Federal Judge Dismisses Suit Against 'Drone Slayer'

[TractorGuy]

Got an update on my drone visit. The person that rents out property to my west reported one of her renters fessed up. Claimed he lost contact with the machine and it took him a while to reconnect. Likely a BS story but he most likely wont repeat the visit.

 

[N80]

The neighbor I referred to often flies his drone up over our neighbor's house and hovers there 'looking' directly down into my back yard. I live in an old downtown neighborhood. It bothers my wife a little. It does not bother me that much except for the noise but it is usually during the middle of the day so that's not a big deal either.

I think he is mostly just practicing.

I have seen him blowing leaves in his yard with is. He is very good at it and it makes a lot less noise than a leaf blower.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Before I would go shooting down a bothesome drone, I would check the law in my state. Under common law, the air space above your property extended to the Heavens. With the advent of air travel, things changed and was limited to something like 500 feet, and I've heard rumors that the FAA is claiming jurisdiction over everything above your property. At some point a violation of privacy can become a private nuisance, which you are allowed to abate, but even so, there are limitations on that right.

I recall that photos taken from a helicopter by EPA, and used as evidence against a non-compliant refinery were ruled legally acquired and admitted into evidence by the court, but regulated industry and private residences are different entities...but I do know one thing, the status of the law is confusing at this point. Although I live in a suburban area dominated by lots one acre or larger, we are in the city limits where it is illegal to discharge a firearm. I also know one thing too; at some point an offending drone would receive a load of #7and1/2 bird shot; the only question being whether from a 20 ga. or a 12 ga.

 

[ovrszd]

After reading this whole thread, a couple of points:

A hovering drone would be easy to drop with a .22 rifle

My neighbor, who is a professional, has a drone that carries a full sized 35mm digital SLR camera. Resolution could easily be in the 50 megapixel range. It has gyroscopic image stabilization and can carry a moderate zoom lens. The point being, it can take super sharp hi res pictures.

His drone is very large and very loud. You can hear it over the TV, windows closed.

As far as photography laws, in general it is legal to photograph anything that is visible from your property or public property. That includes you in your speedo if you're in an unfenced front yard or even in your living room if the curtains are open. Certainly different states may have different laws, I'm just speaking generally (as a photographer). Drone law is going to have to better define what is the drone operator's property (air space), public property (air space) and private property (air space).

The other thing to think about as you fire on an intrusive drone is that it is possible, even likely, that they have live video feed. That means the pilot may have a record of you fancy shooting.

And yet, if one was hovering over my rural property in an intrusive way he would get, at the very least, a "shot across the bow".

Good stuff right there.

By the OP's description this drone broke an FAA regulation which is "the drone must be within sight of the pilot at all times. If the OP drops it below treeline on his property the pilot will have a hard time proving he wasn't in violation.

The rules FAA publishes are to define operation and protect both parties.

I shot some video of my neighbor mowing hay yesterday. I just happened to be flying on my farm and noticed him. I hadn't asked him for permission. I made sure to not fly over his property. Took all my shots while in my airspace.

Last thing I want is an upset neighbor over a drone.

 

[ovrszd]

Got an update on my drone visit. The person that rents out property to my west reported one of her renters fessed up. Claimed he lost contact with the machine and it took him a while to reconnect. Likely a BS story but he most likely wont repeat the visit.

If he dropped below a treeline he probably did lose contact. The drone will give him a few seconds or maybe a minute to regain control. If at that time he still has no control the drone will initiate the "Go Home" mode and come back to him.

I've had this happen while shooting low elevation video of my large farmer friend's planting equipment in tree lined fields.

 

[N80]

As far as I am concerned whatever you can see from your "airspace" is fair game. I'm not thrilled by that prospect but I think it is fair and reasonable. It is a new age. Things change.

A few years ago there was a Cessna doing tight, fairly low altitude turns over my place in the country over and over again. Looked suspicious to me. Assumed it was big brother but it was close enough that I was able to snap a picture with a telephoto lens and got the tail number. It was a flight school plane with a student practicing turns.

 

[ovrszd]

Before I would go shooting down a bothesome drone, I would check the law in my state. Under common law, the air space above your property extended to the Heavens. With the advent of air travel, things changed and was limited to something like 500 feet, and I've heard rumors that the FAA is claiming jurisdiction over everything above your property. At some point a violation of privacy can become a private nuisance, which you are allowed to abate, but even so, there are limitations on that right.

I recall that photos taken from a helicopter by EPA, and used as evidence against a non-compliant refinery were ruled legally acquired and admitted into evidence by the court, but regulated industry and private residences are different entities...but I do know one thing, the status of the law is confusing at this point. Although I live in a suburban area dominated by lots one acre or larger, we are in the city limits where it is illegal to discharge a firearm. I also know one thing too; at some point an offending drone would receive a load of #7and1/2 bird shot; the only question being whether from a 20 ga. or a 12 ga.

All things can be annoying if abusively used. One near the top of my list is loud music heard beyond the users property.

A friend of mine is abusive with his drone. He only flies it around people. Was at a graduation party couple weeks ago buzzing the crowd in the yard and on the deck. Asked me if I had my drone with me and I said yeah. He said get it out and we'll have races. I said no way. He just looked at me with a "why not" look. I said you give drones a bad name. I got the same look....

 

[Citydude]

I don't have a drone and this thread is an interesting read. I do have to ask the question of what's the difference of a neighbor climbing up a ladder looking over our privacy fence and taking pictures of my daughter sunbathing. Does having a drone make that OK?

 

[ovrszd]

I don't have a drone and this thread is an interesting read. I do have to ask the question of what's the difference of a neighbor climbing up a ladder looking over our privacy fence and taking pictures of my daughter sunbathing. Does having a drone make that OK?

Good point.

The biggest difference would be you can tell if he's taking pics or not. With a drone "everyone" automatically believes it is.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I don't have a drone and this thread is an interesting read. I do have to ask the question of what's the difference of a neighbor climbing up a ladder looking over our privacy fence and taking pictures of my daughter sunbathing. Does having a drone make that OK?

The answer is there is no difference, unless the law gives special rights and privileges to the drone operator; and in my opinion they shouldn't. Not only that, but if you use your drone to violate either the law or my right of privacy, you should be prepared to forfeit your drone.