Any regulations regarding drones?

Clearly, one of our neighbors has recently acquired a drone.  That thing is flying during the day, at night, hovering over our backyard, over the other neighbors' yards, whirring away sounding just like a swarm of bees. (Is this why they are called drones!)  Are there any regulations about drones flying in residential neighborhoods?

Drones over property

http://www.wsj.com/articles/should-you-be-allowed-to-prevent-drones-from-flying-over-your-property-1463968981

Its a concern when they have cameras. Some sickies would use drones to peep, voyeur through windows for that cheap thrill.

You can always make it a noise complaint....are there specific noise ordinance hours?

That there might be a camera in it is a concern of mine.

RichardR said:

That there might be a camera in it is a concern of mine.

If a "neighbor" got on a ladder with a handheld camera taking pictures through a window there could be serious legal consequences. If a drone were used the probably wouldn't be any.

So what's the difference? In one case a ladder and handheld camera is used whereas in the other case a drone with a camera is used. But in both cases the intent is the same, taking pictures where they shouldn't.

Unfortunately, the laws concerning drones and privacy are unsettled.

You've got some cool neighbors!

Often times, if I'm flying a model aircraft at home and a neighbor is nearby they will engage me in a conversation. The first question they ask is Does it have a camera? - the second is usually How high does it go?

Certain townships such as Chatham passed town ordinances that are specific and actionable ahead of the FAA regulations developed in November 2015. Certain towns country-wide predicted the FAA standards but most townships that did this overshot those predictions. Nevertheless, there are places out there where drone use is more restrictive than others.

The South by South Orange event featured drone footage which was referred to the Maplewood Public Safety Committee who deferred to the FAA. As far as I know, Maplewood's rules are the FAA's rules. If a person is using a drone to invade someone's privacy, or under the influence, or with intent to harm, then it's still a crime. Registered users must report property damage, injury, etc. caused by their drone to the FAA within a certain time period. A summary is here: https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf
 
My answers to my neighbor are No and 200 feet - flying with a camera at home is not a good idea. I'd suggest you ask your neighbors these questions and see what they say

Thanks for your responses.  I haven't been able to figure out which neighbor the drone belongs to.  I've never seen it take off or land, so I'm really at a loss.  I know others are noticing it flying, too, so perhaps as a group effort we can narrow it down.

String some clear fishline netting from your house to a fence, tree, or garage at the back of your property. They'll have to ask permission to retrieve it and the netting could very well damage the rotors or servo motors. At the very least they will think twice about flying near your place again. I would advise against the shotgun approach.

problem is, a person can use a drone to film their own property, but will still capture the neighbor..so the intent is not to invade privacy, but they do

I would take a picture of the drone and go to the police.  Let them deal with it.  

And if it flies low enough, I would consider using a high pressure water hose to stop it.  

IF someone needs to fly a drone, they should go to a large park and have fun. 

We have a house upstate, and while I was standing in the yard, a drone hovered over me. Then it left. Then on its way back, it hovered over me again, probably because I made rude gestures at it. It was the first time I wished I had a gun.

The only way to stop a bad guy with a drone is a good guy with drone.

Or with a hawk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhDG_WBIQgc

I was wondering about the drone they used at Maplewoodstock.  I assume (hope) they were within applicable regulations.

I fly RC aircraft and would not think to fly over a house or other structure. The drone craze has ballooned with the advent of automatic controls and live video first person camera technology. They are much easier to fly than any winged models which require knowledge of aviation principals. But, I would think that things can still go wrong and property damage could result or even injury to people.  Flying them close to others property is just plain rude.

Tom_Reingold said:

We have a house upstate, and while I was standing in the yard, a drone hovered over me. Then it left. Then on its way back, it hovered over me again, probably because I made rude gestures at it. It was the first time I wished I had a gun.

Tom, you are absolutely right but use a water hose to knock it down.

Drones are convenient for chocolate deliveries.

https://youtu.be/bvVu3qfADgw

yahooyahoo said:

I was wondering about the drone they used at Maplewoodstock.  I assume (hope) they were within applicable regulations.

Absolutely not. FAA guidelines specifically prohibit drones near crowds.

xavier67 said:

yahooyahoo said:

I was wondering about the drone they used at Maplewoodstock.  I assume (hope) they were within applicable regulations.

Absolutely not. FAA guidelines specifically prohibit drones near crowds.

Didn't think of that. It seems neither did Maplewoodstock.

A liability horror show should anything have gone amiss.

Google "drones hitting and injuring people".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqB6_y71xE

BG9 said:

xavier67 said:

yahooyahoo said:

I was wondering about the drone they used at Maplewoodstock.  I assume (hope) they were within applicable regulations.

Absolutely not. FAA guidelines specifically prohibit drones near crowds.

Didn't think of that. It seems neither did Maplewoodstock.

A liability horror show should anything have gone amiss.

Google "drones hitting and injuring people".

GentlemanJim said:

Tom_Reingold said:

We have a house upstate, and while I was standing in the yard, a drone hovered over me. Then it left. Then on its way back, it hovered over me again, probably because I made rude gestures at it. It was the first time I wished I had a gun.

Tom, you are absolutely right but use a water hose to knock it down.

I think the drone was much too high for my hose to reach it.

xavier67 said:

yahooyahoo said:

I was wondering about the drone they used at Maplewoodstock.  I assume (hope) they were within applicable regulations.

Absolutely not. FAA guidelines specifically prohibit drones near crowds.

That is extremely incorrect. The only FAA restriction currently about crowds is that the drone can not be directly overhead of someone who is not participating, which is why at Maplewoodstock they announced what was happening with the drone, told people where it would be,  and tried to keep people from walking or standing directly underneath it. 

http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf

The FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) has recommended other rules that have not yet been implemented (such as he operator must stay 20 feet above people’s heads or 10 feet laterally away from people). 

Even though those rules have not yet been implemented, I beleive they were follwoed at Maplewoodstock.

http://www.faa.gov/uas/resources/uas_regulations_policy/media/Micro-UAS-ARC-FINAL-Report.pdf