First member of public to have a go.

[Max Headroom]

I decided to try my new Mini 3 at the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre so i could compare todays footage with the footage from my mini 2 SE which i took last week, unfortunately mid flight i was told i was not allowed to video even though a friend of my wife's who works there said she was not aware of any restrictions, i told the lady that i had not seen any no drone signs but she said i was in their car park (which is free) and that i was invading their privacy, she then rang the police i couldn't be bothered arguing so landed the drone and left as we have a bad enough reputation as it is.

Out of interest could i have stood my ground or had she the right to tell me to stop as i was in their car park, at no time did say she was an employee or anything to do with the place.

Seems privacy isn't an issue when it comes to them putting video on their site -

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[Felix le Chat]

I decided to try my new Mini 3 at the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre so i could compare todays footage with the footage from my mini 2 SE which i took last week, unfortunately mid flight i was told i was not allowed to video even though a friend of my wife's who works there said she was not aware of any restrictions, i told the lady that i had not seen any no drone signs but she said i was in their car park (which is free) and that i was invading their privacy, she then rang the police i couldn't be bothered arguing so landed the drone and left as we have a bad enough reputation as it is.

Out of interest could i have stood my ground or had she the right to tell me to stop as i was in their car park, at no time did say she was an employee or anything to do with the place.

Seems privacy isn't an issue when it comes to them putting video on their site -

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Lost your cherry then? Welcome to the club.

Best thing to do is commit current A1 sub-category regulations concerning sub-250grm drones to memory and the next time some bombastic mouth-on-a-stick starts lecturing and threatening, tell them you'll happily call the police yourself because the only person committing a criminal offense is the one attempting to interfere with the legitimate safe flight of a legally registered aerial vehicle... you'd be surprised at the change in attitude.

Oh.... and on your mobile phone: make sure you have: a) a screenshot of your current CAA registration. b) a screenshot of your A1/A3 CofC. c) your driving license (photo I.D.) and a copy of your public & private liability insurance certificate. This fulfils all DMARES (CAP1974) police requirements if the rozzers do end up arriving.

One further question. Were you parked in a "visitors car park", or a private car park set aside for employees/residents? There's a difference. A visitors car park may be privately owned, but there is permissioned access to use it, walk across it and use any paths as public thoroufares. If there is no specific notice forbidding specific behaviours: you aren't in breach of terms of use.

Next on the list of mouth-on-a-stick responses revolves around privacy issues (taking pictures of people without their permission): it's a public car park which means there is no reasonable expectations of privacy for you, or anyone else using it.

 

[Split-Infinitive]

Were you on their property? In which case they're perfectly entitled to tell you to leave.

There can be privacy issues (as the drone code and CAP mention). I can see why me in a meditation place maybe a bit worried about it.

In those circumstances, just pack up and leave.

 

[Max Headroom]

We're you parked in a "visitors car park", or a private car park set aside for employees/residents? There's a difference. A visitors car park may be privately owned, but there is permissioned access to use it, walk across it and use any paths as public thoroufares. If there is no specific notice forbidding specific behaviours: you aren't in breach of terms of use.

Yes its a visitors car park the only sign in it is below and in the second picture i have highlighted the road that runs past it that leads to houses which are privately owned and nothing to do with her Buddhist centre.

I did want to stand my ground but when she told me the car park was private it threw me so i thought it better to leave than cause any more trouble.

 

[Max Headroom]

Were you on their property? In which case they're perfectly entitled to tell you to leave.
There can be privacy issues (as the drone code and CAP mention). I can see why me in a meditation place maybe a bit worried about it.
In those circumstances, just pack up and leave.

This is the problem for pilots you are saying she had the right to tell me to leave and @Felix le Chat said she didn't, i am siding with Felix its a visitors car park there is no signage telling members of the public they can only park there if they are going into the priory in fact if you look on trip advisor many say they use it to park then go for a walk through the woods to the nearby beach.

 

[tstr14]

I can't speak for the UK, though I suspect your laws are similar. In the US, it is legal, at least for now, to fly over privately owned property. However, the property owner has the right to prohibit you from taking off and landing on their property. Even if said land is open to the public, the owners have the right to restrict activities on their property including the taking off and landing of drones. In the US pilots can take off/land on private property if they have permission, as well as most public property. Property owner rights do not include the airspace above said property, but laws do exist which limit drone pilot's activities. For instance, I can fly over private property so long as I fly in a safe manner, have the proper certification, etc.

Not everyone understands this, especially people who do not fly drones.

 

[Gazwas]

My take on any confrontation with a member of the public about privacy is that they have already ruined your flight so best pack up and go.

Getting into an argument is unproductive, unhealthy and pointless as if someone feels their privacy has been infringed they won't give up because you spout the drone code. Life is too shot to wait for the police to arrive and then argue with them about your rights.

Go home and fly another day from a different location.

 

[Mrktn]

I can't speak for the UK, though I suspect your laws are similar. In the US, it is legal, at least for now, to fly over privately owned property. However, the property owner has the right to prohibit you from taking off and landing on their property. Even if said land is open to the public, the owners have the right to restrict activities on their property including the taking off and landing of drones. In the US pilots can take off/land on private property if they have permission, as well as most public property. Property owner rights do not include the airspace above said property, but laws do exist which limit drone pilot's activities. For instance, I can fly over private property so long as I fly in a safe manner, have the proper certification, etc.

Not everyone understands this, especially people who do not fly drones.

My understanding is no-one owns the airspace. If it’s UK airspace, it’s controlled by the CAA (Civil Aviation authority).

Unless it is marked as a NFZ / prison etc anyone can fly over it within the drone rules ie. Max 120m AGL.

However, you cannot take off or land on private land if the owners of the land object or if there is a notice. Always best to ask the land owner before doing so if there isn’t a notice.

I live near a national heritage site and there is a sign stating no drones to be flown over the Roman ruins. Not sure how legally enforceable that is. However, I always fly within Article 16 authorisation.

Usually land owners of the type the OP mentions state reasons such as disturbing wildlife and ask that drones are not flown over their land, but as long as you don’t take off or land on their land then they cannot stop a drone fly over.

If they feel strongly about this, they can apply to the CAA for a no fly zone

 

[Mrktn]

My take on any confrontation with a member of the public about privacy is that they have already ruined your flight so best pack up and go.

Getting into an argument is unproductive, unhealthy and pointless as if someone feels their privacy has been infringed they won't give up because you spout the drone code. Life is too shot to wait for the police to arrive and then argue with them about your rights.

Go home and fly another day from a different location.

Agreed, especially in the current climate with drones.

Does anyone watch the YT media guys who are confrontational and argumentative when they get challenged?

 

[Felix le Chat]

My take on any confrontation with a member of the public about privacy is that they have already ruined your flight so best pack up and go.

Getting into an argument is unproductive, unhealthy and pointless as if someone feels their privacy has been infringed they won't give up because you spout the drone code. Life is too shot to wait for the police to arrive and then argue with them about your rights.

Go home and fly another day from a different location.

The point being that this individual had already (allegedly) called the police. So what kind of message gets sent if you tuck tail and run? The message that you were indeed doing something wrong.

Every single one of us is being progressively backed further into a corner by sticky beaks insisting their rights are the only important things in the universe.

There comes a point when you have to make a decision... nut-up and stand your (legitimate) ground.... or pack up and act like the criminal you're being made out to be.

And... No... I don't like 'auditors', but I'll be buggered if I'll let some parsimonious dictator bully me either... least of all when I know beyond a shadow of doubt that the actions they decide they don't like are perfectly legal.

 

[Gazwas]

The point being that this individual had already (allegedly) called the police. So what kind of message gets sent if you tuck tail and run? The message that you were indeed doing something wrong.

Every single one of us is being progressively backed further into a corner by sticky beaks insisting their rights are the only important things in the universe.

There comes a point when you have to make a decision... nut-up and stand your (legitimate) ground.... or pack up and act like the criminal you're being made out to be.

And... No... I don't like 'auditors', but I'll be buggered if I'll let some parsimonious dictator bully me either... least of all when I know beyond a shadow of doubt that the actions they decide they don't like are perfectly legal.

Turning and running has nothing to do with sending the incorrect message.

We all think we are in the right and doing the best for ourselves, business or community be you the drone pilot or meditation retreat. If someone feels threatened than we should respect that rather than argue.

Getting into confrontation puts a full stop to any meaningful flight and while you might feel you've "won", it doesn't change anything in the grand scheme of things about how people feel about their right to privacy.

If the shot is so important then adapt. If you are comfortable you're in the right, take off somewhere less public, grab the shots and move on with life.

 

[Max Headroom]

Go home and fly another day from a different location.

Thats what i did as you say she had already ruined the flight

 

[Max Headroom]

The point being that this individual had already (allegedly) called the police. So what kind of message gets sent if you tuck tail and run? The message that you were indeed doing something wrong.

Every single one of us is being progressively backed further into a corner by sticky beaks insisting their rights are the only important things in the universe.

I do wish with hindsight I had taken off from the road then when she told me I couldn't fly I would have pointed out that she was wrong and why but would have ended the video as by that time i had stopped the drone flight to talk to her, one of the most annoying things was when I told her I was bringing the drone in to land I asked her to move away from me as I didn't want to hurt her and the ignorant b##ch refused I ended up doing a hand landing which I am not overly confident doing luckily it went fine for both of us.

 

[MS Coast]

Flying a drone at a meditation center doesn't sound like a good idea.

 

[Chip]

Flying a drone at a meditation center doesn't sound like a good idea.

I agree. A Buddhist Meditation Center is not a good place to fly a drone. Way too much risk of trouble and people taking offense.

 

[Max Headroom]

Flying a drone at a meditation center doesn't sound like a good idea.

I agree. A Buddhist Meditation Center is not a good place to fly a drone. Way too much risk of trouble and people taking offense.

Normally i would agree but i was flying where the blue arrow is the meditation centre is actually out of shot at the top where the red arrow points, the mini 3 is a very quiet drone it was at the end of the day there weren't many people about so doubt i was disturbing anyone.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Here's an off-the-cuff thought....

What about the 33 cars and 1 motorbike driving right up to the front door that day (your still shot) do you think they might have been more likely to disturb the peaceful and tranquil contemplation of the Ineffable more than one mini drone over a hundred yards away?

Maybe the 33 cars and 1 motorbike were all fitted with Buddhist mufflers. Do you think they all have to be limited to 1mph and have little bells on the bumpers to shoo the ants away? But then again - I do have a strange sense of humour.

 

[Max Headroom]

Buddhist mufflers.

 

[Gazwas]

 

[Felix le Chat]

Yup... Buddhist mufflers.... a religious car accessory a bit like the ones fitted to Irish priests cars: the Catholitic converter.... except with these fitted, when you rev the engine: it doesn't go "vvVRROOOMMmm", it goes "omMMMmm". A lot more relaxing.