Hassled by the man

David Wilson · Jul 16, 2016

While out at my favorite flying location last night, who pulls up to harass me but the local rent-a-cop. He couldn't have been over 18 years old. I've been flying here for years. It's a business park but no one is there in the evenings and the fields are wide open and of curse zipping around with the drones is not hurting or bothering anyone. He first asked me "are you controlling that thing?", I really didn't know how to respond, but I stayed calm and respectful. It was downhill from there. He said the field I was hovering in was sold two days ago so I can't fly there anymore. I asked who it sold to and he said the local medical testing facility that has always been there. I went back and forth for a bit in a calm manner but was no longer having fun so I told him I'd be leave after I finish running out my battery in about 15 minutes. He said I could have 5 minutes. Needless to say I stayed 20+ minutes. Funny thing is the "real" cops always drive up and watch and are very friendly and never give me a hard time. Anyway, I intend to contact the management of the development, I don't think they will have a problem with me doing a few flights in the late afternoons from time to time. It's just too bad punks like him think they have a little power and have to behave like that. I think I may have to form a protest group for drone flyers, would "Drone Lives Matter" offend anyone? lol.

mikeL · Jul 16, 2016

Are a real cop - cheers, we try!

NRRTRAINS · Jul 16, 2016

give a person a little authority an it go's too their head . " BARNEY FIFE "

mikeL · Jul 16, 2016

A bit of education is needed as most police or security do not know the law around drone use.

Rayray · Jul 16, 2016

Contacting owners definitely the way, as you intend. Remember that property owners are leery of lawsuits if something goes wrong.
Good luck.

THoff · Jul 16, 2016

If you get permission to fly there, get it in writing to avoid any further conflict.

PatR · Jul 17, 2016

Had a situation 2 weeks ago when I went to fly at a public water park on the shores of a river. The port authority had granted me permission to fly there a bit over a year ago. One of the grounds people walked up while I was preparing to fly and informed me multirotors had been banned at the water park due to reckless activities by others. I informed him of my earlier permission with the names of those granting it and he let me get in a short flight but no more. A trip to the port authority last week to check on things and guess what, there were no restrictions.

OnTheRopes · Jul 17, 2016

Worth having public liability insurance if you don't already, something to demontrate to the landownerwhen you ask permission.

JCFlippen · Jul 17, 2016

OnTheRopes said:
Worth having public liability insurance if you don't already, something to demontrate to the landownerwhen you ask permission.

Thats a good move. The insurance is usually only valid if permission has been granted.

TopFlightTexas · Jul 17, 2016

Meow see here. Do you meow how fast you were flying??

Dewster · Jul 18, 2016

He was power tripping. Just looking for a chance to tell someone "no". It's almost to the point where you have to hide and fly from a secure location like a roof top. lol. Fly that thing when you launch so that you are not discovered and when you land...get the H out of Dodge. lol

Buddy Collins · Jul 18, 2016

Wow, hard to keep the old Temper in check under those circumstances.

David Wilson · Jul 18, 2016

Buddy Collins said:
Wow, hard to keep the old Temper in check under those circumstances.

It really is. Especially with a punk kid. I could easily go park a half mile away and fly the H over that field all I want and he'd never know where I was. He'd have to shoot it down. In fact.... okay I'll try to control myself, lol.

THoff · Jul 18, 2016

Start following him around with the TH...

TopFlightTexas · Jul 18, 2016

THoff said:
Start following him around with the TH...

"It was just too fast . . . Too nimble . . . I thought I was bein' chased by one o dem top secret military crafts . . . It just whizzed by while I was puttin' another dip in . . . Scared the southern baptist right outta me!!!"

Othan1 · Jul 18, 2016

Same thing happened to me. Baby rent-a-cop close to a medical office area.

FlushVision · Jul 18, 2016

As far as I'm aware, here in the U.K. it is not illegal to fly over private property so long as it's not intrusive and as long as you've taken off from 'public right of way' land or from somewhere you do have permission to take off from...unless it's restricted land like a nuclear power station, around a prison, or the likes of Buckingham Palace, say.

I've found that most people are accommodating when it comes to permissions. Some like to see a bit of insurance, some don't. In my experience so long as you follow the rules most folk are pretty easy about it BUT NOT ALL.

I was flying a Phantom 2 Vision (typhoon H is having a rest) this morning over land owned by the Water Board (a reservoir ***) and they knew I was there and let me get on with it even waiting for me to finish and pack up so they could mow the grass...No problem, no sweat.

mikeL · Jul 18, 2016

Overflights in the uk are not specifically covered by a piece of legislation but if the civil aviation agency wanted to take you to court they could easily under various articles. Worth knowing the law so you can keep ahead of over keen security guards. Check out articals 138, 166 & 167 which cover most of the relevent laws:

Unmanned Aircraft | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Jared · Jul 18, 2016

David Wilson said:
It really is. Especially with a punk kid. I could easily go park a half mile away and fly the H over that field all I want and he'd never know where I was. He'd have to shoot it down. In fact.... okay I'll try to control myself, lol.

That sounds like a good idea actually. Let him shoot it down. Now he's facing a really heavy fine by the FAA and/or a prison sentence for shooting down a registered aircraft. There's always a way to equalize those on power & ego trips.

cyberhiker · Jul 18, 2016

Jared said:
That sounds like a good idea actually. Let him shoot it down. Now he's facing a really heavy fine by the FAA and/or a prison sentence for shooting down a registered aircraft. There's always a way to equalize those on power & ego trips.

Don't jump to conclusions just yet. The first case has not come to a definitive conclusion and seems likely to go to the Supreme Court (Attorney for “Drone Slayer” says federal lawsuit should be dismissed). The current edition of the Drone Law Podcast has a discussion with the Drone flyers attorney that makes some interesting points (Government Drones! Public UAS and Drone Litigation with James Mackler & Justin Robinson).