Storm chasing can be dangerous. While no license is required in the US, taking a storm spotting class with your local National Weather Service is highly recommended to help you understand the risks and stay safe.
Oklahoma Proposes Licensing for Storm Chasers
A new bill in Oklahoma, Senate Bill 158, aims to regulate storm chasing by requiring a ‘Severe Weather Tracker License’ primarily for individuals affiliated with TV media or universities. Critics argue this legislation could limit who can legally chase storms, potentially impacting personal freedoms and the amateur storm chasing community. Proponents might see it as a means to ensure safety during severe weather events, though the exact motivations behind restricting licenses remain debated.
In recent years, Oklahoma has seen proposals aimed at regulating storm chasing, often with the stated goal of improving safety for both chasers and the public. These proposals have included ideas like:
- Requiring permits or licenses: This would involve chasers meeting certain criteria, potentially including knowledge of severe weather, safety protocols, and insurance requirements.
- Restricting access to certain areas: Limiting where chasers can go during severe weather events to prevent them from hindering emergency responders or putting themselves in unnecessary danger.
- Imposing fines for violations: Holding chasers accountable for reckless behavior or actions that interfere with public safety.
“A lot of discourse over a potential “storm chasing” bill, but sounds like it actually addresses some complaints from storm chasers in a favorable way. So, correct me if I’m wrong, but from reading through it… The bill does NOT ban storm chasing at all. Rather, it actually GIVES special privileges to media & researchers, like light displays and closed road access. It also makes breaking this rule more enforceable. Complaints about chasers imitating officials and breaking traffic laws seem to come in higher volume than most else. Going off that, this appears to help the chaser community, and if you’ve followed the law, it shouldn’t change much for you.” Tucker Antico, Meteorologist at Boston25.
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Another viewpoint on X stated:
“I feel like people may not be reading the OK storm chaser bill… The bill seems to just be creating a “licensed storm chaser” with extra privileges (such as access to closed roads and ability to use emergency lights)… Seems like it will be limited to mostly TV outlets and perhaps streamers that have an org (with a ‘chief meteorologist’) that is considered a “qualified media outlet”, so not something most people can just go get. It does *not* seem to be adding anything that will affect normal storm chasers, that I can tell? All it does is add some defined penalties for doing things like adding emergency lights to your car (which is silly to do if you’re not on official business anyways), and accessing closed areas…which you also shouldn’t be doing anyways without official direction. Not really bad things, IMO? Most people won’t have a chief meteorologist and a qualified media entity to sign up under, so it leaves most people exactly where they are now.” @wxKobold