Another drone shooting. This is not going to go away.

[rwsmith]

A Google Earth picture......

The question isn't really if we have a reasonable expectation of aerial privacy, but do we have that right? We may have it under the 4th Amendment, but that might only apply to law enforcement searching for signs of criminal activity. All this is still a gray area.

My thinking is that we do have that right, but to what degree? Here's a personal "for instance". I can key in my home address right now, go to Google Maps, then click on "satellite view", and see my house. I can do a maximum zoom and distinctly see one of my vehicles sitting out back, and next to that vehicle is a black shape. I have two big black dogs. That black shape can be nothing else but one of my dogs. The dogs are the only black shapes in my back yard. I can scroll over to my neighbor's house and see one of them out in their back yard, though I can't tell if it's him or her. And that view is just with Google Light. No telling how much detail I could see if I used the paid version.

I can click on my cousin's house in Conway, SC, then go to "street view" and see her husband sitting outside in a lawn chair.

So where does privacy begin and end?

What are you gonna do? Shoot the Google Car as it drives past, photographing your property. Probably not a great idea.

Personally, I think this Kentucky guy acts and sounds like a jerk having a knee jerk reaction to a fairly mundane event. Thinks he's being "spied on" or something. And he's dumb enough to fire off a shotgun into the air in a neighborhood. And where's the proof the drone was spying on him or his family or his daughter or his dog or cat or whatever?

I wonder what's next on his hit list? Maybe the camera down at the corner convenience store, or the cameras in the bank. Or maybe that one up on the traffic light.

I hope he has to pay for the drone, the camera, and gets a fine on top of that.

In case y'all think I'm kiddin' about the Google Map/Satellite View thing...a screenshot is attached.

A Google Earth picture is a straight down view. They don't look in windows. Even with 'street view'.

 

[rwsmith]

If it only....

Seems like there would be a market for a device that jams the RF controls. Getting FCC approval might prove challenging though.

If it works only on frequencies that drones operate and have a limited range say 100' it may go. Let's build one and see 'how it flies'.

 

[moosedog]

Sounds like he's in an area where it's not allowed to discharge a weapon. Probably not a good idea with close neighbors and kids around.
Personally I would have held up a picture of my ex wife and watched the drone sputter out.

 

[rwsmith]

That would be a civilized way...

I'm an AMA member and fly R/C and know that this pilot was wrong in his doings. He endangered property and everyone he flew near to. The AMA insures you for $2M for accidents (if the rules are followed) at a cost of $80.00 per year. IF the pilot was an AMA member, he'll probably get booted out and I hope he does.

It would be good to enact blocks to this kind of behavior before people are compelled to blow them out of the sky with guns.

Someone can look at somebody laying by a pool and there's nothing to be done, it's like looking out of a building window, but if somebody is violating your 'airspace' to do it. This airspace needs to be defined.

If I were to KNOW that a drone didn't have a spy rig on it I wouldn't care as much, but they still should have to keep it away from peoples houses.

Be aware that people are doing this and install good curtains just like you do door locks.

I hope that are laws that allow you to 'defend' against drones. One limitation could be to use small birdshot that is made from a lighter material. I just don't think it's right that guns are not allowed while people are allowed to abuse others with their drones.

 

[rwsmith]

Some droners fly....

How did he endanger property?

And some yokel shooting a shotgun up into the air in a neighborhood doesn't constitute any sort of danger, no matter how slight? Yeah, okay.

Some droners fly their things around the Golden Gate bridge. Somebody said, "What damage could a three pound object do?" Well, if it hits a moving care, it's going to do a hell of a lot of damage. A drone falling on your head or crashing through a window or onto your car could be counted as 'damage.

 

[Watchdog]

Yes it does.

Did you even read what I wrote? Did you catch the part about every drone might not be equipped with a camera? You want to get into a yes-it-does-no-it-doesn't argument, find someone else.

 

[rwsmith]

I'd just like to say....

...that there ARE regulations and laws in place concerning guns, and I follow them. I don't point guns at other people, I don't shoot at them, their houses or property. Not even on my own property if it's not a life or death issue. I think that these laws and regulations are good and not excessive. I should also have the right to fly my drone but not hover around other peoples' property spying on them or endangering others. Right now, if a person shoots somebody or hits them in the head with a drone or even THREATENS TO, they'll have to answer for it.

 

[Watchdog]

A Google Earth picture is a straight down view.

Why are you telling me this? I'm aware that a Google Earth image is looking straight down, even though you can 3D it and get a bit of an angle on the view. But straight down, yes. That's why it's called "satellite view".

They don't look in windows. Even with 'street view'.

I know that, too. I'm also aware that the street view is done with vehicles, not drones.

Can you point out to me the part in my post that you quoted where I talk about looking in windows with Google Earth? No, I didn't think so.

My point is that our privacy may have been private at one time in the pre-satellite days. But it isn't now, and it never will be again, whether someone can use a device to peep in your window or not. You're being watched just about everywhere you go. A little drone is the least of your worries.

Shooting at a drone because one might fly over or pass close to your property? Because you think you're being spied on or something? What a total waste of time, energy, and ammunition.

 

[bmcgilvray]

 

[amazingflapjack]

I have an 1890 gallery pump that is whisper quiet, and tack driving accurate.

 

[Mistered]

I am thinking the following removal of the registration requirements will ease the legal problems of taking down nuisance drones:

Per the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia , The court struck down the FAA’s registration rule, referencing the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama. That rule stated that the FAA “may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft.”
MarketWatch.com

 

[les.b]

Merriam-Webster:
Drone:

As a transitive verb:

Meaning #2 : "to pass or spend in dull or monotonous activity or in idleness"

Best Regards, Les

 

[pmanton]

I'm torn 2 ways on this. I'm a pilot and aircraft owner. I recognize the need to keep the airspace free. I don't want to be shot at or even chastised for flying over someones "airspace" On the other hand I don't want a drone looking in my windows.

 

[41]

Too bad it's illegal to discharge a firearm in this county. But I'm pretty good with a slingshot.

What about using a bolo?? Wrapped around the rotors would bring it down.

 

[Brokenbear]

OK ..simple fix ...everybody get out their old potato cannons ...get you a huge piece of the woven plastic net used to hold straw on a hill side ...attach some plastic beads like nickle size or so in size around the perimeter to spread it and retain kinetic energy ...then it will be like packing a parachute as to how to fold, roll or pack it ....maybe in a walmart bag ...or maybe a couple light rubber bands around the balled up net .....I am confident of 3 things ...you guys can figure out the correct payload packing ...will get at least a 40 yard range of accuracy ....and no cop will have any idea how to write up a plastic sewer pipe!

Bear

 

[smoothshooter]

Too bad it's illegal to discharge a firearm in this county. But I'm pretty good with a slingshot.

Why in the Hell are you living in a county that prohibits the discharging of a firearm?

 

[smoothshooter]

Too bad it's illegal to discharge a firearm in this county. But I'm pretty good with a slingshot.

Why in the Hell are you living in a county that prohibits the discharging of a firearm anyway?

 

[elpac3]

Seems like there would be a market for a device that jams the RF controls. Getting FCC approval might prove challenging though.

Military already has it - available only to military and LE. Govt is contemplating them for use around major airports. Has drone detection to 6 miles.

 

[AimHigher]

Someone should use a safety concern as justification for shooting down a drone where it was otherwise legal to discharge a firearm. The defense might be that if a drone flying over head over private property uninvited, was to loose power or loose radio control, it could come down on top of people with the propellers spinning at high-speed and could seriously hurt someone. Aside from the trespass, the issue of liability insurance should be raised, requiring drone operators to carry sufficient insurance in the event that their drone cause dame or injury to private property or a person.

 

[johnnyappleseed]

I had a drone hovering over me the other day while I was shooting my revolver. I had just ran out of ammo so I gave it the Clint Eastwood hand signal. Pretty soon it was on its way.