Seems another numb nut crashed a quad copter this monrning close to the White House Ellipse. The Feds issued them tickets and confiscated the quad.

http://wtop.com/dc/2015/10/drone ... e-near-white-house/

WaPo report added.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/l ... 5e244f92_story.html

As these incidents continue to pile up, I fear a not so pleasant ending in sight for the rest of us. Rather than punish the entire community, I hope they really hammer the individuals flying irresponsibly to send a message that this careless behavior has to stop!

bradneal24 Posted at 2015-10-9 10:49
As these incidents continue to pile up, I fear a not so pleasant ending in sight for the rest of us. ...

Unfortunately, it works that way.

Additional info from the WAPO.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/police-cite-two-people-after-drone-lands-on-ellipse-near-white-house/2015/10/09/0cfdc428-6e77-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html

Couldn't they just shield highly restricted flying areas with a strong signal in the RC range to block people from flying? But this could probably in turn be used to infringe on our freedoms as drone pilots huh?

All he got was an $85 fine for flying a $65 quadcopter.  And the media circus makes it sound like an invasion.

Hmmm, I wonder if the fine is proportional -- a $1100 fine for flying a $1200 quad?

Maztek Posted at 2015-10-11 04:15
Couldn't they just shield highly restricted flying areas with a strong signal in the RC range to blo ...

Could you please explain what those 'freedoms as drone pilots' are, particularly in relation to restricted airspace?

Yeah, more bad press. Just what we need.

All of Washington DC is restricted air space, so these guy's need an infusion of intelligence, but then again, there is no fixing stupid.

$85 fine? not so bad at all.

If you are caught in Australia flying in restricted air space or within 30m of other people it could cost you 1500 penalty units or 1500 * $125 = $187,500.oo which is the max penalty.  A case in Queensland saw a fine of 100 penalty units ($12,500.oo) when some drone pilot flew it into a football stadium.  

Be warned, the Civil Avialtion Act in Australia has big fines.

This practice will spoil it for everyone and there are already a number of national parks prohibiting drone flying.  We will need to encourage all to follow the rules or we will lose it.

Nifty

Geebax Posted at 2015-10-10 15:19
Could you please explain what those 'freedoms as drone pilots' are, particularly in relation to re ...

What I meant was, if that kind of tech was used,  it could potentially go beyond the use of just shielding restricted areas.

Maztek Posted at 2015-10-10 13:15
Couldn't they just shield highly restricted flying areas with a strong signal in the RC range to blo ...

The problem of using any type of active signal blocking is that you'd have to block 27 and 72 MHz signals as well as 900 MHz, then 2.4 and 5.8 GHz frequencies.

900 MHz is used by a lot of law enforcement for radio communications. 2.4 and 5.8 GHz are used by a lot of computer wireless routers and all Blue Tooth / hands free devises.

It's called jamming, and it is illegal.

I think that it's silly to allow any aircraft to fly over towns and cities.., but it happens. I have seen many plane crashes in residential/commercial/public areas.., and everyone loves it when it happens. (In contrast to a drone crash)

So what's the difference? A drone is much lighter.., and less deadly mechanically and physically. So what else makes it different?

If the pilot has a licence.., registered vehicle.., and air space clearance.., then crashing is considered an acceptable risk.
So, is what's good for the goose, also good for the gander? Or will drone flyers always be seen as "evil".

https://www.rt.com/news/313109-plane-crash-shoreham-airshow/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015- ... ay-elwomple/6534412
http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/201 ... y-moos-dnt-erin.cnn

http://www.popularmechanics.com/ ... ster-hawker-hunter/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ ... ng-four-people.html
And many many more examples...... Feel free to post your own.

Basically.., I don't think drone flying will become illegal. Rather than eliminating the problem by removing the drones.., ID's and registration may be a simple solution, just like guns, cars, motorbikes, boats, and pretty much anything else that is remotely dangerous.

ohh... how to deal with this sort of people?!

DJI-Tim Posted at 2015-10-11 23:12
ohh... how to deal with this sort of people?!

Maybe the same way that Hong Kong deals with litter bugs...................The cane!

Perfect! just Perfect!