Paul Bohn, Esq.
Much
to Taco Bell lovers’ chagrin, the U.S. government blocked the launch of a
taco-delivery via drone company known as “Tacocopter” in 2011-2012. That’s
because current FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations prohibit the
use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), including drones, for commercial
purposes.
But,
you can still use them for fun!
And
that fun, combined with current society’s obsession with selfies, has
jumpstarted the hashtag “dronies” whereby people take selfies via drone. And
indeed, in Michigan and throughout the U.S., drones are becoming more and more
commonplace.
FAA
regulations currently prohibit drones from being flown above 400 feet – higher
than that, they interfere with national airspace. Drones also cannot be flown
within five miles of an airport. And, generally, they cannot weigh over 55
pounds.
While
these national guidelines have been set, some local communities are also
beginning to impose their own regulations on drones. From Capitol Hill to City
Hall, people are calling for further regulation.
New
York City in particular has been dubbed the “Wild West of Drones.” Unmanned
aircraft are flying all over the city, and according the hobby stores of the
city, drones have been a boon to their business.
However,
they have also been running into buildings, crashing on public sidewalks, and
raising privacy concerns among residents. One Manhattan lawyer, Brendan
Schulman, told NPR earlier this year that he believes the solution is to apply
existing law to this technology.
Schulman
cites trespass laws, anti-stalking laws, peeping Tom laws, and unlawful
surveillance as current law that would apply to improper use of drones. He also
notes the good that drones can do – for example, helping to find missing
children or stranded hikers.
Local
governments, however, are likely more concerned about public safety as it
relates to drone crashes. While the topic of drone regulation seems to be
accelerating at the local level, recent reports say the FAA won’t have their
new drone regulations ready until 2017.
Amazon,
which hoped to launch drone delivery (Amazon “PrimeAir”), in the near future,
has been perturbed by the FAA’s slowness. As we are sure Tacocopter has been as
well.
For
now, we’ll have to settle for taking to Twitter and posting our “dronies.”
Read more on this story on
NPR’s Easter Michigan University affiliate: http://wemu.org/post/where-can-drones-fly-legal-limits-are-air
Read more on these issues
and the delayed FAA regulations: http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/10/7370955/the-faas-drone-regulations-wont-be-ready-until-at-least-2017
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