FYI..
A Port Kembla man is facing up to $28,500 in fines after pleading guilty to operating a drone too close to neighbouring properties.
Court documents said Glen Arthur Bingle's neighbours reported his actions to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority seven times before they eventually took action, issuing him with fines for three breaches said to have occurred on individual days in February, March and July, 2017.
On each occasion, the neighbours filmed Bingle's drone as it hovered low and close to their properties - sometimes coming within five metres of the residents - well under the minimum 30-metre distance required under the federal legislation.
He also flew it at nighttime, against regulations that say drones should only be flown during daylight hours.
Read more: New drone rules for recreational flyers
CASA eventually sent Bingle fines in the mail in September 2017.
Court documents said Bingle returned the envelope containing the penalty notices to CASA the following month with the words "return to sender no one lives here" written on the front.
Police stationed at Port Kembla subsequently served the fines on Bingle in person.
He wrote to CASA in November asking for the fines to be withdrawn. CASA refused but agreed to extend the due date for payment of the fines.
However, Bingle called the authority in January 2018 advising he had no intention of paying the fines.
CASA launched court action against Bingle, bringing him before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday on two charges of operating a model aircraft under the allowable height and one count of flying a model aircraft within 30 metres of a person.
All three charges carry a total combined fine of $28,500, court documents said.
A Port Kembla man is facing up to $28,500 in fines after pleading guilty to operating a drone too close to neighbouring properties.
Court documents said Glen Arthur Bingle's neighbours reported his actions to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority seven times before they eventually took action, issuing him with fines for three breaches said to have occurred on individual days in February, March and July, 2017.
On each occasion, the neighbours filmed Bingle's drone as it hovered low and close to their properties - sometimes coming within five metres of the residents - well under the minimum 30-metre distance required under the federal legislation.
He also flew it at nighttime, against regulations that say drones should only be flown during daylight hours.
Read more: New drone rules for recreational flyers
CASA eventually sent Bingle fines in the mail in September 2017.
Court documents said Bingle returned the envelope containing the penalty notices to CASA the following month with the words "return to sender no one lives here" written on the front.
Police stationed at Port Kembla subsequently served the fines on Bingle in person.
He wrote to CASA in November asking for the fines to be withdrawn. CASA refused but agreed to extend the due date for payment of the fines.
However, Bingle called the authority in January 2018 advising he had no intention of paying the fines.
CASA launched court action against Bingle, bringing him before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday on two charges of operating a model aircraft under the allowable height and one count of flying a model aircraft within 30 metres of a person.
All three charges carry a total combined fine of $28,500, court documents said.
