Drone police

[Kyle76]

I don’t know anything about this guy other than he provides Part 107 study content on the web, but if you get into a sketchy situation legally, he might be a place to start:

Drone Law and Drone Attorney Assistance

Aviation Drone Law author, FAA Certified Flight Instructor Pilot & Attorney Jonathan Rupprecht focusing on commercial drone legal and regulation issues .

jrupprechtlaw.com

 

[Reelman67]

I was at Red Rocks in Colorado (the music venue) in July. Always wanted video of the amazing geology. Took off some distance from tourists. 5 minutes from takeoff, a park ranger approached me saying no drone flying allowed. He was cordial about it, looking for voluntary compliance. He also warned me about the raptors in the area. I saw none. He left, I captured as much video as I could on the return flight. Wished I'd been set to 4K mode instead of 1080P mode (M2P). I did do some homework prior to flying. Never found any prohibitions against drones. Maybe I just didn't do enough research. I think I was ratted out. The ranger was there so quick. Apparently, I was occupying sensitive terrain. The signage was poor, lacked detail. This is the only time I have been confronted by an officer of any kind relating to drone flying.

 

[lookout]

I did say hash it out later.

What like how i fly most of the time. Not that I’m flying to hide but just
how I like to fly ?
View attachment 112035

Expensive little hunting hut you have there.

Not sure about the intereference to radio control being in a metal box on wheels.

Shade from the elements, yes...but shade from the device may not be too good.

Maybe a lazy chair?

 

[THE CYBORG]

Interesting to see the comment from The Cyborg regarding National Trust properties. The NT have no authority to prevent you flying over their properties, PROVIDED,
1. You do not take off or land from their land.
2. You strictly observe the regulations regarding flying over/near other people.

After the encounter I contacted the National Trust asking for permission to fly around a local stone circle that is on National Trust land, I did state I would only fly if there were no visitors & the place was deserted.
I received a generic reply stating no drones on NT land because they could cause damage to people and or property.
I can see the relevance in some situations but it’s easier to put a blanket ban on everything than make an exception.
Although they have no authority over the actual airspace I think it could / would be bad for our drone community to blatantly fly over property that doesn't want you to.

 

[Vic Moss]

Can we all have his number?

I'm all about sharing info and contacts, but since it's the private cell number of an FBI agent, I think I'll keep this on to myself... ?

 

[Vic Moss]

I was at Red Rocks in Colorado (the music venue) in July. Always wanted video of the amazing geology. Took off some distance from tourists. 5 minutes from takeoff, a park ranger approached me saying no drone flying allowed. He was cordial about it, looking for voluntary compliance. He also warned me about the raptors in the area. I saw none. He left, I captured as much video as I could on the return flight. Wished I'd been set to 4K mode instead of 1080P mode (M2P). I did do some homework prior to flying. Never found any prohibitions against drones. Maybe I just didn't do enough research. I think I was ratted out. The ranger was there so quick. Apparently, I was occupying sensitive terrain. The signage was poor, lacked detail. This is the only time I have been confronted by an officer of any kind relating to drone flying.

I live just a few miles from Red Rocks. And since it's a Denver City Park, no drones are allowed.

However, there is an elementary school at the edge of their boundaries. That's where I took off from to get this footage last winter.

 

[Vic Moss]

I don’t know anything about this guy other than he provides Part 107 study content on the web, but if you get into a sketchy situation legally, he might be a place to start:

Drone Law and Drone Attorney Assistance

Aviation Drone Law author, FAA Certified Flight Instructor Pilot & Attorney Jonathan Rupprecht focusing on commercial drone legal and regulation issues .

jrupprechtlaw.com

Jonathan is a good friend and a very knowledgable drone lawyer. I highly recommend him if anyone needs one.

 

[Ron (MM)]

Howdy .
It’s not my intent to start heavy discussions , it’s only intended to satisfy my curiosity.

Has anyone reading this been fined by any law enforcement agency for small issues , not flying above military top secret buildings , not flying 5 thousand feet above Cape Canaveral , or flying sport mode through a shopping mall on Christmas Eve .
I’m talking more like small incidents , like not having all your paperwork with you when flying, not having the appropriate alpha numeric nailed on your drone , well you get the picture .

Again let me say I’m just interested in how often pilots get themselves in hot water as a whole .

I do fly responsibly to the best of my ability/knowledge even excessively according to my wife .
I don’t know anybody in my drone cloud that has had a “ticket” for flying .


Well let me know
Thanks and happy flying to all .

I have only know of rumors of pilots getting tickets .I

Howdy .
It’s not my intent to start heavy discussions , it’s only intended to satisfy my curiosity.

Has anyone reading this been fined by any law enforcement agency for small issues , not flying above military top secret buildings , not flying 5 thousand feet above Cape Canaveral , or flying sport mode through a shopping mall on Christmas Eve .
I’m talking more like small incidents , like not having all your paperwork with you when flying, not having the appropriate alpha numeric nailed on your drone , well you get the picture .

Again let me say I’m just interested in how often pilots get themselves in hot water as a whole .

I do fly responsibly to the best of my ability/knowledge even excessively according to my wife .
I don’t know anybody in my drone cloud that has had a “ticket” for flying .


Well let me know
Thanks and happy flying to all .

I have heard rumors about that. My opinion on a drone police and issued fines for unlawful flight operations is that is inevitable..

 

[Gratton]

In my small town, you need permission from the director of parks and recreation to fly in the parks. That includes the town forest and pond which i'd like to photograph. I reached out to them and they mailed me the form today so I'm going to give them a call as they want me to state the date(s) I want to fly. I'm going to see if I can just put in an application monthly or quarterly as they generally want 21 days notice. Tough to tell what the weather is going to be like 3 weeks in advance.

My dad was a cop. He always told me, and I've passed it on to my kids, treat the police, and all LEOs with respect and things will go a lot smoother.

mikeg

 

[lookout]

Strange that the parks department has been the over seeing authority of airports in some places.

 

[Kyle76]

I live just a few miles from Red Rocks. And since it's a Denver City Park, no drones are allowed.

However, there is an elementary school at the edge of their boundaries. That's where I took off from to get this footage last winter.

Beautiful footage. I’ve always heard about Red Rocks, but your aerial views really highlight the formations. Do the upper strata ever break off or are they pretty stable?

 

[Vic Moss]

Beautiful footage. I’ve always heard about Red Rocks, but your aerial views really highlight the formations. Do the upper strata ever break off or are they pretty stable?

They are very stable. I've never heard of any issues. And I've lived here for decades.

 

[Vic Moss]

Strange that the parks department has been the over seeing authority of airports in some places.

They aren't controlling the airspace. They only forbid flying while standing on their property.

 

[Classic flyer]

Whatever you do and I don’t care if your in the right or wrong comply
with what they tell you and you can hash it out later.
Some might tell you to be argumentative if you think you are
within your rights but it’s not worth the headache .

That sir is the very best advice to be given...you just need a little COMMON SENSE, of which there seems to be a shortage of these days...fly smart fly safe

 

[chadCO]

1) Survey the area you are flying from, pick a landing spot away from your take off spot.
2) As soon as you take off do a couple 360's and scout the area for any human activity.
3) If you see another person just land the drone at the pre-arranged spot and act like you are leaving and go pick it up, then leave to another spot.
4) No person you encounter while flying can be trusted not to be completely insane... treat them all as if they are a danger to themselves and others. 80% of the time you will be correct.
5) Have fun flying and not bothering to deal with those not worth the time.

 

[kydroneman]

Howdy .
It’s not my intent to start heavy discussions , it’s only intended to satisfy my curiosity.

Has anyone reading this been fined by any law enforcement agency for small issues , not flying above military top secret buildings , not flying 5 thousand feet above Cape Canaveral , or flying sport mode through a shopping mall on Christmas Eve .
I’m talking more like small incidents , like not having all your paperwork with you when flying, not having the appropriate alpha numeric nailed on your drone , well you get the picture .

Again let me say I’m just interested in how often pilots get themselves in hot water as a whole .

I do fly responsibly to the best of my ability/knowledge even excessively according to my wife .
I don’t know anybody in my drone cloud that has had a “ticket” for flying .


Well let me know
Thanks and happy flying to all .

I have never had any issues but I also live in a small rural area.

 

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

I have been approached by authorities a few times, never been fined. Once, I was escorted off the property (public property, but infrastructure of interest to the government), but we had a pleasant conversation on the walk out. I also had once incident that required my presence at an FAA office, where I got a lecture and had to sign some documents, but was not fined — they were polite as well.

By authorities, I mean people who might be in a position to officially cite you (with fine or not). Some of the responders in this thread are mentioning incidents with members of the public (people who can do nothing but complain, which isn't what you were asking about).

Chris

 

[clydesur]

I have only been questioned once, though to be honest i am lucky to mostly fly in private estates. I was flying over a Scottish castle, which has been closed for months, its miles from anywhere, and no one was about, the carpark was empty. After i guess 15 minutes of flying a game keeper stopped next to us and said we were not allowed to fly there, and that there was a sign (obscured due to undergrowth due to lockdown) telling us it was not allowed. We had the footage we wanted, so thanked him for pointing this out and pointed to the drones, which by now were well away from the castle, and explained we were well away from the area of concern, but were happy to stop and move away. We landed and moved away. It was painess for all parties. I think a few lessons were learned. Firstly, that the rules are stupid, this is a semi derelict castle, closed to the public, outwith bird nesting time, miles from anyplace and the car park was empty, so i can think of no problem with being there. I understand all the reasons why flying there could be an issue, but these were all null and void at this time, but also that the keeper was told no one can fly here so he was doing his job, no bother. Secondly, if i wanted footage of a place like this again, i would take off from some place off the area of concern. That way i would be legal, or as legal as possible. Its academic to me, as its not a thing i am interested in, and only did this as the castle in in lockdown, and next door to where i fly, i am really not interested in these things, it was a one off, job done. I thought it would be ok and missed the sign. We did wonder if it was an issue but honestly 2 of us missed it. Anyway, no harm done, and we got some cool footage. It will never be seen on line!

Have you posted the footage? It would be interesting to see.

 

[Thomas B]

Had Gilbert PD stop and check me out at my main practice area.... never a problem. Interesting conversations.

 

[Ben Anderson]

I've only been flying a couple of months. Just once I got told by a security guard that I could not fly in that area, which was empty of buildings and people. I had a good talk with him and left. I believe their concern was that I was filming some construction that was going on within the property. As I reviewed my footage, I was far from people, but flying fast at low altitude.

The two issues are 1) the ownership and rules where you take off/land, and 2) the rules governing flight. The farther you can keep from people, the more likely you won't have problems. Some people are doing dangerous or intense activities and they don't want the distraction of the drone. If someone asks me to leave or to stay farther away I will. The new zoom feature on my MA2 makes it easier to film from a distance.

I've also met people who are interested in drone flying and ask a lot of questions.