Oklahoma Weather Tracking Licensure Legislation

[Mike Smith]

Could this backfire? Like with these guys thinking, “Look at all these out-of-state yahoos clogging our roads on dangerous weather days, this just shows why we need this bill” ???

Jim and everyone, perhaps you missed what I wrote above: the key is to call it storm tourism. All of the hotel/motel rooms, meals, gas and other purchases -- especially where they are badly needed in rural Oklahoma. Most go the people who go on storm tours fly into OKC. All of this adds up.

Big trucks tear up roads. Storm chasing does not.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I'm not sure arguing "tourism" will help. It may indeed provide them with a reasoning to pass the law. I don't chase enough in Oklahoma to worry too much and I completely avoid the OKC area. This is more about public safety including chasers. My previous, lengthy post covers the reasoning. There are issues with this law being a motivation and blueprint for other states to follow.

 

[Warren Faidley]

The best most chasers can do is fire up social media so the word gets out. If anyone has contacts with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, it would be beneficial for them to know the progress of this law, which every single LE I've spoken to rejects.

 

[gdlewen]

Could this backfire? Like with these guys thinking, “Look at all these out-of-state yahoos clogging our roads on dangerous weather days, this just shows why we need this bill” ???

No, I don't think this will backfire for that reason. Chaser convergence is extremely transitory for obvious reasons. Not like Jersey Shore traffic in summer, which is chronic: 24/7 nightmare during the summer.

I just didn't want out-of-state folks to think they had no stake in this fight. (Aside from "We don't want this to spread to my state.")

 

[Jamie H]

3: Undefined laws: With hundreds of county and city jurisdictions interpreting the law "as they see fit," this could result in the arrest or citing of innocent chasers who do not qualify for a license but have every legal right to travel on open highways. Theoretically, chasers discovered in a "license" only area or in a convoy of licensed vehicles could face fines or arrest.

8: No allowance for EMS chasers: The bill does not allow qualified, certified EMS personnel (in and out of state) to respond in a similar manner via licensing. These individuals have a history of assisting rural communities where EMS services may be limited or delayed. Preventing highly trained individuals entry because they do not have a "license" is unacceptable.

9: Lack of support by law enforcement. No active law enforcement officers in Okalhoma have come forward to support this bill. The idea of allowing civilians to run "code" with emergency equipment is absurd.

Great points through your entire post Warren.

I wanted to add to these ones if I may:

3. There's no explicit information on what constitutes a chaser or not. If an Oklahoman decides, on the way home from work, to detour via a storm to see the tornado, are they a chaser who is liable for a fine, or a resident who is going about their business? If you're driving across the state and a warning is issued, do you have to have live updates enabled in your vehicle to know where you can and cannot go? Will they pull over trucks on the interstate?

8. My first thought here was Daniel Shaw. Do they really want someone like that, who is trained and carries emergency equipment, to vacate the area? Or help save lives?

9. One possible early win could be to get local police / police unions (not sure how it works there) against this bill. Sounds like they haven't even been consulted.

 

[Jamie H]

No, I don't think this will backfire for that reason. Chaser convergence is extremely transitory for obvious reasons. Not like Jersey Shore traffic in summer, which is chronic: 24/7 nightmare during the summer.

I just didn't want out-of-state folks to think they had no stake in this fight. (Aside from "We don't want this to spread to my state.")

Agree. It's not like OK is a huge tourist draw at the best of times (not trying to be cruel, just realistic), but storms must bring millions of dollars in revenue for the state. Why cut that off?

 

[Warren Faidley]

There is a major lobbying effort by the local TV stations and OU. I also saw an interview with Sen. Mann where he totally dumbed down his language.

Unless more chasers join the fight I think there is a better than 50% chance this will move forward and pass.

 

[Warren Faidley]

More and more groups and individuals are joining the fight. Will you be remembered as a fighter or a coward?

 

[Mike Dorame]

More and more groups and individuals are joining the fight. Will you be remembered as a fighter or a coward?

View attachment 26710

Now that sounds like COMMON SENSE!

 

[Warren Faidley]

For those who continue to say this bill will not have any effect on chasing....

Under Oklahoma Emergency Vehicle laws, Title 47, a licensed professional chaser could block any road and you could not pass them. They could drive 10 miles per hour while shooting out the window and you could not pass them. If you pass too close, (11-45) then you get a $1,000 fine and could lose your license. You could also be cited for any number of traffic offenses related to emergency vehicles, to be determined by LE according to Sen. Mann. Any chaser who says this bill will not effect chasers is lying.

 

[gdlewen]

For those who continue to say this bill will not have any effect on chasing....

Under Oklahoma Emergency Vehicle laws, Title 47, a licensed professional chaser could block any road and you could not pass them. They could drive 10 miles per hour while shooting out the window and you could not pass them. If you pass too close, (11-45) then you get a $1,000 fine and could lose your license. You could also be cited for any number of traffic offenses related to emergency vehicles, to be determined by LE according to Sen. Mann. Any chaser who says this bill will not effect chasers is lying.

If they will have this power then they should be trained as law enforcement and made to take the same oath of office as law enforcement personnel.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Can anyone image what would have happened during the El Reno tragedy if #SB158 would have been in effect? We (and others), had to pass multiple research and local TV crews to escape. Under the new law, passing multiple "emergency vehicles" would have got me thrown in jail.

And you know TV stations would not hesitate to post footage of anyone they feel violated their license privileges.

 

[Brett Roberts]

The bill was just formally introduced in the OK House by Fetgatter this morning. See roughly 10:44:30 AM - 10:58:00 AM on this recording: Business

He excoriates KFOR for poor reporting on the bill, then goes on to emphasize that the bill is intended to change absolutely nothing about current chasing, including recreational. He claims to be a recreational chaser himself, and when asked what motivated the bill, he describes a storm approaching his home town where TV chasers appeared unable to keep up with the storm.

Just my brief summary of what was said, not an endorsement at all. I still wholeheartedly agree with most everyone here that regardless of its stated intent, this is at minimum a slippery slope, foot in the door, etc. that in the very best case would still encourage even more reckless media behavior while not helping the rest of us.

 

[Warren Faidley]

The fight is now official. Chasers will either ignore this bill or fight it. This is one of those historic moments in the evolution of storm chasing where we will look back with either regret because of cowardliness or honor because we fought the good fight.

 

[William Monfredo]

I never thought I'd see something like this, although many of you did. I viewed the appropriately-linked business video (thanks) and noticed that even though Fetgatter states he's an Oklahoma storm-chaser and long-time resident, he's never seen a tornado. That's kinda odd.
He appears to champion select organizations and people blowing red lights, and one lady correctly asked about possible litigation and liabilities to chief meteorologists. Why am I picturing a big problem with lighted intersections where innocent chasers and other drivers get smashed into?