Oklahoma Weather Tracking Licensure Legislation

[Brett Roberts]

I've been good at predicting the future of storm chasing over the years. I hereby officially predict if this bill passes, people will be seriously injured or killed as a direct result of allowing civilians to drive code-3. The most likely cause will be a head on collision between a media vehicle and civilian vehicle trying to escape the storm, or one of the established, reckless TV drivers losing control of his vehicle or a T-bone at an intersection.

I tend to agree with this prediction.

And thinking about it purely from the perspective of self interest, this is a nightmare scenario for the rest of us. Not only would we be at heightened risk for becoming a fatal victim of legally invincible NEWSNINE vehicles ourselves, but if/when this prediction comes true, the fallout would likely have ramifications for all chasers. A plausible scenario would involve this law passing, followed by a horrific incident within a few years that could easily be tied back to the law, followed by a legislative overcorrection in the direction of explicit restrictions on everyone.

After the session this morning, my best conceptual model of the bill is: "let's give one small subset of chasers already known for being exceptionally reckless a strong push toward being more reckless with legal protections, and then let everyone else pay for the inevitable consequences."

 

[Mike Thornton]

So, I am writing this from the standpoint of an Emergency Manager and veteran (I feel old) storm chaser....

Every few years (if not yearly) they attempt to get this bill passed through legislation in Oklahoma and it ALWAYS fails, which in my opinion is a good thing for multiple reasons. My focus is on the usage of warning lights. In the past, we have seen storm chasers illegally mount and utilize red and blues on their vehicles and be pulled over and charged for impersonating cops. Recently, I was watching someone's footage of the tornado near Duke, Oklahoma, last year and witnessed a white and black Dodge Charger that had storm-chasing decals on the side utilizing red and blue lights. I will not mention their name, BUT if I see them in my county (literally one county over) they will be on our watch list... In my opinion, there is no reason for a storm chaser to have the ability to utilize red and blue lights. If this were to be passed (doubt it will) I can see SO MANY PEOPLE abusing this and trying to play cop or get in the way of emergency responders after a disaster occurs. Furthermore, this will confuse the general public if a disaster occurs. Imagine if you will, that a damaging tornado occurs in a town and you see red and blue lights come up on you, thinking they are first responders who can help you, but rather it's just a bunch of media-hungry people looking to get the best shot. Furthermore, these media storm chasers half of the time do not abide by red and blues when public safety officials are attempting to get to a disaster. I have a personal experience trying to get around KOCO 5 and then blocking my way and continuing down the road as if they couldn't see my lights or hear my siren!

Additionally, I do not find it a good idea to allow storm chasers into disaster zones, even if they are with the media. If we have closed off an area after a disaster, there is a REASON FOR THAT! It's because the area is unsafe, and life safety is at risk. Allowing people into disaster zones who have no business being there or the training is a liability waiting to happen on the Incident Commander if they become injured, and that is a legal fight I do not want to deal with....

 

[Mike Dorame]

I wonder if NEWS9 is behind this? Someone must be pushing this bill 4 their own selfish wants. Did anyone ever find out who can be linked with this nonsense?

 

[Mike Dorame]

So, I am writing this from the standpoint of an Emergency Manager and veteran (I feel old) storm chaser....

Every few years (if not yearly) they attempt to get this bill passed through legislation in Oklahoma and it ALWAYS fails, which in my opinion is a good thing for multiple reasons. My focus is on the usage of warning lights. In the past, we have seen storm chasers illegally mount and utilize red and blues on their vehicles and be pulled over and charged for impersonating cops. Recently, I was watching someone's footage of the tornado near Duke, Oklahoma, last year and witnessed a white and black Dodge Charger that had storm-chasing decals on the side utilizing red and blue lights. I will not mention their name, BUT if I see them in my county (literally one county over) they will be on our watch list... In my opinion, there is no reason for a storm chaser to have the ability to utilize red and blue lights. If this were to be passed (doubt it will) I can see SO MANY PEOPLE abusing this and trying to play cop or get in the way of emergency responders after a disaster occurs. Furthermore, this will confuse the general public if a disaster occurs. Imagine if you will, that a damaging tornado occurs in a town and you see red and blue lights come up on you, thinking they are first responders who can help you, but rather it's just a bunch of media-hungry people looking to get the best shot. Furthermore, these media storm chasers half of the time do not abide by red and blues when public safety officials are attempting to get to a disaster. I have a personal experience trying to get around KOCO 5 and then blocking my way and continuing down the road as if they couldn't see my lights or hear my siren!

Additionally, I do not find it a good idea to allow storm chasers into disaster zones, even if they are with the media. If we have closed off an area after a disaster, there is a REASON FOR THAT! It's because the area is unsafe, and life safety is at risk. Allowing people into disaster zones who have no business being there or the training is a liability waiting to happen on the Incident Commander if they become injured, and that is a legal fight I do not want to deal with....

It sucks that any chasers would have red/blue lights. That's insane to me. It makes us all look bad. I'm not one of those anti-light folks either.

I don't know if I agree with shutting off a disaster zone right away, it has pros/cons.

LUKE 10:30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

I would feel very bad if I was close to people who needed help & I didn't render aid. Unless there were already enough responders helping.

 

[Andrew Fryhover]

I do not trust the Oklahoma legislature with anything, I do not trust Oklahoma LEOs, and I do not trust local "Emergency Management Directors" either. All three entities have shown themselves to be unthoughtful, unintelligent, and highly corruptible. I pay my taxes, I obey all our laws, I am a responsible citizen, I am a good and decent person. So, if I want to photograph or video a storm out in nature, in my home state of 47 years, I'll do that. Hands off of us. Leave it alone. This is absolute overreach.

 

[Mike Thornton]

I do not trust the Oklahoma legislature with anything, I do not trust Oklahoma LEOs, and I do not trust local "Emergency Management Directors" either. All three entities have shown themselves to be unthoughtful, unintelligent, and highly corruptible. I pay my taxes, I obey all our laws, I am a responsible citizen, I am a good and decent person. So, if I want to photograph or video a storm out in nature, in my home state of 47 years, I'll do that. Hands off of us. Leave it alone. This is absolute overreach.

Well, good thing this "Local EM Director" is not highly corrupt, unintelligent, and unthoughtful, and is speaking from a place of experience. That is a very bold statement, considering most Local EMA's do some incredible things for their jurisdictions. No one said you couldn't videograph or photograph storms, there is nothing against that. Lol. This bill discusses the need for licensing for media storm chasers.

 

[Mike Thornton]

It sucks that any chasers would have red/blue lights. That's insane to me. It makes us all look bad. I'm not one of those anti-light folks either.

I don't know if I agree with shutting off a disaster zone right away, it has pros/cons.

LUKE 10:30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

I would feel very bad if I was close to people who needed help & I didn't render aid. Unless there were already enough responders helping.

I am all for people helping others immediately after a disaster. I have done that while chasing outside my jurisdiction. My point was that in the hours and days after a disaster when we have determined that an area is unsafe to be in, that is when chasers should not be allowed in.

I am a rural EM and I highly understand the importance of people helping immediately after a disaster. Literally, it takes 45 minutes to get from one side of the county to the other, I am not discouraging that or saying chasers shouldn't do that. Again, focused on the hours/days after a disaster occurs and how chasers try to nudge their way in just to take footage and impede on operations.

 

[Mike Smith]

This bill discusses the need for licensing for media storm chasers.

There is no such "need" and it is clearly unconstitutional both at the state and federal levels.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Talked to a few EMS groups who are opposing the bill. They believe having 40-50+ additional emergency vehicles on the road will really be a problem. More soon.

 

[Warren Faidley]

lol.... so one of the news stations that is promoting the bill now says they may allow all journalist to run code-3. LOL I need to take a medical break and get O2 quickly from uncontrollable laughing. Can you imagine how many emergency vehicles this would add.

 

[Mike Thornton]

This bill discusses the need for licensing for media storm chasers.

There is no such "need" and it is clearly unconstitutional both at the state and federal levels.

You won't find any disagreements here. I think it's stupid, and so do many other public safety officials for many other reasons besides what I have already stated. I mean, do you expect us to enforce this in rural jurisdictions? I know I wouldn't, and likely my LEO won't UNLESS you cause an issue, but even then, we'll be pulled every which way during a disaster, and a storm chaser's credentials will be the least of our concerns. Lol.

Truthfully, I think this is one of those "crazy bills" that are put together to create discussion and buzz rather than be effective.

 

[Mike Dorame]

I am all for people helping others immediately after a disaster. I have done that while chasing outside my jurisdiction. My point was that in the hours and days after a disaster when we have determined that an area is unsafe to be in, that is when chasers should not be allowed in.

I am a rural EM and I highly understand the importance of people helping immediately after a disaster. Literally, it takes 45 minutes to get from one side of the county to the other, I am not discouraging that or saying chasers shouldn't do that. Again, focused on the hours/days after a disaster occurs and how chasers try to nudge their way in just to take footage and impede on operations.

Cool, sorry if I misunderstood. God bless.

 

[gdlewen]

Well the bill passed the OK House Business Committee 9-0 this morning. I checked the committee meeting agendas and didn't see it posted, so I didn't check again until too late. Ugh. You can view the meeting here:

Business

Business

sg001-harmony.sliq.net

Timestamp 10:44:41.

It's clear Fetgatter does not understand how this bill can be abused. What the Legislature intends is one thing; how the language is applied in the wild is where the "unintended consequences" begin.

 

[gdlewen]

Talked to a few EMS groups who are opposing the bill. They believe having 40-50+ additional emergency vehicles on the road will really be a problem. More soon.

We need to get LEO and EMS, if they oppose this bill, to speak up because what legislators are being told makes the bill sound innocuous.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I'm about ready to quit this campaign due to the disgusting lack of interest by other chasers, especially those who live in Oklahoma the flock of Internet chaser who this bill will squash. What the hell do they think is going to happen? Is there a sudden IQ venting within the community? I guarantee the first time they nearly get hit by some "professional TV" crew running code-3, they will be bitching and moaning. Or if they interfere with an "emergency vehicle" and have to pay a $1,000 fine. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people?