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Kentucky Man Had Right to Shoot Down Drone, Judge Rules
webpronews ^ | October 28, 2015

Posted on 10/29/2015 6:53:40 AM PDT by Gamecock

Back in July, a Hillview, Kentucky man shot down a drone that was flying over his property. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and wanton endangerment for destroying the $1,800 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Now, a judge has cleared him of all charges.

William Meridith, 47, said his right to privacy made it ok to shoot down his neighbor's drone. The owner of the drone said he was simply flying it to get aerial images of another neighbor's house.

Meredith told WDRB about the incident:

"Sunday afternoon, the kids-my girls-were out on the back deck, and the neighbors were out in their yard,” Merideth said. "And they come in and said, 'Dad, there's a drone out here, flying over everybody's yard.' Well, I came out and it was down by the neighbor's house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy that they've got in their back yard. I went and got my shotgun and I said, 'I'm not going to do anything unless it's directly over my property.'"

Earlier this week, Bullitt County District Court Judge Rebecca Ward ruled that since witnesses testified the drone was flying "below the tree line", Meredith has a right to shoot it down.

"He had a right to shoot at this drone, and I’m gonna dismiss this charge," said Ward.

The drone pilot, David Boggs, provided video evidence to Ars Technica that his drone was actually flying over 200 feet above the ground.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: banglist; drones
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To: Autonomous User

The neighbors sound like a-holes; glad he had his Glock with him.


21 posted on 10/29/2015 7:16:03 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Gamecock

don’t we all wish we could do that at least once?


22 posted on 10/29/2015 7:16:32 AM PDT by FunkyZero (... I've got a Grand Piano to prop up my mortal remains)
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To: Gamecock

This is the correct decision. No arrest, no trial. The cops and DA acted stupidly.


23 posted on 10/29/2015 7:17:06 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Gamecock

Yep, I remember that show, saw several episodes. Sometimes there’s just no reason to reinvent the wheel and the simple tried and true solutions are best and always will be...............and that is something that is lost on most libs IMO.


24 posted on 10/29/2015 7:17:40 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: Gamecock

What is needed in the whole of case law, is the determination of how much above your property, belongs to you. Due to public and commercial aviation there has to be a limit.


25 posted on 10/29/2015 7:19:19 AM PDT by taxcontrol ( The GOPe treats the conservative base like slaves by taking their votes and refuses to pay)
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To: LiveFree99

4 men advancing on one, and he warns them not to stray onto his property?

I’m not sure why that would be considered illegal.


26 posted on 10/29/2015 7:20:00 AM PDT by MortMan (The rule of law is now the law of rulings - Judicial, IRS, EPA...)
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To: LiveFree99; Jack Hammer

The Dipstick neighbor needs to let it go. He had the “Creeper” look to him.


27 posted on 10/29/2015 7:23:47 AM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: MortMan

“4 men advancing on one, and he warns them not to stray onto his property?

I’m not sure why that would be considered illegal.”

It isn’t/wasn’t.


28 posted on 10/29/2015 7:25:48 AM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: Cboldt

“This is the correct decision. No arrest, no trial. The cops and DA acted stupidly.”

I’m no lawyer but I’m not so sure the police shouldn’t be looking at the drone operator for trespassing/voyeurism type charges.


29 posted on 10/29/2015 7:26:11 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: Mr. K

66 yards is pushing it, but not impossible. It would require a heavy hunting load and a full choke. Barrel length does not really affect range—that is an old wives tale, it’s about buffering the shot, hardening the shot so it does not deform and flies true, and proper constriction with a choke to tighten the pattern. A heavy shot load and a heavy powder charge, say in a 3” or even a 3 1/2” 12 gauge, full choke or even a super full (like used in turkey hunting) , yea, it can be done.


30 posted on 10/29/2015 7:28:57 AM PDT by Aut Pax Aut Bellum (I love my dog, but a .45 is man's best friend...)
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To: Gamecock
The drone pilot, David Boggs, provided video evidence to Ars Technica that his drone was actually flying over 200 feet above the ground.

And I'm sure David provided *all* the video he took that day, right? That his drone and camera were always at least 200 feet AGL. Or is it more likely the "evidence" provided by David was carefully edited?

If the neighborhood kids are playing with a new drone and it strays over my property once or twice...that's not a problem. I'll probably go ask them for a turn at the controls. ;-) If they become a nuisance with it they're going to get a talking to about respecting others. If it is some creep with a camera perving into backyards and windows etc. I *will* bring it down and ensure it is destroyed. As the guy said, if the pilot then sets foot on my property with hostile intent, there's going to be another shooting.

The FAA lists minimum safe altitude for piloted aircraft over populated/congested areas as 1000 ft AGL. Seems to me drone pilots ought to respect that too. If you're going to play CIA and operate drones then do it in a clear area well away from houses and businesses. The buzz is annoying and the potential for invasion of privacy is too great. A kid's toy in/over the yard is one thing, a serious drone is another. Not sure where the dividing line is, maybe based on size/weight (ie. noise) and ability to carry a camera.

31 posted on 10/29/2015 7:29:22 AM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: Gamecock
Family Man defeats Peeping Drone.
Both in the field and in court.
That is good news.

32 posted on 10/29/2015 7:32:08 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Mr. K
This is from the original story, and explains how the shot could have been easily accomplished -

I didn't shoot across the road, I didn't shoot across my neighbor's fences, I shot directly into the air.

The downward force of gravity is a major factor in the spread of shotgun shot. Not all shot will be of the same velocity, and slower shot will drop faster. If you shoot straight up, then the slower shot will still drop, or slow, but it will still be on line.

So, if the shot was straight up, and the drone was hovering, the shot would have been much easier, even at a distance, with a shotgun vs a rifle.
33 posted on 10/29/2015 7:33:30 AM PDT by MMaschin
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To: Gamecock
I'm glad to hear this.

Sets a precedent and it's a further affirmation of property rights.

I've said it before...I'll shoot down any drone I see over my property.

If it is right on the very perimeter, I'll give the benefit of a doubt...mistakes can be made.

But if it flies above my home or my head, and I can see it plainly for what it is, it's going down.

Whether I'm close to my house or working around my shop or outbuildings, I'm never far from my 1100, 3 inch mag, loaded with #4 Turkey Shot, extra full turkey choke.

I think it will bring down one of those at 60 yards.

I have a drone...I know how vulnerable they are.

They are actually pretty damned delicate, even with stabilizers and all the other stuff on them.

Mine is a 6-rotor, but that's just for stability and ease of flying...I highly doubt it will fly with two out, and a load of #4 at 60 yards will most definitely take at least two of them out.

34 posted on 10/29/2015 7:35:05 AM PDT by OldSmaj (obama is a worthless mohametan. Impeach his ass now!)
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To: V_TWIN
-- I'm no lawyer but I'm not so sure the police shouldn't be looking at the drone operator for trespassing/voyeurism type charges. --

Working form memory, they did at the time of the incident, and the shooter was arrested (for shotgun discharge, not for destruction of property) but not the pilot. Judge has undone the arrest and charge against the shooter. The shot was justified.

Merideth (the shooter) was looking into bringing a legal action of his own. Trespass and privacy violations don't depend on police arrest and/or DA agreement to press charges. Any person can sue for damages on those claims.

35 posted on 10/29/2015 7:36:17 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: Gamecock

A competent judge!

He will now face the wrath of the Traitorobama regime and the fifth-column media skanks.


36 posted on 10/29/2015 7:38:10 AM PDT by Carl Vehse ( e)
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To: MMaschin

I am thinking of the spread patter at 66 yards- seems awful far for me

I have never seen a clay pigeon break at that distance

I am NOT an expert, once again

My point is that the drone owner says he was 200 ft above ground, the property owner says he was below the tree line- one of them is lying, and I think it is the drone owner.

200 ft away ESPECIALLY straight up seems unlikely to take out a drone with buckshot- at that distance the spread pattern is very wide


37 posted on 10/29/2015 7:38:52 AM PDT by Mr. K (If it is HilLIARy -vs- Jeb! then I am writing-in Palin/Cruz)
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To: V_TWIN

Birdshot

It wasn’t too far away.


38 posted on 10/29/2015 7:41:58 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s, you weren't really there....)
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To: Gamecock
The owner of the drone said he was simply flying it to get aerial images of another neighbor's house.

Well, I came out and it was down by the neighbor's house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy that they've got in their back yard.

Drone operator is a peeping Tom pervert whom intends harm of some kind.

The judge should have also ordered a search of peeping Tom's home and electronics.

39 posted on 10/29/2015 7:42:33 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (America, a Rule of Mob nation)
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To: V_TWIN
"The cops and DA acted stupidly."

More like malicious prosecution.

40 posted on 10/29/2015 7:42:49 AM PDT by Carl Vehse ( e)
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