Well that sucks. You should consider giving it another shot and then trying to flying closer to the norm. May seem a bit difficult at first but it gets easier and you become more comfortable but stay alert. But I get it, no fun to fly as a hobby yet have to deal with law enforcement and federal agents especially when you're just having fun. Sometimes I wonder how many people forgo the hobby completely not because the rules are too strict or too complicated but because making an honest mistake could be potentially costly. For some, the risks aren't worth the rewards. I think you made the right decision to stay put when "asked" by the trooper because it was within the law and the right thing to do; leaving wouldn't have made the problem go away since it appears they have been visiting you. Personally I think a home or work visit is a bit extreme but a show of force is the norm these days. Sorry you had a bad experience.
How flying a drone led to an arrest....
- Thread starter mavic3usa
- Start date
It was my fault. My eyesight isn't great so on a sunny day I might be able to fly a few hundred feet away to keep it within line of sight. Just not worth it.
Our State Police use Aerial Armor for tracking drone flights. New Jersey is very flat, so they can see drone flights at crazy ranges from where the unit is setup. They will setup a unit if requested by other agencies for special events. I have seen the reports it produces and was able to see and recognize a lot of my personal as well as real job public safety flights.
Big Brother is indeed watching.
Fly safely and compliantly and you will have no issues.
We just got a Drone Tag Rider and will be testing it as the weather gets better.
It is not for pedantic enforcement, only to identify the ignorant, dangerous and totally noncompliant pilots, especially at special events and will be up for our summer air show along with the Aerial Armor.
Thanks for the information. I'm now afraid to fly my drone in the neighborhood because
I'm not sure I understand the laws fully. Time to do some studying.
I'm not sure I understand the laws fully. Time to do some studying.
I watched a "range test" from a very popular Youtuber and he often flies 5-7 miles out. Is he
getting some kind of special waiver to break the VLOS rules?
getting some kind of special waiver to break the VLOS rules?
Here it comes.
While no American is required to carry government ID on their person outside their home under threat or penalty, it's getting closer and closer to not being able to do anything meaningful without it and one day, you just might need a "drone license" to fly just like you need a "driver's license." Nothing is off the table these days.
Lots of dissent and as we get closer, we're likely to hear more discussion about Real ID. This has been around a long long time but apparently it's not going away anytime soon. Imagine what it would be like if one ID could be used to track every single American and where they have been and what they are doing.
www.foxnews.com
While no American is required to carry government ID on their person outside their home under threat or penalty, it's getting closer and closer to not being able to do anything meaningful without it and one day, you just might need a "drone license" to fly just like you need a "driver's license." Nothing is off the table these days.
Lots of dissent and as we get closer, we're likely to hear more discussion about Real ID. This has been around a long long time but apparently it's not going away anytime soon. Imagine what it would be like if one ID could be used to track every single American and where they have been and what they are doing.
'Mass surveillance': Conservatives sound alarm over Trump admin's REAL ID rollout
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and other conservatives are speaking out about REAL ID as its implementation deadline nears.
www.foxnews.com
I remember a high-ranking US citizen some time back saying that you need to show ID to buy a loaf of bread ??
Don't believe everything you are told. High-ranking US citizens that go on to become high-ranking government officials often have little to no integrity especially when it comes to speaking to one-half of the country's population.
Like I said, there is no law that says you must have ID or else you get into legal trouble from your government.
There are a million examples of where you need an ID or else you don't get what you want. There's a difference between getting your feeling hurts vs. getting arrested. With so many people and companies and agencies asking for ID, I can see where people are starting to get confused over the difference between being forced by your government to have one to remain free vs. desire to have one in order to live a normal life. One day, those two will intersect.
BTW if anyone has a federal law or a state statute that points out the penalty for not having your ID while doing *nothing*, maybe there's a fine or even jail time, I'm happy to be wrong about this; just let me know. Maybe when we revisit this thread in a couple of years, the law will have changed and all US citizens need a REAL ID or else go to jail like they do in practically every other country around the world.
I was with you up till you said this, betraying your false ideas about the degree of freedom enjoyed in other countries.
Most countries are at least as free as yours, quite a few have even more freedom.
Sorry I meant every other country as in 50% of them, for every country do not there is one county do. Should have worded it better but my point was, the trend is growing (in the wrong direction) as countries becomes less free and certainly that includes the US. Fortunately here in America, we know this will come to an end in 4 years for sure (if not sooner should the other 2 branches decide to wake up). My guess is REAL ID will be delayed....again.
Other than driving a car without an ID, buying alcohol without an ID, flying a drone commercially without an ID, ...
If a cashier asks you to show your ID when buying alcohol and you refuse, there is no criminal penalty for not having ID....show me the statute for refusing. No law in America forces citizens to possess ID, it's all optional.
If you are flying a drone and you are asked for ID and you don't have an ID, there is no criminal penalty for not having an ID on you when flying your drone. Courts say so, don't care what the F-A-A says.
Here's an article or two to read; I know it has a lot of legal stuff in it but let me know if you need me to explain it further to you:
My challenge still stands:
SB 5501 (Washington State Legislature)
It is now unlawful in at least one state for private employers to require someone to have a driver's license (aka ID) to get a job. As I admitted earlier, there are lots of things (in the private sector) that you cannot do, lots of things you cannot buy, lots of services you cannot partake without an ID but this might be changing. Nobody gets penalized by the government for not having an ID but certainly you probably won't get very far without one. Obviously there are sensible exceptions.
Normally I don't support laws that permit the government to get involved in the private sector. Once you allow that gorilla in the room, it won't go away and bad things start to happen; bad idea. Now more than ever, you can understand what this actually means. However, just like everything else, there are exceptions and when it comes to [civil] rights, I can agree. Government has to step in when rights get infringed/violated. I realize these types of laws have an ADA nexus. No one should be forced to get a driver's license to earn a decent living (which I believe rises to that "rights" level). And, no one should be forced to carry around an ID to prove to the police who they are (unless it's a traffic stop, reasonably). For buying beer and cigarettes (which last time I checked the Constitution it wasn't there), not so much.
It is now unlawful in at least one state for private employers to require someone to have a driver's license (aka ID) to get a job. As I admitted earlier, there are lots of things (in the private sector) that you cannot do, lots of things you cannot buy, lots of services you cannot partake without an ID but this might be changing. Nobody gets penalized by the government for not having an ID but certainly you probably won't get very far without one. Obviously there are sensible exceptions.
Normally I don't support laws that permit the government to get involved in the private sector. Once you allow that gorilla in the room, it won't go away and bad things start to happen; bad idea. Now more than ever, you can understand what this actually means. However, just like everything else, there are exceptions and when it comes to [civil] rights, I can agree. Government has to step in when rights get infringed/violated. I realize these types of laws have an ADA nexus. No one should be forced to get a driver's license to earn a decent living (which I believe rises to that "rights" level). And, no one should be forced to carry around an ID to prove to the police who they are (unless it's a traffic stop, reasonably). For buying beer and cigarettes (which last time I checked the Constitution it wasn't there), not so much.
There is no special waiver, the YouTuber is breaking the law.
Nothing I am about to say should be interpreted as encouragement to break the law. Nor should anyone take it upon themselves to violate the law. Laws exist for a reason, whether one understands that reason or not. The United States is a HUGE land mass whose air space control falls under the domain of the FCC. The FCC is a vastly understaffed federal agency that has neither the manpower, time nor the equipment to enforce its rules effectively 100% of the time. Let's take an example of enforcing a law: Most cities have Jaywalking laws. Jaywalking is crossing a street where no traffic signals are located and hence, no crosswalks. Yet in most locations, Jaywalking violations are typically ignored. The reasons are manyfold: lack of police officers, the number of people violating the law, a general consensus that the law is stupid or not worth the time trying to enforce.
That same atmosphere effects drone laws, with the added fact that the number of drone pilots operating illegally are vastly outnumbered by the number of jaywalkers. So, unless one is violating one of the more serious rules, such as flying in forbidden airspace, putting others at risk, etc., one is unlikely to run afoul of the law. This is includes flying outside of VLOS. Again, lack of enforcement does NOT mean it's OK! It simply means there is no one around to stop you from doing what you are doing. That is why you see
Seems we have a region in CO plagued by numerous airspace violations by civilian drones so the federal government is enlisting aid from local law enforcement. Watch the video and read about it below and here's some light reading to get a better understanding of what we are up against with drones and local laws: Municipal Drone Policy
"The Aurora Police Department (APD) entered into an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. military this week to “assist, respond, detect, detain and investigate” anyone who illegally operates a drone over Buckley Space Force Base." The story (Read the entire agreement below, beginning on page 51) where you can find statements like this:
"APD will have primary responsibility to detain individuals not subject to the UCMJ or who operate a UAS outside the concurrent jurisdiction area of BSFB, as necessary, until the appropriate federal law enforcement agency can respond. The U.S. Code provisions for which APD will detain individuals for violating include (but is not limited to) the following in reference to federal law and Colorado Revised Statutes:
C.R.S. 18-8-102 (1) -Obstructing Government Operations
C.R.S. 18-4-501 (1)- Criminal Mischief
18 USC 39B(a)(1)-(2): Unsafe Operation of a UAS
18 USC 39B(b)( 1): Runway Exclusion Zone
18 USC 40A: Operation of UAS Over Wildfires (Felony)
18 USC 32(5): Endangering Operator of an Aircraft
18 USC 795: Photographing Defense Installations
18 USC 796: Use of Aircraft for Photographing Defense Installations
49 USC 46307: National Defense Airspace
49 USC 46306(b)(5) & (6): Failure to Register
49 USC 46306(b )(7) & (8): Operation Without Certificate"
or a bit longer video
"The Aurora Police Department (APD) entered into an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. military this week to “assist, respond, detect, detain and investigate” anyone who illegally operates a drone over Buckley Space Force Base." The story (Read the entire agreement below, beginning on page 51) where you can find statements like this:
"APD will have primary responsibility to detain individuals not subject to the UCMJ or who operate a UAS outside the concurrent jurisdiction area of BSFB, as necessary, until the appropriate federal law enforcement agency can respond. The U.S. Code provisions for which APD will detain individuals for violating include (but is not limited to) the following in reference to federal law and Colorado Revised Statutes:
C.R.S. 18-8-102 (1) -Obstructing Government Operations
C.R.S. 18-4-501 (1)- Criminal Mischief
18 USC 39B(a)(1)-(2): Unsafe Operation of a UAS
18 USC 39B(b)( 1): Runway Exclusion Zone
18 USC 40A: Operation of UAS Over Wildfires (Felony)
18 USC 32(5): Endangering Operator of an Aircraft
18 USC 795: Photographing Defense Installations
18 USC 796: Use of Aircraft for Photographing Defense Installations
49 USC 46307: National Defense Airspace
49 USC 46306(b)(5) & (6): Failure to Register
49 USC 46306(b )(7) & (8): Operation Without Certificate"
or a bit longer video
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