01-16-2017, 01:24 AM
I would think twice about shooting down a drone. Unless you could convince a reasonable jury that it presented an immediate threat, I would recommend simply calling the police if you feel harassed.
The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy in public areas. I'm sure the coming years will bring more legal clarity on drone usage but for now, drone pilots have quite a bit of protection if they are following state and FAA rules. Drones weighing over 1/2 pound are required to display an FAA registration number. If you find one with a number on it, they can locate the owner pretty quickly.
Drone tech has advanced a lot in the last few years. Some of the more popular models fly up to 40-50mph, have a +2 mile range (but must be kept within line of sight), and can stay airborne for close to 30 minutes. They also relay real-time HD video back to the pilot and the video can be recorded both on the drone and at the control station.
I have been flying drones for about 5 years. There are a lot of stupid drone owners that give the rest of us a bad name.
I won't fly over people, don't film anyone without permission, and respect the airspace above private property. Most importantly, I don't let flying drones interfere with my fishing addiction.
The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy in public areas. I'm sure the coming years will bring more legal clarity on drone usage but for now, drone pilots have quite a bit of protection if they are following state and FAA rules. Drones weighing over 1/2 pound are required to display an FAA registration number. If you find one with a number on it, they can locate the owner pretty quickly.
Drone tech has advanced a lot in the last few years. Some of the more popular models fly up to 40-50mph, have a +2 mile range (but must be kept within line of sight), and can stay airborne for close to 30 minutes. They also relay real-time HD video back to the pilot and the video can be recorded both on the drone and at the control station.
I have been flying drones for about 5 years. There are a lot of stupid drone owners that give the rest of us a bad name.
I won't fly over people, don't film anyone without permission, and respect the airspace above private property. Most importantly, I don't let flying drones interfere with my fishing addiction.