These laws will take many forms as drone technology develops and drones become more common. For example, many states already
fine or imprison individuals “for filming or audio recording at a farm without the owner’s consent.”
The Oklahoma legislature is considering a bill that would authorize homeowners to
shoot down drones. Residents of Deer Trail, Colorado decided against issuing
hunting licenses to townspeople wishing to shoot down drones in their local airspace.
Ultimately, the Federal Aviation Administration
has responsibility “for all civil airspace, including that above cities and towns,” and “is working to ensure the safe integration of unmanned aircraft.”
In Washington, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-California, spoke about drones, urging “
regulation of size and type for private use,” “certification” and “specific regulation on the kinds of uses it can be put to.”
But the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act already restricts private drone use to hobby or recreational purposes within the operator’s visual line of sight. The FAA also issued a
policy statement entitled “Education, Compliance, and Enforcement of Unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operators,” effective August 4.
Clearly, the sky will fill with regulations before it fills with drones. In the meantime, these laws should not over-criminalize the issue by treating those who engage in reasonable self-defense on their own property as criminals.
http://www.newsweek.com/it-legal-shoot-down-drone-hovering-over-your-property-362878
long article but interesting...addressing the father shooting down the drone...but more importantly the upcoming fight between the rights of landowners, the right to privacy and the right to fly a drone...
