Is it time for a nationwide drone law?

[Baitball Blogger]

I have a good reason to ask.

Since I have been posting my experiences with this Association, I'm very alert to the changes in behavior of the people around me. So far I have a good catch of video clips showing an interesting pattern. At precisely the time the board member next door leaves or arrives, people mysteriously walk past the house on the street in the development, or behind the houses on the golfcourse.

When I first began to log the number of times it occurred, it was like that moment when Truman in the movie, "The Truman Show," figures out that the random behavior of the people around him isn't so random. It's no big deal in the long run either way as long as they keep their distance. It's just one more example of cronyistic behavior to write about, which is the end game for me.

I've lived here for 24 years and, if they haven't figured out that my choice of weapon is the pen, then all I can say is that they aren't too bright.

So, imagine my delight (sarcasm) when the board member arrives and up above I see a drone flying overhead. I went inside to get the camera to film it, and when I returned, I stood there for about ten seconds before it left, post-haste.

I think this level of snooping in an area were good ole boy behavior is high needs special attention.

[dewsgirl]

1. I feel for you. I saw your Fl post, I too live in Florida but didn't have answer.

My kids/husband have them, but your situation sounds kind of ominous. It would scare me to see a drone near my house with no one nearby operating it.
I hope you find a solution. Scary world we live in.

[2naSalit]

2. I'm hoping someone will come up with

a drone killer signal that jams those f'ing things and drops them to the ground. I would buy one of those and use it whenever one bothers me.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. What a great idea.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. There are nationwide drone laws. The FAA has exclusive jurisdiction over airspace.

Here are the regulations governing drones. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=dc908fb739912b0e6dcb7d7d88cfe6a7&mc=true&node=pt14.2.107&rgn=div5

[jberryhill]

5. Ah you beat me to it

And the problem with the current FAA regs is that all federal agencies have been hamstrung in their ability to update, modify, or propose new regulations.

The FAA is no exception to the general point that the US government has gone out of the governing business.

[jberryhill]

4. First - no, there is no such need for a law

The primary reason there is no need for a law is that the FAA has all of the authority it needs to craft any number of drone regulations, and there are a lot of people standing in line for the FAA to do that, for a variety of reasons.

As you are likely aware, the Trump administration has made it damn near impossible for any agencies to make regulations.

However, the organic statutes of the FAA give it sweeping jurisdiction to regulate damn near anything that flies, except for rat's asses and frog farts.

Surprisingly, one of the biggest complaints about the situation comes from commercial drone users for things like surveying, agricultural applications, commercial film producers, etc., because the currently-applicable FAA regulations (a) make it legal to do things it shouldn't be legal to do, and (b) make it illegal to do things it should be legal to do under certain circumstances.

So your overall point - yes, anyone involved in the topic agrees that there do need to be regulations, because there already is a law that gives the FAA broad jurisdiction to make them. The current regulatory regime applying to drones doesn't really work for anyone.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Someone locally claimed that the FAA does not regulate recreational usage.

Is spying on your neighbor under that category?

[jberryhill]

11. FAA regulates "stuff that flies"

You go and "recreationally" fly your drone into the airspace at your local airport, and you'll find out right quick what the FAA can and can't regulate.

[genxlib]

7. I am a licensed drone pilot in Florida

Florida has a law that prohibits violation of privacy

https://www.dronelaw.pro/florida-drone-law-faa-compliance-confusion

Otherwise...what jberryhill said.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. This is very good information.

Do you know if the FAA regulations exclude recreational use? By the legal definition at your link, I don't think it matters if it's recreational or commercial usage/

[jberryhill]

12. No

Recreational and commercial usage is regulated differently, but they are both regulated:

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