Good read I get a good read from 2A Legal 2A Legal.
By Andrew Moses, 2A Legal Lawyer
NO, YOU CAN'T SHOOT DOWN THAT DRONE
It seems that everyone, from the kid next door to the military, now has access to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, as we often call them. You hear about them on the battlefields in Ukraine and you hear that Amazon is going to be using them to deliver your packages. Drones have also made news recently for being sighted in New Jersey and across the United States. People were justifiably concerned about these flying objects around their businesses, homes, and families.
A question we often hear is, what can we do if there is a drone around our homes? Can we shoot it down? The short answer is, no you cannot shoot down a drone. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates all aircraft and UAVs are considered aircraft. 18 USC 32 regulates aircraft and it is a felony to “damage, destroy, disable or wreck any aircraft.” Violation of this statute is punishable by up to twenty years.
A recent case in Lake County, Florida involved a 72-year-old man who shot at a drone and was charged with shooting a deadly missile in a vehicle and one count of criminal mischief. The man believed that it was a surveillance UAV and shot at it with his 9mm pistol. The police report indicates that he was surprised to learn that it was a Walmart delivery drone that was being tested. Fortunately, he was not charged in Federal Court, and it appears he entered into a diversion program where his only requirement was to stay out of trouble and repay the cost of the drone.
So, your next question is what can I do about a drone hovering near my home? The answer is very little. You can report it to the FAA if there is a violation of FAA rules. If you are concerned that the drone is capturing video, local law enforcement might get involved as voyeurism is still a state crime that could be prosecuted.
It is likely that the rules and laws involving drones will evolve over time. More regulations will appear in order to protect individuals and their privacy. Should you have concerns about drones flying in your area, contact your local law enforcement agency; don’t take matters into your own hands.
NO, YOU CAN'T SHOOT DOWN THAT DRONE
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lakelandman
- Posts: 1323
- Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:12 am
- Location: Lakeland
NO, YOU CAN'T SHOOT DOWN THAT DRONE
Everybody's got a plan until they get hit.
But what would happen if the drone camera happened to catch me nakkid and as a result the drone operator gouges their eyes out? Could I be held liable or could this be considered the result of a natural disaster (me)?
Slingshots don’t make a noise. GARY
https://www.basspro.com/l/slingshots
https://www.basspro.com/l/slingshots
I would consider getting the smallest Speedos I could find, and moon the drone. So, ditto the gouging eyes, don’t forget burns caused by eye bleach. If necessary, I could roll over. Hmm, am I liable to the monitoring agency if the person monitoring smashes their screen?
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a Single Star.
It is also illegal to aim a laser at them.
....and some rin up hill and down dale, knapping the chucky stanes to pieces wi' hammers, like sae mony road-makers run daft - they say it is to see how the warld was made!
Saint Ronan's Well - Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1824)
Saint Ronan's Well - Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1824)
Need to a drone signal jammer and watch it drop out of the sky.
The use of drone signal jammers is also illegal under federal law.
....and some rin up hill and down dale, knapping the chucky stanes to pieces wi' hammers, like sae mony road-makers run daft - they say it is to see how the warld was made!
Saint Ronan's Well - Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1824)
Saint Ronan's Well - Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1824)