Recently I was flying the riverfront in Savannah in an Indusrtial area on a Saturday morning when I was approached by a Security Guard. I was polite when he pulled up on his golf cart, I said hello, "what's going on"? He said what's going on is you need to stop flying that drone over our facilities. You are spying on the US Government and you are in big trouble. He said the water and shoreline was property of the United States Coast Guard. He kept trying to intimidate me and try to make me believe I was in deep trouble. I noticed he was growing annoyed because I would not look at him while we were having this discussion. I tried to explain VFR and frankly the safety of my drone was my main focus. The conversation continued as the Mavic came home and then he started with the what's your name, address, etc.
Here's when it got interesting. I asked him specificaly what law(s) I was breaking, his only response was "you are flying/spying on the US Government, kept saying I was in trouble and whipped out his cell phone to call someone. I told him before you make the call, hear me out. First of all, I came to this area because I like shooting industrial footage (weird) and I purposely chose a Saturday because most of the facilities were closed for the weekend. Secondly, I scouted the area and in the entire Industrial complex not a single sign posted stating this was Government property. Thirdly, I was flying at 200 ft above the facilities, well above any air rights the "Gov" has established, and lastly I was outside any restricted airspace of FAA delineated Class airspace.
I calmly said, "while you keep saying that I'm in big trouble, I can assure you I'm in no trouble, perhaps inconvenienced but not in trouble". So now he tries the, you're trespassing crap. I annoyingly said, " that's false, I'm on the right of way of a public street", or are you saying that the US Coast Guard in responsible for paved roads as well? By now this guy sees I'm not backing down and decided to take a lesser abrasive approach. He says, " I need to see you land the drone, PLEASE"! Of course I will and I'll show you the shots I've taken...even delete them.
I ended the conversation with this. "Sir, since you approached me, I've been respectful, yet you are trying to intimidate me into thinking I'm in the wrong here. Let me assure you that as a FAA registered pilot, I probably know the laws better than you do and am willing proceed with whichever way you want to with this situation, so it's up to you".
He pondered, said, "could you please leave the area"? Took off on his golf cart and didn't even wait to see me land. In the end I never gave him my name, showed him my footage, or anything else.
As long as you know your rights, don't take any crap from people who think they are authoritarians. So many people think they know the rules when in fact they don't know a single one. They only know a Drone makes them uncomfortable.