Does Florida have drone laws?

[Baitball Blogger]

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 fetch the camera to film it, and when I returned, I stood there for about ten seconds before it left, post-haste.

In sum, does Florida have drone laws?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. FAA regulates drones, contact them.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Thank you.

[Sherman A1]

3. As I recall from my training decades ago

anything above ground level is Federal Airspace. Contact the FAA.

[Turbineguy]

4. Florida doesn't have

lots of laws.

[radical noodle]

5. Our POA banned drones

being used by homeowners over the community.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. It's just doesn't make sense to do around here.

[radical noodle]

7. They do allow realtors to use drones

for photos of houses for sale. I think it was mostly old men getting drones for birthdays and Christmas when their kids had no idea what else to buy them. Several were lost the first time they were flown. Eventually, someone here was bound to complain and get them banned.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Florida Statutes - There is a law.

Florida Statute 934.50

934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
(1) SHORT TITLE.—This act may be cited as the “Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act.”
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this act, the term:
(a) “Drone” means a powered, aerial vehicle that:
1. Does not carry a human operator;
2. Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;
3. Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely;
4. Can be expendable or recoverable; and
5. Can carry a lethal or nonlethal payload.
(b) “Image” means a record of thermal, infrared, ultraviolet, visible light, or other electromagnetic waves; sound waves; odors; or other physical phenomena which captures conditions existing on or about real property or an individual located on that property.
(c) “Imaging device” means a mechanical, digital, or electronic viewing device; still camera; camcorder; motion picture camera; or any other instrument, equipment, or format capable of recording, storing, or transmitting an image.
(d) “Law enforcement agency” means a lawfully established state or local public agency that is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime, local government code enforcement, and the enforcement of penal, traffic, regulatory, game, or controlled substance laws.
(e) “Surveillance” means:
1. With respect to an owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of privately owned real property, the observation of such persons with sufficient visual clarity to be able to obtain information about their identity, habits, conduct, movements, or whereabouts; or
2. With respect to privately owned real property, the observation of such property’s physical improvements with sufficient visual clarity to be able to determine unique identifying features or its occupancy by one or more persons.
(3) PROHIBITED USE OF DRONES.—
(a) A law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather evidence or other information.
(b) A person, a state agency, or a political subdivision as defined in s. 11.45 may not use a drone equipped with an imaging device to record an image of privately owned real property or of the owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of such property with the intent to conduct surveillance on the individual or property captured in the image in violation of such person’s reasonable expectation of privacy without his or her written consent. For purposes of this section, a person is presumed to have a reasonable expectation of privacy on his or her privately owned real property if he or she is not observable by persons located at ground level in a place where they have a legal right to be, regardless of whether he or she is observable from the air with the use of a drone.
(4) EXCEPTIONS.—This section does not prohibit the use of a drone:


<snip>

https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2015/934.50

[radical noodle]

9. It would seem

that flying a drone is not illegal if one follows the law, but the law is pretty strict. Thanks!

I also found this:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/getting-a-drone-for-christmas-heres-how-to-stay-out-of-trouble-with-the-law/2258811

It's from 2015 but still seems to be valid.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Here's a good incentive to follow the law:

The FAA says flying a drone without registering it could cost you up to $27,500 in civil penalties, $250,000 in criminal penalties and three years in prison.

[Callmecrazy]

11. only if the drone weighs over .55lbs.

Most hobby drones don't require registration of any kind.

[Baitball Blogger]

12. I don't know.

There was an article back in 2015 that stated that drones had to be registered before flying. The article came out around Christmas time and the reporter wanted to warn people who received them to be aware. They specifically mentioned Grandpas who might get them from their adult children. I suspect that they would have gifted drones that qualified as recreational.

[Callmecrazy]

13. I just got a drone...

and the regs were cited with it. The small hobby drones don't require registration and are restricted to less than 400 feet above ground level.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Okay.