Poll: Would you be in favor of using more drones?

Recently a South Jersey man allegedly shot down a drone flying outside his home – and faced criminal charges for firing at it.

Somehow you would think that the operator of the drone would have been held liable – but liable for what?

For flying outside someone’s house?

Regarding this particular matter, the FAA has responded that it’s not illegal to fly a drone outside someone’s home – and is working on a set of regulations that will be issued sometime in the coming year.
Yet, while they toil, drones proliferate – and with it will come the questions of how and where they can operate.

The incident in question involves a Lower Township man, Russell Percenti, arrested for criminal mischief, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose – accused of shooting down a multicoptor flying around his home.

The prosecutor in the case, Robert Taylor, said that the operator was merely trying to photograph a friend’s house – and therefore not charged.

Privacy matters don’t even figure into the equation. In other words, if something can be seen in full view of the public, it’s fair game to be photographed.

But it does make you wonder that in lieu of specific regulations outside of a list of dos and don’ts as to where and how they fly, how long will it be before one of them crashes into an airliner.

Right now, the only enforcement seems to come from municipalities which have in place nuisance laws.

But more and more of them are on the way. Amazon currently is developing a system that will deliver your orders via drone – and pizza establishments are doing the same.

Now all of this could be paranoia - but it does make you wonder.

How much of a danger do drones pose?