Is That Drone Illegal? Drone Laws Revealed

Commercial drones are a very divisive topic. But whether you’re pro-drone or against them, everyone seems to be wondering if they’re being watched. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does have regulations on the usage of unmanned aircrafts (UAV), but the privacy of U.S. citizens is a legitimate concern. Many Americans still aren’t fully informed on Drone Laws. In 2017, over 700,000 drones will be sold within the U.S., so everyone needs to start reading up.

The Breakdown of Drone Laws

While the FAA’s regulations on commercial drones are still being finalized, the federal government does require commercial drones to abide by certain rules. These FAA-registered UAVs can’t weigh less than 55 pounds or fly higher than 400 feet in altitude. Flying over 100 miles per hour is also prohibited. They must only fly during daylight hours, including half an hour before sunrise and after sunset. Finally, a commercial drone’s operator can’t be younger than 16 years old, and they must have a valid flying certificate. Beyond these federal parameters, Drone Laws are decided at the state level, so they can vary wildly from place to place.

Read More: How Drones Present New Hacking Opportunities

Privacy Concerns for American Citizens

According to a 1942 ruling, if you own a house, your property rights extend to a height of 83 feet above your roof. Of course, they weren’t dealing with commercial drones 70 years ago. The law came about when a farmer said that military aircrafts were upsetting his chickens. Now, the times have changed, but the rules haven’t caught up.

These days, many homeowners feel that commercial drones are an intrusion on their privacy. But unless a drone is flying above a military base, a national park, a federal building, or an airport, it’s free to go wherever it pleases. Certain states offer protection to their citizens. If you can prove that a commercial drone was harassing you, either by flying over your home or taking unauthorized pictures, it’s possible to make a case against the company. However, it’s often difficult to gather adequate proof to convince a court.

Hopefully, by the end of 2017, Drone Laws will have caught up with today’s world. With big companies like Google and Amazon pushing for greater freedom in their drone usage, it’s likely that the FAA will make changes to its legislation. But until then, American citizens are left with a lot of unanswered questions regarding their privacy and the future of the USA’s commercial drones.