Drone flying illegally?

[Gunsmoke]

Hello. There's been a drone flying over houses at about 10 30 pm here lately. It hovers low over houses as to be looking in the windows. Several neighbors have seen it right in front of their house hovering for a while. Voyeurism? Supposedly illegal. It has flown right down almost eye level over a couple of neighbors with no pilot anywhere around. It appears to be looking in windows at night. Also hovering over several pools where the owners have young girls and grand daughters that swim regularly. It flys very low over neighbors, their houses and property late at night. We've seen it several times. Several neighbors including myself know exactly who it is and have recorded it hovering over us and landing at the owners truck and building. It's taking place and recorded at night so faces and license plate isn't visible. Multiple people have this recorded. Any advice on how to proceed with this? Talking to this person isn't an option. They are very hostile, threatening and will sue immediately if anyone touches their property. Also drugs are being bought and sold from this property so there is traffic in and out of this business all night. Any advice on how to deal with this drone would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LimitedPowers]

In my state there are specific laws that ban invasion of privacy or voyerism by drones. if you have similar laws in your place take a video of the offending behavior and make a call to LEO. If you're lucky they will help, otherwise you might consider a well thrown sandal. Seriously though it's hard to prove voyerism unless its clearly loitering with intent and you can prove it with video. If the operator is already on LEO's radar by being on parole, has priors, or is otherwise on their S-list you might get results. An extra bonus is if they are using the drone to deliver drugs, thats actually quite clever and I'm sure some kind of FAA felony .

 

[Gunsmoke]

Our last sherrif was just arrested by the feds a couple months ago. Again. He's an ex employee of this this particular business. The entire sherrifs dept is corrupt. So they're not going to do anything that would cut into their secondary business. They've already told us that they won't touch it. We're pretty much alone in this ordeal. There are some folks here that are talking about taking care of this particular drone theirselves. Definitely not a good idea but we don't have many other options.

 

[LimitedPowers]

That's rough, there aren't any legal ways for normal folks to bring down an offending UAS, except for maybe the aforementioned projectile sandal method. But that requires a finesse that few arms possess. Theoretically there are some decidedly FCC unapproved devices that are for sale in faraway Asia that might cause the UAS to enter RTH (assuming it has GPS), and for even more yankee dollars you can become your own GNSS constellation for a few minutes and give the UAS a new, updated home point in the next county. But none of these options are safe and effective for normal folks, and probably more illegal than whatever the annoying drone is doing. Maybe a really bright spotlight aimed at it might drive it off?

 

[AeroJ]

I think the people it appears to be spying on need to be ready at the windows with 'surprise' throwable towels / nets to take that puppy down without destroying the video evidence it carries !

Presumably people are a) aware it is there while it is and b) have curtains, that would seem to be the most effective passive option other than reporting it, or trying to find the operator...

 

[JimWest]

That's rough, there aren't any legal ways for normal folks to bring down an offending UAS, except for maybe the aforementioned projectile sandal method. But that requires a finesse that few arms possess. Theoretically there are some decidedly FCC unapproved devices that are for sale in faraway Asia that might cause the UAS to enter RTH (assuming it has GPS), and for even more yankee dollars you can become your own GNSS constellation for a few minutes and give the UAS a new, updated home point in the next county. But none of these options are safe and effective for normal folks, and probably more illegal than whatever the annoying drone is doing. Maybe a really bright spotlight aimed at it might drive it off?

If you have a corrupt sheriff, be very careful of using illegal methods. I like the bright spotlight option for that reason. Maybe even a couple of high-powered flashlights could work if this guy is flying so low.

 

[Cafguy]

What the pilot is doing is HIGHLY illegal and you need to report them to the FAA!!
You should file a report with the local police...If they are corrupt as you say, then you need to also report THAT to your States district attorney and the FBI, and the U.S. attorneys office.
As for your hero pilot......If you know who it is....... Report that fact to the FAA when you file a report.
Reports can be filed online at the FAA Dronezone OR you can call......(844) 835-5322.
Whatever you do - DO NOT try and disturb the Drone or "knock it out of the sky" that is also very illegal and can get you into a mess of trouble.
If you are not sure how to go about this I would be happy to do it for you. provide details below.........

 

[PHZ]

Another possible violation: if the drone is flying after sunset and has no anti-collision lighting which is visible for three miles, that is a violation. Report that to the FAA.
One more tactic you might consider; take a drone and go photograph the guy with the truck and the drone. I doubt he would like it and may get the message.
I do like the spotlight idea. It is doubtful he could get anything useful with a spotlight shining in the camera.

 

[Starz]

Report that to the FAA

Best recourse. Just a phone call away.

 

[Dale D]

Hello. There's been a drone flying over houses at about 10 30 pm here lately. It hovers low over houses as to be looking in the windows. Several neighbors have seen it right in front of their house hovering for a while. Voyeurism? Supposedly illegal. It has flown right down almost eye level over a couple of neighbors with no pilot anywhere around. It appears to be looking in windows at night. Also hovering over several pools where the owners have young girls and grand daughters that swim regularly. It flys very low over neighbors, their houses and property late at night. We've seen it several times. Several neighbors including myself know exactly who it is and have recorded it hovering over us and landing at the owners truck and building. It's taking place and recorded at night so faces and license plate isn't visible. Multiple people have this recorded. Any advice on how to proceed with this? Talking to this person isn't an option. They are very hostile, threatening and will sue immediately if anyone touches their property. Also drugs are being bought and sold from this property so there is traffic in and out of this business all night. Any advice on how to deal with this drone would be greatly appreciated.

Are you in ther Eureka rive area of Miami? I would think of calling the police to deal with them.

 

[mavic3usa]

Sounds to me like you might need to move.

 

[Jim Martin]

Add my vote to contacting the FAA. Try to get as many of your affected neighbors to contact the FAA as well. If you can, get some video of the drone. I know it's happening at night, but even a somewhat dark and grainy video could provide additional evidence to persuade the FAA. There are some pretty hard core folks in your area (Where I live in the Sierra foothills is somewhat similar). Be careful and consider how they might react and be prepared.

 

[HoozierDroneDaddy]

If you have a corrupt sheriff, be very careful of using illegal methods. I like the bright spotlight option for that reason. Maybe even a couple of high-powered flashlights could work if this guy is flying so low.

Or laser to disrupt his camera??
If they are moving drugs, contact a state LEO agency and let them know the locals are friends with them as your reason for going above them.

 

[Bad Santa]

It's illegal to shoot them down but I'm not sure it's illegal to toss a net at it.

 

[MS Coast]

It's illegal to shoot them down but I'm not sure it's illegal to toss a net at it.

The regulation doesn't mention firearms, nets, tennis rackets, garden hoses, or any other specific devices.

 

[Bad Santa]

The regulation doesn't mention firearms, nets, tennis rackets, garden hoses, or any other specific devices.

Firing into the sky (other than for bird hunting in specific areas) is generally illegal.

 

[MS Coast]

Firing into the sky (other than for bird hunting in specific areas) is generally illegal.

Not addressed by the FAA and not specific to aircraft.

 

[jaja6009]

For further documentation do this.

Download the Drone Scanner App. It is free and works best on Android.

If the drone is a newer model and higher end like (DJI, Autel, newer/higher end Rukos and Holy Stones) you will be able to obtain information from the drone from it broadcasting Remote ID or RID.

This will include a flight track to include altitude and if this is built-in Remote ID the location of the pilot.

You must be reasonably close in distance and not be blocked by buildings. I have had this work as far as 1/4 mile. Remember to turn on WiFi and Bluetooth on your phone.

Why this is not full proof:

• Older drones don't have RID
• Cheap drones don't all have RID
• Mini drones don't all have RID (Less than 0.55 lbs)
• Home built drones don't have RID unless added

Contact the police. States have counter drone assets that could easily be setup in your area and the good systems don't just use RID or DJI Aeroscope (DJI version of counter drone) to find the culprits. There may even be one of these counter drone systems that captured your area already during these flights. Our State police always have theirs up and running and in NJ with it being so flat, pick up drones from extreme distances from the system.

I wish you were in NJ and close. I have a RIDER system that can pick up drones broadcasting RID for miles.

I hope they find this person and crack em with both state laws and FAA regs.

 

[Gunsmoke]

Thanks for all the replys. I didn't want to mention it since I'm not that kind of guy but I did file a complaint with the FAA. They were totally useless. I sent them several videos of them flying at night and landing. A neighbor filed a complaint and he also has videos. FAA responded with a letter saying they had received my message and would look in to it. About a week later I was asked about the details and sent the videos and several emails with names and addresses explaining the situation. About 2 weeks later they sent an email saying they didn't have enough evidence to pursue the matter any further. A neighbor also filed a report and they didn't respond to him.

I always thought the FAA took these matters seriously. They were doing the same thing again last night. Flying over people and hovering low over houses. At least 4 neighbors watched it flying, hovering and landing at the same place. Our current sheriff lives in the neighborhood and they are flying over his house also. He doesn't seem concerned at all. He also just replaced the other sherriff that was just sent to prison. Odd situation.

I'm not the kind of person to turn someone in for something but this has gone too far and we cant get any help from anyone. I feel that one of the neighbors is going to put a stop to it next time it's seen. I'm trying to do everything legally and keep everyone out of trouble. If it was a hawk getting our chickens we could stop it. But since it's a drone it's evidently protected by the FAA. Which has no respect by anyone in this area since they won't do their job with all the leg work already done and video evidence handed to them. Typical government agency I guess.

Also one neighbor is a Blackhawk helicopter instructor and has a authorized landing zone in his back field which is about 100 yards from the building where this guy takes off and lands his drone at night. He's been seen flying through this LZ at night by multiple people. There are 2 Blackhawks that land and take off from that LZ periodically. Always around 10 pm. That concerns me. I told the FAA that in the emails. Didn't seem to bother them at all.

I'm very cautious about following all the rules but I see the FAA lets drones do whatever they want to in this particular area.