He Flew a Drone to Take Photos for a Friend. Now He’s Facing $55K in Government Fines.

The Daily Signal ^ | 6/12/2016 | Melissa Quinn

[milton23]

Mical Caterina is addicted.

When the Minnesota man turned 56, he headed to Brainerd International Raceway and raced his Mini Cooper on its road course. With GoPro cameras fastened to the front and back bumpers of his car, he created a video and posted it to YouTube.

That got the attention of GoPro, which invited him to a seminar where he was given a drone, a Phantom manufactured by the Chinese company DJI.

Caterina was instantly hooked.

[Robert DeLong]

I can see the need for controlling the usage of drones, but this case is an absolute travesty of justice.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Agreed. No clear law at time of offense, clearly not commercial use, highest fine ever.

Typical government behavior... any mistake is our problem.

[Flick Lives]

“[The FAA] basically wants to scare you,” Sachs said. “They want to set an example or make an example out of you. Most people do not retain legal counsel, and they should. Nobody should ever talk to the FAA without an attorney present. They’re not there to help you. The FAA is there to fish for information to use against you.”

The FAA sees the American people as nothing more than sheep to be shorn. They don't give a rat's ass about actual safety.

[raybbr]

“If you’re flying for a hobby, then you’re not aircraft and not covered by anything the FAA would say unless you’re endangering something,” Taylor said.

Because the FAA has yet to publish its regulations for commercial drone use, it has instead instructed any operator looking to fly a drone for nonhobby use to attain a Section 333 exemption.
SNIP
“To operate under a [Section 333] exemption, you have to have a pilot’s license. That’s a big barrier to a guy who just wants to fly a $1,200 multirotor device,” Hanson told The Daily Signal. “There are a number of people out there flying under the radar, and they’re playing ‘catch me if you can.’”

So, you can fly a drone as a hobby without a license. But if you take one picture you have to have 333 exemption which requires a pilot's license.

WE need more laws and regulations!

[stinkerpot65]

It’s all about power and oppression of the individual for Obama’s thugs.

[IFly4Him]

He won’t pay anywhere near that in the end (assuming his facts are correct). The FAA looks at “commercial activity” differently than commonly understood. The attorney from FL had it right about indirect benefit (money does not need to exchange hands). Same rules prevent private pilots from recruiting third parties from creating a pseudo charter. That being said, they probably need to write a separate standard for drones.

[WKUHilltopper]

The intent of government is to piss all over Americans. Make no mistake about it. You’re serfs.

[DaveA37]

“The FAA sees the American people as nothing more than sheep to be shorn.”.............

This sounds like most government over regulated issues. It is well past time to shear some of the politicians who come up with these regulations of over control. Government NEEDS to be downsized.

[Robert DeLong]

The intent of government is to piss all over Americans. Make no mistake about it. You’re serfs.

Exactly, they want to make examples, and since he complied with all of their requests they assume he will just lay down and surrender. The revenue hungry government will try to extract it at every opportunity.

[IYAS9YAS]

So, you can fly a drone as a hobby without a license. But if you take one picture you have to have 333 exemption which requires a pilot's license.

Does this rule apply to old-style radio-controlled aircraft? If not, then the FAA can bugger off.

[JimRed]

I guess if you can afford a camera equipped drone you can afford a lawyer.

The attorneys are cryin’ all the way to the bank!

[RegulatorCountry]

Sounds like somebody lobbied and succeeded for regulation to protect a traditional aerial photography business.

[wally_bert]

I’d like to get a drone but it’s reasons like this, I don’t plan to. I’d want to put a go pro on it. A camera platform is the only reason I would want a drone.

[wally_bert]

I believe we have a winner.

[zeugma]

The FAA Government sees the American people as nothing more than sheep to be shorn. They don't give a rat's ass about actual safety.

Fixed that for ya. There are no government agencies that think otherwise.

[chaosagent]

I guess if you can afford a camera equipped drone you can afford a lawyer.

---

Mine costs $149.99. How much lawyering will that buy me?

[JimRed]

Mine costs $149.99. How much lawyering will that buy me?

A few microseconds short of an hour?