Should Storm Chasing Be Regulated?

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

For the sake of discussion, do you think storm chasing should be regulated? In other words, to legally storm chase one must take some kind of training and pass some kind of certification exam (similar to a drivers test).

Personally I think this would be a good idea (depending how it was done). It makes me nervous to know there are a whole bunch of people out there chasing storms that have absolutely no idea what they are doing. Does that mean I think I know everything? Absolutely not. However, I put ALOT of effort into learning storms, tornadoes, chasing safety, etc before I went out for my first chase. I know the majority of 'newbs' don't do that though...

Anyhow, what do you guys think about regulating it? Would it even be possible?

 

[Jason Foster]

No...to put it simple.

I'm too rushed at the moment to pull up related threads that this has been discussed previously, but I think the basic consensus was it isn't even possible.

What do you actually regulate?

Roads? Nah...can't do that, because if you block roads, residents complain. Might block escape routes.
The act of Chasing? How do you legally prove it?
Require training/certification? How do you prevent non-registered chasers from chasing.

Speed controls are already in affect, and chasers can't use private property. There are already some (but not many) laws about the various equipment chasers use (the dashboard discussion, lightbars discussion), but all which aren't required for chasing, only common. There are tour groups that have regulations because of tour group laws and restriction that are the same throughout the industry. Overall storm chasing doesn't do anything that isn't basically an everyday activity, we just drive, talk, etc. around a major storm...instead of a clear day.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

No...to put it simple.

I'm too rushed at the moment to pull up related threads that this has been discussed previously, but I think the basic consensus was it isn't even possible. What do you actually regulate?

I apologize if this has been discussed - that will teach me not to search first. As far as what to regulate that of course is the main problem. You could require vehicles to have a certain 'permit' on their vehicle before they are allowed within a certain distance from for example a tornadic storm. There are usually a fair amount of law enforcement out during these events (not that they aren't busy at the time though).

I understand what you are saying but I guess I kind of look at it like a fishing license. Sure you can go fishing without that license but sooner or later the DNR will catch you...

 

[Marcus Hicks]

Like there there aren't enough regulations in our life. Look, if someone wants to chase with no experiance and potentialy get themselves killed in the process. Who am I or anyone to say they can't. All I ask is they stream their demise live because the footage would never make it to you tube.

 

[Damon Poole]

No, chasing should not be regulated.

No, I don't think it should be regulated by law, except for enforcing existing traffic, trespassing, and false reporting laws. As far as training, a SKYWARN spotter training course should be highly recommended. That would give an examination based official certification of training in basic and advanced storm spotting, although the NWS does not endorse storm chasing.

For the sake of discussion, do you think storm chasing should be regulated? In other words, to legally storm chase one must take some kind of training and pass some kind of certification exam (similar to a drivers test).

Personally I think this would be a good idea (depending how it was done). It makes me nervous to know there are a whole bunch of people out there chasing storms that have absolutely no idea what they are doing. Does that mean I think I know everything? Absolutely not. However, I put ALOT of effort into learning storms, tornadoes, chasing safety, etc before I went out for my first chase. I know the majority of 'newbs' don't do that though...

Anyhow, what do you guys think about regulating it? Would it even be possible?

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Like there there aren't enough regulations in our life. Look, if someone wants to chase with no experiance and potentialy get themselves killed in the process. Who am I or anyone to say they can't. All I ask is they stream their demise live because the footage would never make it to you tube.

I hear you and can't say I disagree about already having to many regulations. My concern though is the safety of others when these 'uninformed' people are chasing and also I am concerned about the seemingly inevitable situation when several chasers are killed while chasing (not that this couldn't happen to the best of us but it more then likely will happen to someone who doesn't know what they are doing). If this does happen then the media will be all over storm chasing and how 'dangerous' it is, etc, etc which may lead to issues with law enforcement, etc. I know this is a bit of a stretch but its definitely IMO a possibility. If it is regulated before that happens it might not only save some lives but also make our lives easier in the long run...

 

[Jason Foster]

I apologize if this has been discussed - that will teach me not to search first. As far as what to regulate that of course is the main problem. You could require vehicles to have a certain 'permit' on their vehicle before they are allowed within a certain distance from for example a tornadic storm. There are usually a fair amount of law enforcement out during these events (not that they aren't busy at the time though).

I understand what you are saying but I guess I kind of look at it like a fishing license. Sure you can go fishing without that license but sooner or later the DNR will catch you...

Jeremy...I don't think a new thread was a bad idea in this case...because it has been awhile. I hope though someone (if not me later on) will track down and link the older related threads.

 

[Marcus Hicks]

Jeremy, Your right about the media, but remember someone always has to be the bad guy for them. I personally feel there are too many positives from people being out there providing real time information for it to be stopped totally. And I think its the media's fault for this becoming the new fad. They air the extreme video hence causing someone else to say "I can get that shot even closer." It's the media that provides the market for fame not passion for severe weather.

 

[Ryan Wichman]

There would be no effective way to regulate storm chasing, aside from keeping people from parking on the side of roads/highways.

I hear you and can't say I disagree about already having to many regulations. My concern though is the safety of others when these 'uninformed' people are chasing and also I am concerned about the seemingly inevitable situation when several chasers are killed while chasing (not that this couldn't happen to the best of us but it more then likely will happen to someone who doesn't know what they are doing). If this does happen then the media will be all over storm chasing and how 'dangerous' it is, etc, etc which may lead to issues with law enforcement, etc. I know this is a bit of a stretch but its definitely IMO a possibility. If it is regulated before that happens it might not only save some lives but also make our lives easier in the long run...

On the other hand you have seasoned chasers and meteorologists who are driving right into tornadoes on purpose. If we truly concerned about each others safety, there would be chasers up in arms about these tanks that drive into tornadoes. Like it or not, storm chasing is going to keep growing and the only thing we can hope for is the people who get into the hobby for fame and money lose interest before they kill themselves. But the way I see it, there is really no way to regulate chasing.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

Jeremy, Your right about the media, but remember someone always has to be the bad guy for them. I personally feel there are too many positives from people being out there providing real time information for it to be stopped totally. And I think its the media's fault for this becoming the new fad. They air the extreme video hence causing someone else to say "I can get that shot even closer." It's the media that provides the market for fame not passion for severe weather.

Good points. However, I don't want chasing to be stopped I just want people who are out there to at least have some idea what they are doing (this would also help with the 'false reports' like whats described in a recent thread here). I know that regulating things effectively would be next to impossible but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be regulated. It's almost impossible to regulate all the hunters out there - but they are still regulated by requiring people to have permits and take classes.

I also agree the media has definitely fueled at least some of these issues by giving the impression anyone can safely get close to a tornado (or even drive into one).

 

[Skip Talbot]

I understand what you are saying but I guess I kind of look at it like a fishing license. Sure you can go fishing without that license but sooner or later the DNR will catch you...

The fishing analogy is a good one. The DNR catches you when they see you have a fishing pole in your hand and a line in the water. Storm chasing doesn't have a fishing pole (or a regulating body). You can go out on a lake in a boat, with an electronic fish finder, a trolling motor, running lights, and be near fish but that doesn't mean you're fishing. Chasing is the same way, just because you're in a car, with a GPS system, a lightbar on your roof, and you're near a thunderstorm, doesn't mean you're chasing.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

The fishing analogy is a good one. The DNR catches you when they see you have a fishing pole in your hand and a line in the water. Storm chasing doesn't have a fishing pole (or a regulating body). You can go out on a lake in a boat, with an electronic fish finder, a trolling motor, running lights, and be near fish but that doesn't mean you're fishing. Chasing is the same way, just because you're in a car, with a GPS system, a lightbar on your roof, and you're near a thunderstorm, doesn't mean you're chasing.

Thats true...but if they set it up so only people with permits are allowed within a certain radius of a tornadic storm - say 2 miles from they most dangerous part of the storm until the storm passes then it doesn't matter what the person is doing if they don't have a permit then they can't get closer. It would cut down on these people who feel the need to get within say 50 yards of a tornado or even to drive into the tornado and thus help keep at least 'some' of the people who are simply out for recognition away from storm chasing (or at least it would make it less appealing)...

As I already stated though, a big problem is who would enforce this...obviously law enforcement would already have their hands full if a tornado was rolling through...

 

[Marcus Hicks]

The fishing analogy is a good one. The DNR catches you when they see you have a fishing pole in your hand and a line in the water. Storm chasing doesn't have a fishing pole (or a regulating body). You can go out on a lake in a boat, with an electronic fish finder, a trolling motor, running lights, and be near fish but that doesn't mean you're fishing. Chasing is the same way, just because you're in a car, with a GPS system, a lightbar on your roof, and you're near a thunderstorm, doesn't mean you're chasing.

hahaha your right and "I'm not a chaser see heres my press pass I'm a blogger" Sorry I saw that posted somewhere before about just making a press pass. I think there will always be a way around it(regulation).

 

[Jason Boggs]

First of all, this will never happen. It's just too hard to control. Regulating someone from being 2 miles from a storm without a license would be impossible to do, and it would cost too much money. Money for the police to be near the storms regulating them, and too much money for the classes and the certificate/license. The police have too much to worry about than regulating people near storms. It's been brought up here already, but it would be too hard to prove who is really chasing and who isn't.

 

[Jeremy Den Hartog]

First of all, this will never happen. It's just too hard to control. Regulating someone from being 2 miles from a storm without a license would be impossible to do, and it would cost too much money. Money for the police to be near the storms regulating them, and too much money for the classes and the certificate/license. The police have too much to worry about than regulating people near storms. It's been brought up here already, but it would be too hard to prove who is really chasing and who isn't.

Good point and more then likely you are right but man it would be nice if it were possible - oh well...