Took my Inspire 1 to the south end of Redondo Beach yesterday and was informed by a lifeguard that all LA County beaches are off-limits to any type of model aircraft.  He even had a copy of the regulation in his truck to show me.  There weren't many people around, so he let me grab a quick shot of some waves, but then I had to pack it up.  He told me that all LA County lifeguards have been briefed on these regs, so it looks like beach flying may be over.

Anybody else have any experiences with South Bay regs?

So where else (besides around airports, obviously) have you been told you can't fly?  Where have you flown without being shut down?

I can't answer your question as I don't live in US but I can see in the future that the areas we will be able to legally fly in is going to shrink dramatically. Regardless of the regulations by the relevant aviation authorities in each country I can see that local councils, and other regulatory bodies will start imposing their own restrictions in areas they are responsible for. A lot of these restrictions are already in place i.e. some recreation parks ban any type of RC flying and of course the ban on flying in designated National Parks in your country (currently being looked at in Australia as well) and the advise given to you by the lifeguard As they say "make hay whilst the sun shines!"

I am LEO IN SoCal. Never heard of this. What part of the municipal code did he said you were in violation of?  I'll check on it

dbeck@promobox. Posted at 2015-3-13 08:28
I am LEO IN SoCal. Never heard of this. What part of the municipal code did he said you were in viol ...

Apparently it's not exactly a Municipal Code. As far as I can tell, the city of Redondo Beach doesn't have any regulations against flying.  It's LA County. (Would that still be considered municipal?)   I probably should have snapped a pic of the paper he showed me.  But the lifeguard and his supervisor both seemed pretty certain.  

They were actually pretty cool about it, apologized quite a bit, and said that a few idiots had ruined it for the rest of us.  

I might give it another shot in the next week or so, and if I'm stopped, I'll make sure I get a copy of what they're using to stop flights.

LA County patrols the beach areas. The local municipalities MAY have specific codes. I have checked and could not find a specific code!!  Either way it would be at WORSE a infraction. It might be because of public safety. It SEEMS if you were standing on the sidewalk they can't say much. Public right of way. I'll check further

I just spoke with the Hermosa Beach Lifeguard Headquarters, and they said it was Ordinance 17.12.425.

They were also aware that they weren't supposed to allow any model aircraft of any kind over the beach.  

Try Manhattan Beach!

dbeck@promobox. Posted at 2015-3-13 08:40
LA County patrols the beach areas. The local municipalities MAY have specific codes. I have checked  ...

Found the LA County Municipal Code online.  Here's a direct quote:

17.12.425 Model operation prohibited.
No person shall operate any model airplane, boat, helicopter, or similar craft in, on, or over any beach or the Pacific Ocean except in an area that may be established and/or designated for such use by the Director, and subject to all rules and regulations pertaining to such area.


That's exactly what they showed me.
(Ord. 2012-0005 § 48, 2012.)

dbeck@promobox. Posted at 2015-3-13 08:40
LA County patrols the beach areas. The local municipalities MAY have specific codes. I have checked  ...

There's something similar for all LA County parks (which really sucks too):

17.04.630 Model airplanes and boats.
A person shall not operate model airplanes, boats or crafts except in areas designated for such use, and subject to all rules and regulations contained in such written permission.

(Ord. 10309 Art. 3 § 45, 1971.)

e.i2ipictures Posted at 2015-3-13 08:53
There's something similar for all LA County parks (which really sucks too):

17.04.630 Model airp ...

So I guess the real legal question is:  Are DJI flight systems considered model aircraft?  I sure that would require a trial to sort out, but I see no reason that they wouldn't be.  

Yes. What's the punishment?  Misdemeanor or infraction?

I have flown in Abalone Cove in PV. Also if you go further south you will see a lot is RC glider pilots off the cliffs near San Pedro.

MC

And off Dockweiler near the power plant

Hopefully this link will show the Municipal Code:
https://www.municode.com/library ... OOPPR&next=true

https://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=16274

e.i2ipictures Posted at 2015-3-13 08:50
Found the LA County Municipal Code online.  Here's a direct quote:

17.12.425 Model operation proh ...

Wait a second......... So this Ordinance covers the entire Pacific Ocean????
Or, if not then how far out into the ocean does it cover?

Interesting. Could not find any penalty for the infraction. Warning? ticket?  Fine?

markjacobs.talk Posted at 2015-3-14 17:09
Wait a second......... So this Ordinance covers the entire Pacific Ocean????
Or, if not then how f ...

That's a great question!  I guess they think they have jurisdiction over everything from here to Japan?

shirleyolivia Posted at 2015-3-14 14:49
Hopefully this link will show the Municipal Code:
https://www.municode.com/library/ca/los_angeles_co ...

Yep -- that's the ordinance I found.  Thanks for posting the actual link.

dbeck@promobox. Posted at 2015-3-14 22:48
Interesting. Could not find any penalty for the infraction. Warning? ticket?  Fine?

I couldn't find an exact penalty either.  I'd imagine it would vary depending on what you were doing.  Low-altitude buzzing of a heavily crowded beach seems a lot worse than simply flying in an unpopulated area where you're only risking your investment.

I've actually been looking for the rules for orange county beaches as well.  I went this past weekend to Sunset Beach and was about to fly but decided against it.  While setting up I noticed that several lifeguard helicopters were flying back and forth up and down the beach at very low altitude (less than 150ft) so I decided it was just better to pack up and find somewhere else to fly.

I flew a couple of weeks ago around Ventura.  Because I was doing a project related to the city, one of the city council called the police chief to check for me - the chief said I can do whatever I want, basically.  But that's ventura county.  I flew at the beach there (at sunset, very few people around), out in the ag fields (with permission of one of the land owners) and ultimately right over Ventura city hall to get the horizon with the city in it.  Not one single person looked twice at me, I took off from City Hall parking lot.  

However this coming week, I am hoping to get some shots at San Pedro of some freighters coming or leaving.  I am going to try to make arrangements with the Port and have somebody there escort me.  We'll see.  

DONT bother.  Shoot "guerrilla' style until someone says..'stop'  my two cents