Kentucky man shoots down trespassing drone

Scimitar · 07-31-2015, 18:47

Quote:

The way William Merideth sees it, it’s pretty clear-cut: a drone flying over his backyard was a well-defined invasion of privacy, analogous to a physical trespassing.
Not knowing who owned it, the Kentucky man took out his shotgun and fired three blasts of Number 8 birdshot to take the drone out.

"It was just right there," he told Ars. "It was hovering, I would never have shot it if it was flying. When he came down with a video camera right over my back deck, that's not going to work. I know they're neat little vehicles, but one of those uses shouldn’t be flying into people's yards and videotaping."

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Amazed the police filed charges

S

MtnGoat · 08-01-2015, 06:15

I'm not surprised, you really can't discharge a fire arm in the city limits.

I personally think cities need to start discussing this topic, drones, ASAP. This (these) guy was/were doing something close to voyeurism. I feel the drone owner, and anyone with him at the time should be charged with voyeurism, especially if there is film of them zooming in close of the teen girls.

ddoering · 08-01-2015, 06:20

Joe Biden says its ok to blast off a couple of rounds of birdshot.

Golf1echo · 08-01-2015, 09:44

When I read these stories I tend to think of this, with some mobile units for the operators.

Hand · 08-03-2015, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnGoat

I'm not surprised, you really can't discharge a fire arm in the city limits.

I personally think cities need to start discussing this topic, drones, ASAP. This (these) guy was/were doing something close to voyeurism. I feel the drone owner, and anyone with him at the time should be charged with voyeurism, especially if there is film of them zooming in close of the teen girls.

What this dude was doing is in no way acceptable within the general RC community. Up until recently (last few years), it was a very expensive endeavor to build one of these things, it was also a large time requirement to learn how to pilot it. With the recent introduction of relatively cheap, gps-enabled, self flying drones to the market, behavior such as this has a new hi-tech way to execute.

It can be argued that the voyeurism/ trespassing etc could be accomplished via a pair of binoculars, or a telephoto lens from a stable tripod. What this guy did with the drone, may be something he has done for years without it. It is wrong either way.

There is discussion in the responsible RC community of a certification and registration program, where drones are given tail numbers which are linked to actual pilots. While I always question further governance at any level, removing the anonymity from piloting a drone will force personal responsibility for where the drone is found and reported.

That being said, there is a lot about this story that reeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

I wonder if nailing it with a super soaker would have downed it. Like messed up the electronics and caused it to malfunction and crash? I wouldn't do that if it could crash into someone's house, but if in a wide enough area where it would safely crash, I could see trying that.

Possibly, depending on the make and how thoroughly the shell encompasses the electronics. A garden hose will be more effective. A shotgun will work every time.

mugwump · 08-03-2015, 08:46

The pilot has posted the flight path from his navigation/control software. It completely contradicts the shooter's statement. It says the drone didn't come lower than 130 feet, wasn't buzzing the guy's daughter, and never flew over the shooter's property. It was over the neighbor's property when shot down.

More regulation on the way because of a pissy little neighborhood conflict. I have neighbors who have gone to the mattresses for 3 years over a lacrosse ball that ended up in one of their yards. Maybe we should serialize lacrosse balls.

Farmers and local govs (watershed, DNR) are using these drones. Real work is being done. Registering a drone is pretty ridiculous. If you mean to do harm, you will just ignore the regs.

**The Reaper** · 08-03-2015, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugwump

The pilot has posted the flight path from his navigation/control software. It completely contradicts the shooter's statement. It says the drone didn't come lower than 130 feet, wasn't buzzing the guy's daughter, and never flew over the shooter's property. It was over the neighbor's property when shot down.

More regulation on the way because of a pissy little neighborhood conflict. I have neighbors who have gone to the mattresses for 3 years over a lacrosse ball that ended up in one of their yards. Maybe we should serialize lacrosse balls.

Farmers and local govs (watershed, DNR) are using these drones. Real work is being done. Registering a drone is pretty ridiculous. If you mean to do harm, you will just ignore the regs.

I am surprised that you can bring a drone down (except for the magic BB) at more than 50 yards with #8 shot.

TR

Streck-Fu · 08-03-2015, 10:13

The larger drones that can carry GoPro cameras I can see being taken down at 50y with 8 shot. You only have the have one pellet hit one of the blades to bring it down.

mugwump · 08-03-2015, 12:13

It's when the rednecks with fireworks get aholt of drones--that's what we should worry about.

http://youtu.be/S0GBeOnxA4M