Use care when buying and flying a drone
Relaxing in the serenity of a deep-soaking tub in her recently renovated bathroom which overlooks the private sanctuary of her garden, Decatur resident, Jinny Hawkins, didn't expect to encounter the 21st century version of a Peeping Tom.
"A freaking drone just flew up to my bathroom window," she says.
With the growing popularity of drones for the hobbyist, that unsettling scene is not an anomaly. Today, these affordable UAVs -- unmanned aerial vehicles -- no longer are solely under the purview of the military or other professionals. No doubt, there are a few already hovering in your neighborhood.
Unfortunately for Hawkins, she hasn't been able to locate the drone's owner, who flew the UAV back into her yard two nights later.
"It zips away faster than we can run after it," she says of the flying camera that announced its presence at her window with flashing red and green lights and a buzz that brought to mind a swarm of snoopy bees.
In the meantime, she registered her address with NoFlyZone.org, which, in theory, creates a type of geofence around her residence. NoFlyZone works by registering your address and GPS coordinates in its database, and the idea is that participating drone manufacturers will program their UAVs to avoid these properties. Think of it as a National Do Not Call Registry for drones.
According to Atlanta police spokesman Donald T. Hannah, residents who have a complaint about a drone flying near their property could call 911 to file a complaint.
"If the complaint is constant and the caller does not need a first responder on scene, they also have the option to visit their local Zone Precinct to file a police report," he said.
For anyone who is considering buying a drone for recreational purposes, here are some tips and safety guidelines from the FAA and Know Before You Fly that you should heed before takeoff:
- You must register your drone with the FAA if the drone weighs more than .55 pounds and less than 55 pounds. To register, you must be 13 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. It costs $5 to register, and you're required to register your drone even if you only plan to fly it in your back yard. Note that you're required to have your FAA registration certificate in your possession when operating your unmanned aircraft.
- Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles.
- Keep the aircraft within visual lines of sight at all times.
- Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations.
- Don't fly within five miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control tower before flying.
- Don't fly near people or stadiums.
- Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft – you could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft.
