tickets to...

 

[Warren Faidley]

Just saw a post that Erik Fox is starting a "Storm Chaser Association." It will be interesting to see how this goes.

 

[Warren Faidley]

So I have it confirmed from multiple sources now, David Payne of News 9 in Oklahoma City is the catalyst and main lobbyist for SB-158.

It will be interesting to trace his political affiliations.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

So I have it confirmed from multiple sources now, David Payne of News 9 in Oklahoma City is the catalyst and main lobbyist for SB-158.

It will be interesting to trace his political affiliations.

Not surprising. They have a competitive advantage in the way they promote their tracker teams vs the other channels which comparatively is non-existent.

If this does pass, I wouldn't be surprised to see KFOR and KOCO up their storm chaser game. It's going to take everything we've talked about to another level from a competition on the roads standpoint.

Conga line of media chasers coming soon to a storm near you.

 

[Jeff Smith]

So I have it confirmed from multiple sources now, David Payne of News 9 in Oklahoma City is the catalyst and main lobbyist for SB-158.

It will be interesting to trace his political affiliations.

Good God, I couldn't stand him when he was chasing way back. I'd like to hear the story on how in the hell he became chief met.

 

[Jeff Smith]

So I have it confirmed from multiple sources now, David Payne of News 9 in Oklahoma City is the catalyst and main lobbyist for SB-158.

It will be interesting to trace his political affiliations.

Also it would be interesting to find out from their sister station KOTV in Tulsa their opinion. Travis is the big guy in Tulsa, and well revered by many. His switch to KOTV years ago was extremely sus though as Jim Giles was retiring and had another lined up to take the top spot at KOTV...

 

[Randy Zipser]

So I have it confirmed from multiple sources now, David Payne of News 9 in Oklahoma City is the catalyst and main lobbyist for SB-158.

It will be interesting to trace his political affiliations.

Too bad Gary England is still not the Chief Meteorologist at KWTV. From what I recall during my days living in Norman, he was an incredible fan of tornado chasing and he had an excellent rapport with all the OU chasers. If SB-158 had been proposed before his retirement in 2013, I suspect that Gary would never have supported it, much less lobbied for its passage, unlike his successor, David Payne. If Gary was at News 9 today, I suspect SB-158 would not have ever gotten "off the ground" to begin with...and certainly not originating with him. The OKC TV market culture, at least for the weather departments, seems to have obviously changed in a major way over the past 12 years...and, perhaps, not for the better. Does anyone who lives in that market have any clue why the culture has become so "anti-recreational" chaser today?

 

[Blake Naftel]

Currently in the process of ordering a magnetic "Channel 7" for my car door and installing red & blues on the chase vehicle. No way they'd ever arrest me for impersonating a storm chaser, right?

Hilarious. In all seriousness, I sold my magnetic station car logos for WEWS 5 in CLE and other stations on eBay for a ridiculous amount two years ago and who knows what they will be utilized for, hopefully for just a display piece, not some backroads scofflaw actions to needle this ridiculous "law" in Oklahoma.

Blake

 

[Blake Naftel]

Too bad Gary England is still not the Chief Meteorologist at KWTV. From what I recall during my days living in Norman, he was an incredible fan of tornado chasing and he had an excellent rapport with all the OU chasers. If SB-158 had been proposed before his retirement in 2013, I suspect that Gary would never have supported it, much less lobbied for its passage, unlike his successor, David Payne. If Gary was at News 9 today, I suspect SB-158 would not have ever gotten "off the ground" to begin with...and certainly not originating with him. The OKC TV market culture, at least for the weather departments, seems to have obviously changed in a major way over the past 12 years...and, perhaps, not for the better. Does anyone who lives in that market have any clue why the culture has become so "anti-recreational" chaser today?

For a fun Gary England at KWTV 9 reference, who almost hired me for my first TV weather gig in 2005 at KWTV... another story for another time... and a individual who has inspired a chunk of my comedy show/s in development in Chicago, here is a "Gary England and Those Terrible Twisters" from May 1988. Do jump back for this "Friday night in the big town" production from back in the day.

Best,

Blake

 

[Dan Robinson]

Here is a graphic showing the distribution of tornado report sources from all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) in the NOAA database since March of 2004. Please distribute and share where appropriate. My social accounts just don't get any engagement for things like this for an unknown reason. We need those with better reach to post this. Thanks to Clarence Bennett and Andrew Lyons for pulling the data.



Here is a more granular look at the individual source percentages that were combined in those broader categories:



Here is the spreadsheet file with all of the raw data:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Steve Holmes]

If this does pass, I wouldn't be surprised to see KFOR and KOCO up their storm chaser game. It's going to take everything we've talked about to another level from a competition on the roads standpoint.

Conga line of media chasers coming soon to a storm near you.

This is why I only chase scud. Less competition.

 

[Steve Holmes]

I'm less worried about Oklahoma that about the states that will follow its lead -- and go further. It's an invitation to try to ban chasing. Never mind the Constitutionality of it, or the difficulties in enforcing it. If law-enforcement is as P.O.ed about chasers as I've heard, a few well-connected zealots could throw their considerable weight behind such a bill.

Oklahoma has done them the service of separating chasers into two groups, one with higher perceived value than the other. It's only one short step for a state to try to ban the lower-value group (most of us) as a hazard. I don't think it would pass, but it would be a nuisance to fight.

To counter it, we should gather evidence of how important chasers are to a state's economy. Not like oil in OK, in the grand scheme of things, but way above zero. You think when 500 cars descend on a cluster of restaurants and gas stations in a poor county, it doesn't make a difference? Chasers rent cars in Oklahoma, buy gas, go to restaurants, stay in motels (unless they sleep in their cars). That's money into the pockets of the locals. I don't know how to quantify this spending, but I'd be ready with a stack of testimonials from business owners who say, "These folks spent a lot of money here."

 

[Jamie H]

I think David Payne does a good job hosting the live weather coverage, so it's a shame he's pushing this, but makes sense from a corporate point of view as he'll be worried about losing viewers to internet and radar app streamers. I would hope KFOR et all don't join the party with lots of cars, and remain doing what they do.

As for tourist cash, well the OK politicians who said they were getting annoyed by out of state folk contacting them says it all. OK is a funny old place.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

TBH the financial impact that chasers bring to the state is minimal at best in the grand scheme of things. Sure, to the local mom and pop restaurant or convenience store it helps out on the one or two days a year they get lucky enough to have a convergence in the down time, but with the handful of days and randomness of the locations, revenue isn't something anyone can count on. If it were 365 days a year bringing in thousands of chasers each day, it would be a different story, but it's not.

Also, as far as I know, most media chasers have to provide their own vehicle, own equipment, etc. for very little compensation, and in some cases, none at all. Makes me wonder what cost and/or investment the media companies may have to incur along with the changes due to liability concerns.

 

[Jeff Smith]

Here is a graphic showing the distribution of tornado report sources from all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) in the NOAA database since March of 2004. Please distribute and share where appropriate. My social accounts just don't get any engagement for things like this for an unknown reason. We need those with better reach to post this. Thanks to Clarence Bennett and Andrew Lyons for pulling the data.

View attachment 26753

Here is a more granular look at the individual source percentages that were combined in those broader categories:

View attachment 26754

Here is the spreadsheet file with all of the raw data:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Thank you Dan-this is the best evidence against this bill I have seen. I will be sending this to my state rep and senator!