Arrested for shooting down a drone?

https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf

Heres some reading...

Wait. EMPs and overriding controllers? Do you understand the principles behind those or are you just throwing them out there? Either one of those can cause extreme damage way beyond just the UAV itself. Not to mention "good old fasioned weapons" which I'm just assuming are frearms because we know what they do.

Whatever way, destruction of another person's property (drone) by a person who isnt law enforcement (homeowner) is highly unlikely to be authorized. (think about it, where else do they allow what amounts to vigilante justice within the law?)

Like I said, it will eventually get to the point where they have to be registered and identifiable so that operators breaking laws can be identified. They will eventually be regulated somehow, its just a matter of time until their impact causes enough momentum to cause a tip-over to writing laws.

You all are missing the most obvious solution to this problem: barrage balloons. If you bring down his drone, report that his aircraft crashed in your aircraft. Hire sleezy lawyer, profit.

On a more serious note, it actually surprises me this doesn't happen more often. We fly our RC's in wide open, empty public spaces just so we don't harass/bother anybody unintentionally.

Heres a likely solution for law enforcement to take (and a better one for a homeowner to take than an out and out firearm)

Capture drone with little to no damage, call cops, let them sort out operator breaking laws.

Might still be trouble with a person doing it (damage to drone) but a much much less likely to cause big legal trouble solution.

N Sperlo wrote: Wait. EMPs ...? Do you understand the principles behind those or are you just throwing them out there?

I'm the Batman.

Got a problem drone bothering you at your residence? http://wcsnetblaster.com/

EDIT: Apex beat me to it.

Datsun1500 wrote: It does not matter how it's presented, you caused an aircraft to crash. That can carry heavy penalties. If you accidentally pointed a laser at a 747, do you think you'd get off?

Same logic has you receiving a penalty for swatting a paper airplane out of the air. Let us know how that works for you in court. Let us know if you can get the FAA to take up the case.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

N Sperlo wrote: Wait. EMPs ...? Do you understand the principles behind those or are you just throwing them out there?

I'm the Batman.

Got a Batmobile?

So who was the owner of the craft? Someone checked out by the FAA and licensed to fly commercially or a kid with some money and a Go-Pro?

Has it been zooming the neighborhood all weekend and the guy just had enough?

Wait a moment, are we calling all quadcopters and the like drones? because a whole lot of those micro quadcopters don't (can't) carry cameras...

And it'd be pretty hard to mount tail numbers on a lot of them, too... (especially a number visible from more than a foot away from one)

Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to foxtrapper: A paper airplane is not recognized by the FAA as an aircraft, a drone is. Like I've said a few times, I don't make the rules, but they are well documented. The FAA currently classifies unmanned drones as "aircraft" and there is nothing distinguishing the difference between them and an actual airplane. To use a drone for any commercial use requires you to have a permit from the FAA. If you don't you will get fined by the FAA. It's not "my logic" it is the actual laws that are in place. I am not "guessing" on this stuff, I had to go through it in the last 60 days. There are only 943 permits currently granted by the FCC. I have one, do you?

Actually, the FAA makes it very clear they are not the same thing, in the very first sentence on their page regarding the subject.

"Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are inherently different from manned aircraft. "

https://www.faa.gov/uas/

There is also the matter of their very real distinction between the likes of an AR Parrot from a Predator. Both are drones, and vastly different in their operations and who is operating them. Scroll down the above page and it starts taking you into the differences.

My son flies drones and RC planes. There are rules, and there are rules. We are in fact well within the 5 mile limit of an airport. We are not expected to report in and obtain permission to fly his little plane in the back yard. Technically, we are. As a practical matter, the two local RC club fields that fly much larger planes within that 5 mile distance don't even call in and report or obtain permission. The FAA has never come down on the clubs, or my son. Nor am I particularly worried about it happening.

The FAA recognizes drones as aircraft, but doesn't recognize 254 lb. man carrying ultra-light airplanes.

Cone_Junkie wrote: And what if the drone can shoot back- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHrTtvFFIs

didn't I read that the operator of that drone has been arrested ?

In reply to wbjones:

Last I read, ATF and FAA both claimed to have no regulations expressing it was illegal.

ok … I'd have sworn that I saw a report of the operator being arrested …. maybe it was just that the operator was being investigated … but it seems that random firing of a weapon can be prosecuted somehow/someway

You could have stopped with White male with gun, and the outcome was going to be he was arrested no matter what scenario.

Ok, so let me get this straight . . . . .

So you folks down south have laws that make it a felony to shoot down a drone that is flying over private property, but if a PERSON steps on to your property and you fear them, you can shoot them and walk????

That is berkeleyed up!

NGTD wrote: but if a PERSON steps on to your property, you can shoot them and walk????

No

The whole drone thing is going to get way out of control before it gets better. You need to keep in mind that there is an endless desire to spy on people for an endless variety of reasons. Drones are also going to get smaller and smaller to the point where they will be indistinguishable from insects. Interesting days ahead.

wbjones wrote: but it seems that random firing of a weapon can be prosecuted somehow/someway

That is likely private property and there is a backstop. Easily construed as a "controlled environment". I know one of the agencies (ATF, me thinks) investigated him, but not 100% on the other.

NGTD wrote: So you folks down south have laws that make it a felony to shoot down a drone that is flying over private property...

No, we have one person who's alleged this claim, with no substantiation provided to date.

Was the guy who shot down a drone over his property arrested? Apparently. Arrested does not equate charged, which does not equate convicted.

Chris_V wrote: And it'd be pretty hard to mount tail numbers on a lot of them, too... (especially a number visible from more than a foot away from one)

They can't just hang a license plate from the drone? That would slow down any potential peeping drones.

If the drone isn't numbered it should be illegal to use anywhere outside of the airspace over your private property without written permission from the property owner. Permissions could be obtained by individuals, or through an organization, like snowmobile clubs do.

Un-numbered drones running loose in the wild should be fair game for fishing lures, paintball, garden hoses and any other natural predators that drones have.

N Sperlo wrote:

NGTD wrote: but if a PERSON steps on to your property, you can shoot them and walk????

No

Ok I edited my post to include that you fear them.

N Sperlo wrote:

NGTD wrote: but if a PERSON steps on to your property, you can shoot them and walk????

No

Florida...