# Kentucky Man Shoots Drone, Gets Arrested **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634 "2015-07-31T06:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/341 "2015-08-11T01:20:06Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You can enjoy the same protections as the POTUS by becoming POTUS. Or by living in a nuclear power plant. > > I have no problem with requiring drone fliers to carry liability insurance or stick to established flight paths, but how do you differentiate between a “drone” and “little Susie’s radio controlled plane”? This is the sort of regulation that your side of the aisle is generally yelling about on talk radio. As a rule, I don’t listen to talk radio. I prefer something with pictures. Currently, little Susie’s RC plane would be restricted to the area over the local RC fields. I would have no problem restricting drones to the same area. How do they differentiate small, toy drones from larger, camera and package-carrying drones? Are they all called “drones”? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/342 "2015-08-11T01:52:42Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Currently, little Susie’s RC plane would be restricted to the area over the local RC fields. Cite? > [@](#): > > How do they differentiate small, toy drones from larger, camera and package-carrying drones? Are they all called “drones”? This issue has been discussed several times in this very thread. Perhaps you ought to look through the posts that reference model aircraft. There are quite a few of those posts with cites attached to them. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/343 "2015-08-11T02:08:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Cite? > This issue has been discussed several times in this very thread. Perhaps you ought to look through the posts that reference model aircraft. There are quite a few of those posts with cites attached to them. If you looked thru the thread then you know that I had referred to three local RC airfields. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/344 "2015-08-11T02:21:02Z")
> [@TheSeaOtter](#): > > Mr. Boggs has released what he claims is unedited video footage from the drone, which shows it hovering briefly and, to my completely non-expert eye, pretty high up, before being shot down. > > [Video: Kentucky drone only hovered for about 22 seconds before being shot down - Ars Technica](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/08/video-kentucky-drone-only-hovered-for-about-22-seconds-before-being-shot-down/) The video says I have to sign in, which I’m not going to do. _While the video has some strange jumps and cuts, possibly indicating it was edited, the pilot, David Boggs, said it was not_. I thought the video was lost? Was it lost, or just misplaced? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/345 "2015-08-11T03:48:42Z")
The video was made private on Youtube, and isn’t currently viewable. I saw it before it was restricted, and the drone is traveling in my estimation (based on the drone manufacturer’s camera specs, trigonometry, and some guestimation of house sizes) between 150-200’ altitude. It moves in stages across maybe a quarter mile, hovering briefly before moving again. It had been hovering slightly longer, maybe about 10 seconds, when it was shot. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/346 "2015-08-11T06:06:21Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > If you looked thru the thread then you know that I had referred to three local RC airfields. That doesn’t mean that RC airplanes can only use preselected airfields. You’re just wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/347 "2015-08-11T11:42:25Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > As a rule, I don’t listen to talk radio. I prefer something with pictures. Check out _The Little Red Hen_. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/348 "2015-08-11T14:07:33Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Check out _The Little Red Hen_. I prefer the sequal…The Little Red Hen and the Big Brown Cock. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/349 "2015-08-12T12:25:46Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > That doesn’t mean that RC airplanes can only use preselected airfields. You’re just wrong about that. You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/350 "2015-08-21T00:11:14Z")
So if a drone is close enough to bring down[by throwing a T-shirt at it](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/20/man-vs-drone-vs-the-law/), is it too close? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/351 "2015-08-25T08:42:49Z")
[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_XGR\_CALIFORNIA\_DRONES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-24-21-06-16](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_CALIFORNIA_DRONES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-08-24-21-06-16) The drone operators in this story would soon be committing a crime in California. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/352 "2015-08-25T12:24:59Z")
Again, states have no jurisdiction over use of airspace. I agree that flying very low over someone is reckless and ought to have consequences, but California is simply on the wrong side of the law by passing that bill. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/353 "2015-08-25T15:04:23Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Again, states have no jurisdiction over use of airspace. I agree that flying very low over someone is reckless and ought to have consequences, but California is simply on the wrong side of the law by passing that bill. And Im sure you know more about the law than the lawyers who wrote and passed the bill. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/354 "2015-08-25T16:09:30Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > And Im sure you know more about the law than the lawyers who wrote and passed the bill. :dubious: I’ve cited the laws a couple times in this thread. Yes, it is clear that the California legislature doesn’t know what the fuck it is doing. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/355 "2015-08-25T19:35:23Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’ve cited the laws a couple times in this thread. Yes, it is clear that the California legislature doesn’t know what the fuck it is doing. They probably know that they’re out of their jurisdiction, but they’re willing to push the boundaries, possibly just for PR, possibly as a first step in lobbying Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/356 "2015-08-25T20:37:28Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > They probably know that they’re out of their jurisdiction, but they’re willing to push the boundaries, possibly just for PR, possibly as a first step in lobbying Congress. My thoughts exactly. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/357 "2015-08-26T04:12:32Z")
RM also thought that states and localities couldnt mandate insurance for pilots. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/358 "2015-08-26T04:16:48Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > They probably know that they’re out of their jurisdiction, but they’re willing to push the boundaries, possibly just for PR, possibly as a first step in lobbying Congress. The bill unanimously passed the legislature. Im pretty sure it wasnt a publicity stunt. It would be easier to get cats and dogs to work together. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/359 "2015-08-26T04:29:09Z")
Everyone loves to pass something their voters want even if it does nothing. And privacy rights are not something you want to be voting against in California right now. And this does do something … it prods the Federal level to get on with it already. Whatever the Feds say however will trump whatever the States say, unless the Feds say let the States decide. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634/360 "2015-08-26T10:44:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > RM also thought that states and localities couldnt mandate insurance for pilots. :rolleyes: Don’t distort what I said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634.md?page=19)