Drone law question
Discussion
Watching a drone auditor on YouTube I have a question.
Re the CAA website
"If you fly your drone low over someone’s land without their permission, you could be liable in trespass, even if you do not personally go onto the land (although this is generally a civil rather than a criminal matter)."
What is low?
If you disrupt people on the land, wouldn't that fall under aggravated trespass, which is a criminal matter?
Re the CAA website
"If you fly your drone low over someone’s land without their permission, you could be liable in trespass, even if you do not personally go onto the land (although this is generally a civil rather than a criminal matter)."
What is low?
If you disrupt people on the land, wouldn't that fall under aggravated trespass, which is a criminal matter?
Far Cough said:
Thanks , that's where I got my information in the first point.I think this is the old one of how much of the sky do you own above your property, coming from an aspect of aircraft trespassing from ages ago. I seem to recall they said up to 30ft above your roof is yours and anything over that people can pass through. Don’t use this as legal advice though
There are no defined heights. If the land owner finds your drone to be nuisance, they may take you to a civil court to seek redress.
It really depends on circumstances. For example, I was flying my drone by the seaside the other day and you could not hear the drone flying 10 meters overhead. Yesterday, I was flying my drone 75m over my friends neighbour field and they came across to tell me that it unsettled their horses.
You just have to be mindful and respectful. If someone complains, just apologise and move on.
It really depends on circumstances. For example, I was flying my drone by the seaside the other day and you could not hear the drone flying 10 meters overhead. Yesterday, I was flying my drone 75m over my friends neighbour field and they came across to tell me that it unsettled their horses.
You just have to be mindful and respectful. If someone complains, just apologise and move on.
It’s no different to an EasyJet or Ryanair airliner flying past overhead. You don’t own the airspace above your house.
Drone laws are determined by the weight of the drone. If the drone is under 250g then it can go anywhere except airports, prisons and sports stadiums.
Decent drones, like those made by DJI, have built in GPS. The drone knows where those no fly zones are and it allow you to fly into them. If it really was a no fly zone.
The crux is, how are you going to enforce your complaint? When a drone can be up and down and the owner moves on within seconds. I’d prefer police time and resources spent on investigating real crimes.
Ive used a drone in a park and high up it’s silent and because of its range, they wouldn’t know where I was. People didn’t even notice it (and I) was there.
Drone laws are determined by the weight of the drone. If the drone is under 250g then it can go anywhere except airports, prisons and sports stadiums.
Decent drones, like those made by DJI, have built in GPS. The drone knows where those no fly zones are and it allow you to fly into them. If it really was a no fly zone.
The crux is, how are you going to enforce your complaint? When a drone can be up and down and the owner moves on within seconds. I’d prefer police time and resources spent on investigating real crimes.
Ive used a drone in a park and high up it’s silent and because of its range, they wouldn’t know where I was. People didn’t even notice it (and I) was there.
Edited by Mr Miata on Sunday 26th February 12:13
OP, this may be worth a read: https://skykam.co.uk/my-neighbour-is-flying-a-dron...
If the landowner can claim that you are interfering with their peaceful enjoyment of their property, and can identify you as the operator, they can take private action for trespass; then it’s up to the court to determine both reasonableness and acceptable operating height. As the article says, they should have asked you to cease flying over their property as a first step. Another consideration is privacy, given that most drones have decent cameras these days - are you taking pics of anything that the landowner might prefer to keep private?
Edited to answer your second question. A drone cannot be flown nearer than 50m horizontally to a person and that goes up to the 120m ceiling for drone flight, so like a big cylinder. That’s air law, not a civil matter
If the landowner can claim that you are interfering with their peaceful enjoyment of their property, and can identify you as the operator, they can take private action for trespass; then it’s up to the court to determine both reasonableness and acceptable operating height. As the article says, they should have asked you to cease flying over their property as a first step. Another consideration is privacy, given that most drones have decent cameras these days - are you taking pics of anything that the landowner might prefer to keep private?
Edited to answer your second question. A drone cannot be flown nearer than 50m horizontally to a person and that goes up to the 120m ceiling for drone flight, so like a big cylinder. That’s air law, not a civil matter
Edited by mikef on Sunday 26th February 12:41
There was a recent supreme court decision where visual intrusion was held to be nuisance. In this case it was from a viewing gallery on top of a high rise building, overlooking people's apartments.
That was a severe case. But if someone was flying a drone in close proximity every day.....
That was a severe case. But if someone was flying a drone in close proximity every day.....
Re the comment about unsettling horses...
I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
QBee said:
Re the comment about unsettling horses...
I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
But why would a drone operator want to fly over your garden anyway? I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
People just aren’t as interesting as they think. When there’s far more scenic tourist sites to visit and photograph.
It’s the same with conspiracy nuts complaining about the Government spying on their internet browsing. If some government employee had to watch me, he’d be bored to tears.
Edited by Mr Miata on Sunday 26th February 14:33
mikef said:
Edited to answer your second question. A drone cannot be flown nearer than 50m horizontally to a person and that goes up to the 120m ceiling for drone flight, so like a big cylinder. That’s air law, not a civil matter
If you want to quote the law, you should probably quote it accurately. Edited by mikef on Sunday 26th February 12:41
You forgot the bit about sub 250g drones…
Oceanrower said:
mikef said:
Edited to answer your second question. A drone cannot be flown nearer than 50m horizontally to a person and that goes up to the 120m ceiling for drone flight, so like a big cylinder. That’s air law, not a civil matter
If you want to quote the law, you should probably quote it accurately. Edited by mikef on Sunday 26th February 12:41
You forgot the bit about sub 250g drones…
Mr Miata said:
QBee said:
Re the comment about unsettling horses...
I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
But why would a drone operator want to fly over your garden anyway? I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
People just aren’t as interesting as they think. When there’s far more scenic tourist sites to visit and photograph.
It’s the same with conspiracy nuts complaining about the Government spying on their internet browsing. If some government employee had to watch me, he’d be bored to tears.
Edited by Mr Miata on Sunday 26th February 14:33
Just because a drone is flying it does not mean it is recording. People automatically assume that a drone above a child is something bad…I don’t think kiddy fiddlers get off on a pic of a child playing in the garden from 30 meters above.
Caddyshack said:
Mr Miata said:
QBee said:
Re the comment about unsettling horses...
I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
But why would a drone operator want to fly over your garden anyway? I used to live in rural Norfolk, not far from RAF Marham.
Eurofighter Typhoons used to come over us really low level and do ear-shattering vertical climbs as part of the their flying exercises.
Our horses ignored them completely.
We lived next to the community playing fields, and a 12 year old kid used to visit from time to time and fly his kite on the playing fields.
My horses went ballistic, racing around their field wild-eyed, because of course the kite was coming to get them.
Out on the rural roads, a 38 tonner could pass them with no issues, yet a guy shovelling stones on his driveway caused them to bolt.
Sorry, but I would have an issue with drones above my garden. Our garden is very private, we have no neighbours and high hedges.
As far as I am concerned, drone pilots have no business filming my private garden without my permission.
For the last 10 years primary school children have been playing there.
People just aren’t as interesting as they think. When there’s far more scenic tourist sites to visit and photograph.
It’s the same with conspiracy nuts complaining about the Government spying on their internet browsing. If some government employee had to watch me, he’d be bored to tears.
Edited by Mr Miata on Sunday 26th February 14:33
Just because a drone is flying it does not mean it is recording. People automatically assume that a drone above a child is something bad…I don’t think kiddy fiddlers get off on a pic of a child playing in the garden from 30 meters above.
motco said:
It is sub 250g if it has no camera. If it has a camera and is <250g registration is required unless it is a toy. What is the definition of a 'toy'?
it's 'or' doesn't have a cameraYou do not need to register if you’ll only use a drone or model aircraft that weighs below 250g and is a toy or does not have a camera.
https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual
The CAA defines where it's likely to be classed as a toy
https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/registration-req...
It's easy to get an operator ID for the sub 250g drones, i.e. DJI ones.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff