Skip to main content

The New Politics of Civilian Drone Regulation

Los Angeles, CA—As a long time photographer, licensed private investigator and television journalist I have to weigh in on drone regulation.
For me it all began for me as a Chicago cop long ago.  I’m also a Viet Nam Era veteran.
First of all there are no recorded deaths from the consumer drones that photographers are using.  Injuries and property damage has so far been so insignificant as to be totally off the radar.
Our drone cameras are no different that your cell phone cameras.  You have to get really close for a recognizable face shot.  The cameras drone operators are using are not suited for such portrait photography.   Privacy concerns are way over-rated and are only a figment of paranoid imaginations.
Our drones are electric and are not capable of making noise disturbances. 
Yes, drones can be misused just like rocks, scissors and paper.  You can make a weapon out of anything and cause damage or harm.  Our simple drones are not weapons. Using a drone to commit or facilitate a crime is and will always be a crime. 
All of the needed laws are already in place and have been for a very long time. 
We only have privacy rights in places where there is a reasonable expiation of privacy.  Despite the NSA inside our homes and businesses we are protected from spying by law.   Stalking, harassment and disturbing the peace laws already apply to everyone including drone operators.
Assault, manslaughter, and endangerment laws are on the books everywhere.  Reckless behavior with a drone or in any other way is already a crime.   Flying a drone in the near vicinity of manned aircraft would be a crime under state and local laws everywhere.
Suddenly  I see drone operators fearing bans suggesting compromising our legal ability to fly our drones such as where people exist.  There is just no basis or justification for that kind of restriction based on the fact that there are no deaths or injuries happening.
These drones were considered toys until they were married with the tiny cameras such as the GoPro.    Suddenly drones became the subject of over-imaginative conversation and news stories.   People are going overboard and believe that we now somehow need new bans and laws.
Drone operators need to vigorously fight for what few rights we have left in America. 
The new drone journalists should be allowed to cover news like they are with pencils, typewriters, computers, and conventional cameras.  Camera drones are legitimate news gathering devices and should be fully protected under the First Amendment.
We must never forget that conventional aircraft and helicopters used by news kill people every year somewhere.  Drones are so much safer for newsgathering not to mention only a tiny fraction of the cost. 
The FAA needs to focus on their current aviation duties.  They want to expand their bloated bureaucracy to cover every 12 year-old boy with a remote controlled aircraft.  That’s just plain nuts! 
Here is a little video I created with a Phantom 2 drone with a GoPro 3+ camera at Carmel-By-The Sea.





Comments

Hi, couldnt agree with you more. We in the Uk are only starting to hit these so called'problems', its ludicrous

Popular posts from this blog

Chicago Cops Slammed with Sudden Ban on the Sig/Sauer P320—And the Officers Will Pay thePrice

In a move that’s rocking the rank and file, the Chicago Police Department has abruptly banned the use of the once-trusted Sig/Sauer P320 pistol as an authorized duty weapon. The order came down swiftly, leaving thousands of officers scrambling. The official reason? Alarming reports that the weapon can fire without the trigger being pulled. For years now the gun-maker has brushed off horror stories about negligent discharges, usually blaming human error. After all, it’s easier to blame the gun than admit to a deadly mistake. Just think back to Alec Baldwin’s tragic shooting on a New Mexico movie set—he insisted he never pulled the trigger, yet a woman lost her life. But experts were quick to point out that the revolver in question simply doesn’t fire on its own. This, however, isn’t Hollywood. The Sig Sauer P320 has a documented pattern of discharges—many occurring while holstered. Lawsuits are piling up, and the manufacturer continues to deny fault, but the incidents are too numerou...

A 40 Caliber Nightmare Is Caught On Tape.

So you’re confident that that .40 caliber S&W service round will keep you safe. Maybe you’ll have second thoughts after you see this video. One hot summer night in 1994 Tempe and Mesa Arizona police were involved in a pursuit with this suspect who ran into a stranger’s apartment to hide after being shot TWICE in the chest. He was shirtless and you can see the blood pumping out of those two wounds. What’s really frightening is just how agile this fellow is as he struts to the ambulance. If he was not handcuffed and had a knife or a gun, ask yourself if he could still hurt you, your partner or a hostage? If your jurisdiction demands that officers carry either the 9MM or the .40 Caliber S&W it’s time to show this video to your bosses and lobby to have the .45 ACP round authorized. The switch may well reduce the screaming by self-appointed community activists about how many rounds police had to use on a suspect. The really talented and courageous video journalist, Karen Ke...

America Will See Its Worst Race Riot Yet This Summer

Star Prosecution Witness, Rachel Jeantel Sanford, FL —Yes, the George Zimmerman trial here has thousands of African-Americans getting ready for some serious bloodletting. I don’t want to make idle and dire predictions but this nation has never been so divided and racially sensitive.  Our African-American President took sides on this case at the very beginning.  That ratified a George Zimmerman guilty verdict in the minds of millions. There’s just one little problem, and that is the murder case should have never been filed.  It was filed purely for political reasons despite the fact that it was a simple justifiable homicide.  Zimmerman was on the block watch lookout program and followed a suspicious Trayvon Martin after he used an improper entrance to a gated community.  Zimmerman was acting as the eyes and ears of the Sanford Police Department. Martin did not like being followed and knew that he could easily beat up the out-of-shape...