Bacon's Rebellion

The Wonk Salon, October 4, 2011

—

by

James A. Bacon
in ,

Share this article

ADVERTISEMENT

(comments below)

Comments

Comments

6 responses to “The Wonk Salon, October 4, 2011”

  1. larryg Avatar
    larryg

    re: policing – police are now becoming prolific users of drones…..not the big weaponized behemoths but smaller hand-held versions that can look into fenced yards …. into windows… and in general snoop from above ….

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012204111.html

  2. Hydra Avatar
    Hydra

    If police are using drones, they are using them illegally, unless they get special exceptions from FAA. it is not legal to fly unmanned aircraft in US airspace.

  3. Hydra Avatar
    Hydra

    The article specifically says that FAA permission is exceedingly rare: which hardly allows police to be prolific users of the devices.

  4. larryg Avatar
    larryg

    how would anyone know if it is a police drone verses a recreational model or a kite or a helicopter?

    think Hydra.. think…

  5. Hydra Avatar
    Hydra

    Recreational models and helicopters face the their own regulations, which normally would preclude such use. Also, the regs state that if you use a recreational model for such activities, then it is no longer a recreational model, and stiffer regualtions apply.

    The police would be fools to collect information illegally: good way to blow a conviction.

    The idea that the police can do whatever they want as long as no one knows is a pretty sick idea. They need to follow the highest ethical standards.

  6. larryg Avatar
    larryg

    I see kites and recreational models and even ultra-lights all the time… I don’t read about the FAA going after ultra-lights… eh?

    and RF aircraft and helicopters can be bought legally ….everywhere…

    I assume when people buy them …they use them…

    how would the FAA monitor and enforce when thousands are in use?

Leave a Reply

ADVERTISEMENT