I just can’t see them tracing anyone down unless there has been a complaint. Or if someone is flying above our 400’, etc…
Unless a complaint has been received, yes, this is about it . . . no one is going to be monitoring this, it's a very close range tool.
LE for example would be able to find you, and follow up any supposed infringement on someones privacy, or a flight that's dangerous (over crowds etc).
From what I've read, this is just live, there's no footprint left of your flight after it's past X at any location or point in time.
After it lands and the drone is powered down, there's nothing in the way of evidence of anything to use.
I think that's right, and in that form, I'm not entirely sure just how useful RID will be unless action is very quick from whoever in authority is tasked with a report.
What some seem to be more concerned about is the apps anyone can download and be able to find a pilots location for nefarious purposes.
Some feel in some locations there may be civilian uninvolved folk that would want to find and steal expensive equipment, or rob the pilot if they're flying somewhere away from people etc.
That seems a low risk, but some areas of the US (or beyond) it could be a concern.
400' is irrelevant, as not with no real time, distant monitoring possible, it'd be just like now, some will fly over 400', beyond VLOS etc, and not be any different than with RID operating.
Who knows where this could lead though, maybe one day if you fly over 400', or a mile from the HP, it might be recorded somewhere, and a fine automatically issued and sent to the pilot.
Technology could probably evolve to that quite easily, like it could for traffic fines using a similar automotive module and GPS data (wouldn't that be a field day !).