TAZ
lvl.2
United States
Offline
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Yes, definitely check your laws... However I'm curious what law you think he broke? As far as I'm aware, the Statue of Liberty is not a No Fly Zone. And not trying to be argumentative, but can you quote a law...rule...listing...or source anywhere that lists it as one. If you have a source that would've been a good resource for this flyer...it might be good info for us all. Great to suggest people read the laws...but offering a source is even better. I'm doubtful you'll find one.
Absolutely for sure, the Statue of Liberty is a National Park. However, those rules only say you cannot take off and land from within a National Park (check the laws...it's true). Says nothing about flying over them. So assuming he did not take off from a NP...again no rules. There are certainly rules about flying too close to structures and people in an unsafe manner, but that is similar anywhere...nothing specific to the Statue of Liberty...and something the FAA investigates, not the police.
Of course another rule he could've broken is flying within 5 miles of an airport, or heliport...there are none within 5 miles of the Statue of Liberty. Flying over the Statue of Liberty (at 305') so as long as he was less than 100' over its height, he also wasn't violating the 400' rule. But again if a violation, its investigation by the FAA, not the police. And certainly won't be an issuance of a ticket,
My guess is he simply violated some local city park rule where he was standing that makes it a violation to take off a drone from their boundaries. Police don't go around issuing tickets for FAA violations, nor do they do it for National Park rule violations (Rangers do that)...and he's likely in for much more than $50 if he took of/landed within a National Park Boundry...
So I too look forward to hearing how this goes. What violation specifically was written on the ticket? Who were the "police", and how did they justify confiscating your drone. Not doubting you got in "trouble"...just wonder if some additional perspective is in order. Don't freak out. Willy Wonka is not correctly informed...don't think he has any ill intent, just mistaken. I'm not saying you won't have some future consequences....but a call from the FBI is probably a silly notion. If anything flying in an unsafe manner (if claimed by the FAA, not the police)....and taking off from an unauthorized park (probably nothing more than a tiny ticket in this case...no worse than drinking alcohol on park grounds kind of thing).
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