So brings up a point I ran into the other day wondering if anybody has insight on this. I was flying with a friend in a national forest and a forest ranger stopped us and though we were both flying for recreational purposes my drone is registered under 336 and his is registered under 107...
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I think I know where the Ranger's brain is coming from. State and Federal Lands (sometimes managed by local Park Districts) have rules regarding taking pictures. IF the photographer either 'appears' commercial, or claims to be commercial, then he needs to be working under permit.
For Camera use how do they distinguish between Amateur and Professional? Easy: If the photographer is using a tripod, it's 'professional,' and they need a permit. Period.
I know, rather off-the-wall, but that is probably how the ranger 'framed' the commercial permit; same as if a photographer was using a tripod. It's the implied professional camera use, not the Drone use per se that becomes the rubric.
Be aware that Park Rangers are NOT well paid... at all. They love any activity that can justify their existence (to their supervisors), thus scratching out a citation for something beyond their grasp fits the bill nicely. The use of the 'camera' recording could be legitimately determined to NOT be amateur in this situation; the citation might 'stick.'