Using Your Drone To Get Post-Hurricane Damage Pics Could Cost You Thousands In Fines

The fact that the US largely avoided serious damage, let alone anything that could even remotely be termed a 'disaster' seems to be beside the point.

And the fact that very few people in Haiti - which did suffer catastrophically - could afford a drone appears to make the matter moot. But then technology tends to drive strange behavior and causes even stranger outcomes, as we well know. JL

April Glaser reports in Re/code:

Any drone that interferes with disaster relief efforts may be slapped with a $32,140 fine (per violation) and possibly even face criminal prosecution, said the FAA in a statement.

While an aerial video of a hurricane hovering over the Atlantic coast might be tempting for drone enthusiasts, don’t get in the way, warns the FAA.

Recovery operations often require planes to fly at extremely low altitudes and any drone that interferes with disaster relief efforts may be slapped with a $32,140 fine (per violation) and possibly even face criminal prosecution, said the FAA in a statement.

Hurricane Matthew is already flooding the northeast coast of Florida and is expected to hit the coastlines of Georgia and South Carolina. The eye of the storm is now only about 30 miles from Daytona Beach, as wind gusts have surged to over 100 miles per hour.

There haven’t been any drone flight restrictions issued yet for areas affected by the storm, but the FAA says it’s up to drone operators to check before they fly to make sure. And even if a restriction hasn’t been issued, if your drone muddles with any hurricane response efforts, you may still be subject to fines for interference.

Drones may be flown for relief efforts, but only if they’ve received clearance from a governmental entity and are in direct support of disaster response. The FAA must also be notified by phone and receive an email request from the drone operator.