# Kid flying camera equipped drone over beach assaulted for being a pervert. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659 "2014-06-12T22:12:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/101 "2014-06-13T15:40:42Z")
Nor was it specifically targeting anyone. In fact I couldn’t make out the features of a single person. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/102 "2014-06-13T15:41:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > See, I don’t have that expectation. Again, would you really be fine with a guy following you around taking pictures of you? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/103 "2014-06-13T15:42:18Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > Nor was it specifically targeting anyone. In fact I couldn’t make out the features of a single person. Would it change anything if he did? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/104 "2014-06-13T15:43:36Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > First, you insult me. Then, you expect me to cite laws and do other things for you? > > You are wrong to imply anyone is stupid. But thanks for the laugh. Since you refuse to provide cites from him because he insulted you then I shall ask you politely for them. Would you please provide cites for your claims that children under 13 cannot be charged with any crime? I would appreciate it very much as you would be fighting my ignorance and thus enlightening me and our fellow posters. I thank you in advance. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/105 "2014-06-13T15:45:54Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > What sets apart an unmanned aircraft with a camera from a manned aircraft with a camera? Nothing, (except that the unmanned one can be smaller, cheaper to operate). Drones are doing the same things that manned aircraft have been doing all along, and yet everyone acts like it’s something different. > > The same goes for planes that launch missiles or bombs: If a drone does it, somehow it isn’t an act of war, but rather spying. I think the technical difference between a “drone” and a remote controlled aircraft s based on some size set by the FAA. Below a certain size, it’s an RC aircraft like hobbyists would use (camera or not). Above a certain size, it’s a UAV or whatever the technical term and subject to certain regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/106 "2014-06-13T15:47:53Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > No, but if the concept here is that he can fly that quadcopter anywhere and nobody has a right to complain, that also includes his right to follow people around unchallenged. Under the concept that just because his quadcopter exists he **could** follow someone around then they should be outlawed then we must conclude that because knives exist someone **could** use one to murder someone then all knives must be outlawed. Same with forks and scissors etc. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/107 "2014-06-13T15:51:49Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Would it change anything if he did? I would ask him what he’s doing, of course. I wouldn’t punch him or call the police unless he was actively harassing me. But there’s also a gulf of difference between someone following you around and someone flying a quadcopter over the beach. Regardless, the only place I’ve ever had altercations with taking pictures of strangers in public was in Budapest, where I lived for five years, and that only happened twice. Everywhere else I’ve been, it’s never been an issue (oh, and one where the cops in Chicago were not happy with me taking photos, but they really couldn’t do anything.) It’s required coursework for photojournalism classes (at least the ones here) to take pictures of complete strangers in a storytelilng manner as part of the coursework. You have to display some tact doing it, of course, but the vast majority of people don’t mind. Yeah, if you’re hovering over them and have a camera in their face and don’t explain yourself at all, I suppose they’d get a bit miffed or creeped out. People may ask you what you’re doing, but I’ve never in the US (minus the cop incident) had anyone get immediately pissed off at me. I think you’d be surprised at how many people just don’t care in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/108 "2014-06-13T15:56:32Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Under the concept that just because his quadcopter exists he **could** follow someone around then they should be outlawed then we must conclude that because knives exist someone **could** use one to murder someone then all knives must be outlawed. Same with forks and scissors etc. No, but you are certainly expected to have a good explanation ready if you are carrying a knife around. I don’t find that unreasonable. I would call the police if I saw a kid brandishing a knife at the beach, forget copters. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/109 "2014-06-13T16:00:35Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > No, but you are certainly expected to have a good explanation ready if you are carrying a knife around. I don’t find that unreasonable. I would call the police if I saw a kid brandishing a knife at the beach, forget copters. Sure, and if I were confronted by crazy woman like the kid was, I’d just say I’m doing aerial footage of the local scenery/landscape for a school video project or something. I’m getting the sense, though, that the explanation would not have sufficed for her. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/110 "2014-06-13T16:00:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would ask him what he’s doing, of course. I wouldn’t punch him or call the police unless he was actively harassing me. But there’s also a gulf of difference between someone following you around and someone flying a quadcopter over the beach. Yes. The difference is that you are showing off more skin at the beach. But fine, that’s the line you need crossed: you would need the quadcopter to be actively following you. Others have other lines, and you should understand that you are bound to cross some lines when you take a public recording. Understand that I’m not defending the woman, I’m just saying that I don’t find that using a camera in a public beach is as innocuous as many people in this thread say. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/111 "2014-06-13T16:03:14Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Yes. The difference is that you are showing off more skin at the beach. > > But fine, that’s the line you need crossed: you would need the quadcopter to be actively following you. Others have other lines, and you should understand that you are bound to cross some lines when you take a public recording. > > Understand that I’m not defending the woman, I’m just saying that I don’t find that using a camera in a public beach is as innocuous as many people in this thread say. Like I said, when I was in college, that was one of the assignements. I went to North Avenue Beach and photographed people in their bikinis on the beach, playing volleyaball, etc. I even camped out at one of the volleyball nets and photographed the well-toned, half naked bodies for nearly a half hour (and this was not during a tournament or anything), and not a single person even asked me what I was doing. Maybe I just don’t give off the “creepy” vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/112 "2014-06-13T16:03:42Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Sure, and if I were confronted by crazy woman like the kid was, I’d just say I’m doing aerial footage of the local scenery/landscape for a school video project or something. I’m getting the sense, though, that the explanation would not have sufficed for her. Sure. She acts completely bonkers. I’m just saying that her being worried about some dude using a video camera in a public beach is not really that hard to understand. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/113 "2014-06-13T16:04:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Like I said, when I was in college, that was one of the assignements. I went to North Avenue Beach and photographed people in their bikinis on the beach, playing volleyaball, etc. I even camped out at one of the volleyball nets and photographed the well-toned, half naked bodies for nearly a half hour (and this was not during a tournament or anything), and not a single person even asked me what I was doing. Maybe I just don’t give off the “creepy” vibe. Would you have been surprised if any of them did ask? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/114 "2014-06-13T16:17:30Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Would you have been surprised if any of them did ask? Of course not. And people do occasionally ask. But they do it out of curiosity, most often in the form of “What’s this for? Are you shooting for a magazine?” or something like that. There’s no assumption that I’m a pervert voyeur or anything like that, much less the screaming, physical assault of this woman. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/115 "2014-06-13T16:17:54Z")
I’ve taken pics of my gf at the beach. She’s taken pics of me. In some of these shots, other people in various states of undress can be seen. Never had anyone show any concern. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/116 "2014-06-13T16:23:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve taken pics of my gf at the beach. She’s taken pics of me. In some of these shots, other people in various states of undress can be seen. Never had anyone show any concern. Because most people aren’t batshit fucking crazy. This kid ran into one of the bad ones. So the woman was charged with third degree assault. Initially she claimed that the kid was the one who assaulted her. I wonder what would have happened if there was no video of the recording - maybe this woman’s crazy would have gone undetected. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/117 "2014-06-13T16:28:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I think the technical difference between a “drone” and a remote controlled aircraft s based on some size set by the FAA. Below a certain size, it’s an RC aircraft like hobbyists would use (camera or not). Above a certain size, it’s a UAV or whatever the technical term and subject to certain regulations. Nope. Straight from the FAA website: **Do I need to get approval from the FAA to fly a model aircraft for recreation?** No. FAA guidance does not address size of the model aircraft. FAA guidance says that model aircraft flights should be kept below 400 feet above ground level (AGL), should be flown a sufficient distance from populated areas and full scale aircraft, and are not for business purposes. Also, [http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory\_and\_Guidance\_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/1acfc3f689769a56862569e70077c9cc/$FILE/ATTBJMAC/ac91-57.pdf](http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/1acfc3f689769a56862569e70077c9cc/$FILE/ATTBJMAC/ac91-57.pdf) You might be able to give the kid grief over this advisory, but it is still a guideline and not a law, although I am not a lawyer. For all intents, there is zero difference as to whether the UA is guided by a person or autonomously. The only difference is if you are operating commercially or recreationally, and whether you fly over 400 ft, if I read this correctly. **What is an unmanned aircraft system (UAS)?** A UAS is the unmanned aircraft (UA) and all of the associated support equipment, control station, data links, telemetry, communications and navigation equipment, etc., necessary to operate the unmanned aircraft. The UA is the flying portion of the system, flown by a pilot via a ground control system, or autonomously through use of an on-board computer, communication links and any additional equipment that is necessary for the UA to operate safely. The FAA issues an experimental airworthiness certificate for the entire system, not just the flying portion of the system. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/118 "2014-06-13T16:36:21Z")
Also, [http://rcflightline.com/drones-vs-radio-controlled-aircraft-a-look-at-the-differences-between-the-two/](http://rcflightline.com/drones-vs-radio-controlled-aircraft-a-look-at-the-differences-between-the-two/) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/119 "2014-06-13T16:44:07Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > When my daughter was a baby on the beach on Oahu and a mob of Japanese tourists swarmed her with cameras, I just guessed that redheaded babies were a novelty to them. Now I realize I should have strode over and commanded: > > あなたはここで行われている]([https://translate.google.com/](https://translate.google.com/)) “Please fondle my buttocks.” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659/120 "2014-06-13T16:54:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Of course not. And people do occasionally ask. But they do it out of curiosity, most often in the form of “What’s this for? Are you shooting for a magazine?” or something like that. There’s no assumption that I’m a pervert voyeur or anything like that, much less the screaming, physical assault of this woman. Me, I would absolutely say something like\* “do you mind if I take your picture?”\* before I start shooting away, quite frankly. Can’t help but think that it’s rude of you not to, and that you must have made some people uncomfortable, even if they said nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-flying-camera-equipped-drone-over-beach-assaulted-for-being-a-pervert/690659.md?page=7)