Warren Faidley
Supporter
I believe w/o the "emergency vehicle" language, the bill fails. I'm assuming Dave from channel 9, is not happy with the revisions that chasers suggested and there is a battle going on.
After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
I agree that most of the language which could have been used to restrict private chasing has been removed. What's left are the public safety issues that always accompanied giving media chasers permission to violate traffic safety laws. I interpret the permission to violate posted traffic directions as permission to drive down the "opposing" side of a divided highway. (What could possibly go wrong?)While I still oppose this bill, the proposed floor mod is an improvement from the prior versions. Specifically this has changed from before:
"E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that any motor vehicle yield right-of-way and stop for any professional severe weather tracker."
It also makes it clear that:
"F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a professional severe weather tracker to impersonate a law enforcement officer or first responder, or to block roads or prevent the free and regular flow of traffic upon the roads of this state."
This bill now only allows a licensed "Professional Severe Weather Tracker" (PSWT) to:
A subset of TV station chasers already think traffic laws don't apply to them, so not much changes here other than they will be correct. Sort of this entire bill going away, I would like to see "disregard regulations governing direction of movement" removed from this bill, as while allowed to by law, Fire and Police/Sheriff Dept policy often prohibits driving the wrong way because it is so dangerous (this is why you see Fire and Police fighting thru the traffic jam to get to a freeway accident instead of seeing them drive the wrong way).
- Have and use a combination of green and yellow flashing lights,
- Travel upon roads, highways, and county roads closed by the Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, any city or county, or any law enforcement agency by reason of conditions triggered by the significant weather event (although a LEO can still keep them from entering the closed area if the conditions which caused such closure present too grave a risk for the life and safety of the PSWT),
- Run a red light after coming to a complete stop,
- Speed so long as speeding does not endanger life or property,
- Disregard regulations governing direction of movement, and
- Disregard regulations governing turning in specified directions.
Also note my use of bolding the word proposed floor mod, as this amendment appears to have not been brought to the floor yet and approved. Until that happens we have to assume that that it will either not be brought or if brought it may not get approved and the old version may be the one considered by the floor.
This bill still has a lot of technical problems. It still puts the public and chasers in danger (especially when a PSWT runs a red light and hits a vehicle that isn't required by law to yield to it or when a PSWT drives the wrong way). It also sets up a framework for more regulation in the future. But if my choice is this amendment or any of the old versions, I will take this one (realizing I will regret saying that).
While I still oppose this bill, the proposed floor mod is an improvement from the prior versions. Specifically this has changed from before:
"E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that any motor vehicle yield right-of-way and stop for any professional severe weather tracker."
It also makes it clear that:
"F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a professional severe weather tracker to impersonate a law enforcement officer or first responder, or to block roads or prevent the free and regular flow of traffic upon the roads of this state."
This bill now only allows a licensed "Professional Severe Weather Tracker" (PSWT) to:
- Have and use a combination of green and yellow flashing lights,
- Travel upon roads, highways, and county roads closed by the Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, any city or county, or any law enforcement agency by reason of conditions triggered by the significant weather event (although a LEO can still keep them from entering the closed area if the conditions which caused such closure present too grave a risk for the life and safety of the PSWT),
- Run a red light after coming to a complete stop,
- Speed so long as speeding does not endanger life or property,
- Disregard regulations governing direction of movement, and
- Disregard regulations governing turning in specified directions.
A subset of TV station chasers already think traffic laws don't apply to them, so not much changes here other than they will be correct. Sort of this entire bill going away, I would like to see "disregard regulations governing direction of movement" removed from this bill, as while allowed to by law, Fire and Police/Sheriff Dept policy often prohibits driving the wrong way because it is so dangerous (this is why you see Fire and Police fighting thru the traffic jam to get to a freeway accident instead of seeing them drive the wrong way).
Also note my use of bolding the word proposed floor mod, as this amendment appears to have not been brought to the floor yet and approved. Until that happens we have to assume that that it will either not be brought or if brought it may not get approved and the old version may be the one considered by the floor.
This bill still has a lot of technical problems. It still puts the public and chasers in danger (especially when a PSWT runs a red light and hits a vehicle that isn't required by law to yield to it or when a PSWT drives the wrong way). It also sets up a framework for more regulation in the future. But if my choice is this amendment or any of the old versions, I will take this one (realizing I will regret saying that).
Fantastic work Dan! Might clarify wording on last sentences as follows, since it is not crystal clear who 'the group' is referring to. "The Bill sponsors state their goal is to get amateurs off the roads. Amateurs already provide 7 times more reports than the broadcast media who are seeking not just to remove amateurs from the roads, but special emergency privileges."