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100% agree that regulation was the inevitable conclusion of the whole drone craze. But what baffles me is the type of regulation they're proposing. The bad act

100% agree that regulation was the inevitable conclusion of the whole drone craze. But what baffles me is the type of regulation they're proposing. The bad actor was appropriately found and punished in your story. My thought is, instead of more onerous requirements on end users surrounding registration, why not require the drones to meet some minimum technical requirement regarding capability? The problem doesn't seem to be in finding the person responsible, so why focus the legislation there, instead of trying to make the hobby safer overall? Unless they think it's easier just to discourage people from the RC hobby altogether, which is what the current proposal would do.

robomartin 7y ago
Well, in the local case someone told the cops who was flying it (from the comfort of their backyard, BTW). In most cases it likely is very difficult to identify the pilot. Worst yet, you might never see the drone while they create great potential danger (flying over a freeway) or invade privacy (fly above someone's property or look into a home). I am not for a minute proposing bans or anything like that. Yet the current framework and industry do not impose any level of responsibility on owners. For example, I carry a one million dollar insurance policy to cover any damage I might cause with my model airplanes, helicopters or drones. However, the policy is only valid if I fly within a set of rules. Not surprisingly, I am not allowed to fly over people, homes or roads. Which means I tend to be extremely safety-conscious and never fly in any way that would endanger others or their property. That is absolutely lacking in the consumer drone industry. People think nothing of flying their drones over anything or anyone and they don't even have insurance to cover the damage they might cause. As a simple example, my solar array cost in the order of $50K. If some idiot crashes a drone into it it'll cost me thousands of dollars to fix it. It might even start a massive fire. And yet, unless you see who's flying the thing, they confess or someone identifies them, they will never be caught. When people do not suffer consequences for their actions they have no reason to behave with civility or consideration. Most people are good, but most people can be real idiots as well.

robomartin 7y ago

Well, in the local case someone told the cops who was flying it (from the comfort of their backyard, BTW). In most cases it likely is very difficult to identify the pilot. Worst yet, you might never see the drone while they create great potential danger (flying over a freeway) or invade privacy (fly above someone's property or look into a home). I am not for a minute proposing bans or anything like that. Yet the current framework and industry do not impose any level of responsibility on owners. For example, I carry a one million dollar insurance policy to cover any damage I might cause with my model airplanes, helicopters or drones. However, the policy is only valid if I fly within a set of rules. Not surprisingly, I am not allowed to fly over people, homes or roads. Which means I tend to be extremely safety-conscious and never fly in any way that would endanger others or their property. That is absolutely lacking in the consumer drone industry. People think nothing of flying their drones over anything or anyone and they don't even have insurance to cover the damage they might cause. As a simple example, my solar array cost in the order of $50K. If some idiot crashes a drone into it it'll cost me thousands of dollars to fix it. It might even start a massive fire. And yet, unless you see who's flying the thing, they confess or someone identifies them, they will never be caught. When people do not suffer consequences for their actions they have no reason to behave with civility or consideration. Most people are good, but most people can be real idiots as well.