"Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopter.

"Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopter.

Quadrocopter pilot gets attacked by drone-hating woman | Ars Technica

A young man down in CT, was attacked by a woman who disliked the fact that he was using a quadrocopter to take photos of the beach she was on. In the end, the woman was the one who was arrested, despite the fact that she had called the police to arrest him.

A couple of personal opinions: First, i think it is a bit creepy for someone to be taking photos of other people on the beach with a drone. I am sure the young man was not taking photos of the sand dunes or the waves coming in. However, i would never attack someone if i saw them doing the same thing. Lastly, i would not get the police involved, but that is only because i know the rights of photographers.

if i ever saw one of these things come into my back yard, it would be toast!

What do you think?

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

I agree with toasting the backyard intruder, but have to wonder, would I be within my rights?

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Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

Consumer-level drones keep popping up in the news. I remember reading a story not that long ago where some idiot crashed his drone into a building in NYC, and it fell to the ground and killed a man who was walking on the sidewalk. The police used the video from the drone to track the pilot down.

I'm sure it won't be long before there is legislation made regarding their use.

I know if one was hovering around my property, I would shoot the damn thing out of the sky. In a public area like a beach? Not much you can do really.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

AC016 said:

Quadrocopter pilot gets attacked by drone-hating woman | Ars Technica

A young man down in CT, was attacked by a woman who disliked the fact that he was using a quadrocopter to take photos of the beach she was on. In the end, the woman was the one who was arrested, despite the fact that she had called the police to arrest him.

A couple of personal opinions: First, i think it is a bit creepy for someone to be taking photos of other people on the beach with a drone. I am sure the young man was not taking photos of the sand dunes or the waves coming in. However, i would never attack someone if i saw them doing the same thing. Lastly, i would not get the police involved, but that is only because i know the rights of photographers.

if i ever saw one of these things come into my back yard, it would be toast!

What do you think?

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Public beach is different than your back yard. Although it could have been a private beach, and that would be a different story.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

It's interesting how these so called "drones" have become so popular in recent years. Remote control helicopters have been around for years. What's the big deal? Perhaps it's the video/photography technology that is available to attach to it now... It's just funny how we make such a big deal about something that is actually pretty old, kind of like hemispherical engines.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

I'm trying to think what was going through that lady's mind to justify why she went to that length. Did she think she was stopping a crazed peeping tom pervert or something? If that's a public beach then she's a little cray cray, IMO.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

One other thing. Kudos to the young man that kept his cool and did things the right way and not the "Self-Conscious Crazy Beach-Going Lady" way.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

Federal law states in part:
Whoever willfully…sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years or both.

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I don't think, as much as it sounds cool to say it, I'd wouldn't be shooting at any aircraft, drones or otherwise...

edited to add a keyword I left out...

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

On one of last night's TV programs, this guy does sand sculptures on the beach and then takes a gopro picture from a quadcopter. The photos were fantastic, and he sells them for profit, actually how he makes a living. Amazing to see how good the technology is with this drone and a gopro.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

FredKingston said:

I don't think, as much as it sounds cool to say it, I'd be shooting at any aircraft, drones or otherwise...

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Did you actually read it? I'm 99.9% certain that remote controlled toys don't fall under the same definition of aircraft.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

randyspann said:

On one of last night's TV programs, this guy does sand sculptures on the beach and then takes a gopro picture from a quadcopter. The photos were fantastic, and he sells them for profit, actually how he makes a living. Amazing to see how good the technology is with this drone and a gopro.

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Certainly a good way of using one

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

Browncoat said:

Did you actually read it? I'm 99.9% certain that remote controlled toys don't fall under the same definition of aircraft.

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I was going to say the same thing; but i'm a Canuck, so what do i know! I will just throw beer cans and slabs of bacon at it, lol

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

You might have your attorney try to defend your actions using that as a basis for your defense in a Federal courtroom... but the issue has been already broached. There is no exception in the Federal statute for "toys"...

In fact, that quote comes from a Forbes article whereby, I believe a Colorado city tried to pass legislation making it "legal" to shoot drones down, until the Federal statute was explained to them, and they withdrew the legislation...

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

If that were really an issue, one could make the same case against frisbees, skeet, yard darts, and just about anything else that "flies through the air". There's no exception for those in the federal statute, either.

I'll take my chances.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

Go for it... It's always nice to hear about folks that shoot guns into the air...:stupid:

Shows a respect for your neighbors down range...

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

While I could be wrong, I have to wonder if the intent of such statutes aren't meant to cover "aircraft" more in the sense of those requiring someone IN the craft itself acting as a pilot (vs. remote operation from a distance) or what have you. Yes, you could argue any mechanical apparatus that flies is an "aircraft" but I think a key difference is the endangerment of human life versus property damage.

That being said, the statute does state "aircraft" so I guess it would be up to a judge/jury to decide if blasting away at a maliciously tossed Frisbee, or unmanned drone, is the same thing as blasting away at that pesky Boeing 757.

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Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

What the article doesn't clarify is what type of beach.... other than public (Is there somewhere that they name the beach that I missed). There are Public Nude beaches in the US and I'd be a bit more lenient towards her if this were the case. Having spent most of my college at Clear Water beach and 'others' in FL (One main reason I ended up having to take a few extra semesters) The number of 'pervert'/idiots/dumb a**es out there taking 'hidden' pictures of large breasted women were incredible... also taking pics of the guys. More so were the means they went to try and conceal their activities.

Is it their right? Apparently... Is it right? debatable.

And for those "I'm gonna shoot it down if it flies over my back yard" statements. Better brush up on the laws within your states, etc.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

That being said, the statute does state "aircraft" so I guess it would be up to a judge/jury to decide if blasting away at a maliciously tossed Frisbee, or unmanned drone, is the same thing as blasting away at that pesky Boeing 757.

Read more: http://nikonites.com/off-topic/2347...ach-goers-his-quadrocopter.html#ixzz34NCKN7yL

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I'm pretty sure, that if you find yourself in front of a judge/jury... they're gonna take a pretty dim view of any reason you use to justify shooting at anything in the air other than clay thingys at an authorized trap/skeet range or hunting area...

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

This incident happened in the State that I live in, about 40 miles from me. Yes, it is a public beach, and always has been. Was he taking harmless video? Only he knows. Here is the local news coverage showing both sides of the story: Woman charged with assault over ?drone? flight | WTNH

No there are no official FAA rules on this. Only guidelines: Rules over ?drones? up in the air | WTNH

Shoot one down? Seriously? Not gonna happen. Not in a neighborhood or a populated area, anyway.

Re: "Photographer" is attacked after taking photos of beach goers with his quadrocopt

Perhaps she was upset because she knew she was already overweight and thought the photos would add another 10 pounds!

Seriously, I think the woman completely overreacted. If this was a public beach, she had no legal expectation of privacy. Perhaps what the guy did was creepy, but it was not illegal.