Drone view of the neighborhood from last weekend.

[Garandman]

I ordered a Phantom 3.

Here is what was posted for those of you that seem to have missed it.

In context he would be droning over other people's property whether he was worried about hitting someone with a ricochet or direct shot.

Along with neglecting the "unobtrusive altitude" you left out the best part.

No doubt someone here will take offense, because internet.

No doubt legislators are using such concerns already to pass more laws instead of citizens just walking over and asking their neighbors to stop being a ******.

It is starting to be clear why you don't post your location.

 

[TomSeller]

You left out the best part.

someone crashed their car into your house (which probably happens 1,000 times more often) do you get to keep the car?

I did not answer that since I thought it was off topic. But since you asked again, I will. Most of the time if someone crashed into someone's house with their car, it would be an accident that they were on the property and I would consider the car theirs, particularly since insurance pays for the damage.

In the case of a drone over or on my property, I would consider it intentional trespass and the owner of the drone would not have a right to come onto my property and retrieve it. If they did, what would be the point of owning private property?

I am guessing you have not contacted the owner of the property you are potentially ricocheting onto if you are looking for homes there? If you are going to be using your firing range a lot, a drone may be a bit to tolerate and if they have camp sites I suggest that it is dangerous. Particularly since you indicate you would be at a high altitude which would make it difficult to see behind trees, brush and outcroppings.

 

[Garandman]

Drone shipped Monday should arrivr Weds!

 

[jimmyj]

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I don't have anything to add to the 4th amendment discussion, but I give MossRoad 10 bonus points for getting Gladys Kravitz into this thread.!!

 

[JerryK]

I have very mixed feelings on the subject... I'd like to have a drone. But I also don't want someone flying one above my property snooping. But, I also like to shoot.. and the challenge of maybe hitting one at altitude with something like a subsonic 22LR, then hiding the kill for all eternity... sounds like fun, too.... A great pass time for us old retired folks. ...

 

[Garandman]

I have very mixed feelings on the subject... I'd like to have a drone. But I also don't want someone flying one above my property snooping. But, I also like to shoot.. and the challenge of maybe hitting one at altitude with something like a subsonic 22LR, then hiding the kill for all eternity... sounds like fun, too.... A great pass time for us old retired folks. ...

I tend to treat people, including neighbors, like I want to be treated so I won't be snooping on any - they're not in range in NH, anyway and ironically there are too many trees and power lines in our neighborhood in Boston to fly it at all.

But anyone planning on shooting down a drone should know that many - like the Phantom 3 - have a direct video feed back to operator. So along with recording the video, he can see you and what you are doing in real time. This is true for many RC aircraft as well.

Most of the systems that use a smart phone or tablet also record the flight track data, so the operator can see exactly where and when the thing was. This was brought out in the Kentucky shotgun case, where the homeowner maintained he was spying on his kids, while the neighbor with the drone was able to show law enforcement that the dron was at 250 feet altitude. Must have been a goose gun....

So tomorrow I'll get the drone, drive past some police cars with plate scanners, go through a few toll booths that record my location and time and take my picture, pass over 100 video cameras on the highways and private security systems. I'll have my smart phone that reports my location to each cell tower we pass. If I take one of our GM cars the OnStar system will also be (briefly) recording my speed and location and other operating parameters in the car.

Then when I arrive I'll worry about what an invasion of privacy drones are....

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Why do you want to look that close at other people's property? If someone wants to check out their own property with a drone, that sounds like a great use. Combined with the powerful cameras on these drones, flying 400 or 500' and looking down isn't much different than peeping in someone's window. The drones don't stay 400 or 500', from what I've observed they often fly a little above the trees.

Standing on your roof and looking over my property is not anything like you flying a drone 50' over my back yard. You have no business doing that and it is a violation of the 4th amendment in my book. Violating constitutional amendments is a slippery slope.

Here is a question for the group. If your drone fails somehow and lands on my property, who owns it and do you have a right to come get it?

What will be interesting is if technology develops the ability for me to capture and control a drone that is flying over a geo fence I create over my property and 500' up.

As a general rule, the 4th Amendment applies only to government entities or to someone acting in their behalf...and there are cases where photos taken from helicopters have been held to NOT be a violation. A a privately owned drone over your back yard would not constitute a 4th Amendment violation. It may well constitute a trespass, particularly as it gets closer to your home. To further complicate matters, some trespasses are legal...called a "Trespass of Necessity". Sometimes situations may require a trespass, say something like a fire engine or emergency vehicle.

The question in my mind concerns nuisance. The law says that you have the right to abate a private nuisance, i.e. a nuisance that exists on your property, but would it allow you to shoot down a drone taking pictures of your nude pool party? To be continued...

http://www.stmaryslawjournal.org/pdfs/Mathews_Step 11_McKeown_Final_V2.pdf

Oh, as pertains to the "failed drone", it still belongs to its original owner.

 

[JerryK]

I'll have to remember tow wear my clown mask whilst I fetch and bury the carcass ... so I can feign ignorance of knowing the fate of said flying object... whilst practicing my ' Honest, it was not me, Officer ' Maybe remember to walk up from the opposite direction that the camera ends up pointing might help, too. I LIKE CHALLENGES....

 

[IslandTractor]

I tend to treat people, including neighbors, like I want to be treated so I won't be snooping on any - they're not in range in NH, anyway and ironically there are too many trees and power lines in our neighborhood in Boston to fly it at all.

But anyone planning on shooting down a drone should know that many - like the Phantom 3 - have a direct video feed back to operator. So along with recording the video, he can see you and what you are doing in real time. This is true for many RC aircraft as well.

Most of the systems that use a smart phone or tablet also record the flight track data, so the operator can see exactly where and when the thing was. This was brought out in the Kentucky shotgun case, where the homeowner maintained he was spying on his kids, while the neighbor with the drone was able to show law enforcement that the dron was at 250 feet altitude. Must have been a goose gun....

So tomorrow I'll get the drone, drive past some police cars with plate scanners, go through a few toll booths that record my location and time and take my picture, pass over 100 video cameras on the highways and private security systems. I'll have my smart phone that reports my location to each cell tower we pass. If I take one of our GM cars the OnStar system will also be (briefly) recording my speed and location and other operating parameters in the car.

Then when I arrive I'll worry about what an invasion of privacy drones are....

I count myself amongst the crowd that has mixed feelings about UAV/drones. I suspect the majority of folks who think about this issue will have mixed feelings. I like the new technology. I like the photographic potential. I like the potential use of private UAVs in search and rescue and a number of other yet to be discovered beneficial uses they can be put to by private owners. On the other hand, I don't like the noise and distraction potential. I don't like the idea of some idiot flying them into traffic or buzzing school yards or being generally annoying in a predictably juvenile fashion. I'd worry less if this technology was most attractive to little old ladies but it clearly is most attractive to boys. In a way it seems similar to snow mobiles. Clearly useful but also potentially very annoying to those around who have little ability to escape from the torment. Check out Youtube uav/drone fails to see examples of the types of damage these things can do in irresponsible ("watch this, hold my beer") hands. Jerks flying into buildings, monuments, highways, homes, crowds etc etc. The list will get longer.

I'm not so concerned about peeping Toms. We have laws that will soon be found to apply to UAV operators on matters like that. I do worry more that as these devices become more powerful they will be put to use by individuals and groups with nefarious goals. If you can mount and operate a semiautomatic pistol on a drone and fly it a mile away I would imagine that some wanna be ***** Bin Laden will also figure out how to attach a grenade and fly it into a stadium or school or airport.I heard a story on NPR this morning about how the FAA is now trying to figure out how to require that all drones be programed so they cannot operate in designated flight paths. Sounds reasonable but also sounds like a restriction some computer geek at MIT or ISIS could easily bypass (just disconnect the GPS!).

Regardless, I'll be interested to see how you "early adopters" fare and whether uavs turn out to be truly useful on a regular basis (like a grapple!!) or something that might better be rented for an occasional aerial survey (there is a company in FL that will rent you a Phantom 3 Pro kit with all the goodies for $50/day). Of course there is also the fun factor but it is a pretty pricey and delicate toy. I looked up drone/uav on the Boston Craigslist yesterday and saw quite a few damaged drones for sale. I don't mind spending $1000+ on a quality camera or lens but those are far more likely to survive until obsolescence than a drone.

Good luck to those of you who will be waiting on a FedEx truck this week. Don't forget it isn't real on TBN unless there are photos!

 

[fordmantpw]

Another note...I noticed on the Phantom 3 that it will not operate within 15 miles of the White House.