Railfan Technology > Good article on legality of drone photography

Worth a read:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/drones-and-law-skys-not-limit?utm_medium=Email%201614393&utm_campaign=Content&utm_source=WeeklyContent%20160507&utm_content=Explora&utm_term=drones-and-the-law

KG

I had read this article from B&H some time previously; the growing list of  replies
to the article are also informative.
However none of the noted laws apply to Canada, at least not yet.
Canada is lagging behind the USA as usual.
I know of one person who purchased one of the earlier drones;
for the express purpose of spying (for lack of a better word) on
outsiders who were stealing crops from his fields.
He found he could never catch the thieves when they were
stealing produce. A simple drone and a camera enabled
him to photograph the
thieves and their vehicle and hence the license plate.

The local police asked some questions and subsequently made an arrest.
This was the fall of 2015. The case has not come up in the docket,
yet. No doubt how the evidence was gathered will be of some interest.

Can understand how such devices would useful for doing structural survey
and local fire departments have used such a device to view the
fire scene from above to assist in extinguishing the blaze.

Thumper Wrote:
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> Canada is lagging behind the USA as usual.

Here's information regarding the topic from a Transport Canada perspective:
 
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/general-recavi-uav-2265.htm?campaign=2014-uav-socialmedia-facebook&WT.mc_id=hruzf#safety
 

One problem is there is an airport or heliport within 5 miles of almost everywhere.  The prohibition on flying also includes every helipad that might be a hospital, police station, fire station, and building top.  You start drawing circles around these locations and every where is off limits.

 

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Todd is correct about how widespread the prohibited areas are. Here in the SF East Bay in Alameda & Contra Costa counties the East Bay Regional Park District has banned drone use in and over their property.  The intent is not to harass wildlife.  The EBRPD encompasses many parks in both counties that exceed the size of Rhode Island. Many of these properties are located along the rail lines.

Gary

webmaster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One problem is there is an airport or heliport
> within 5 miles of almost everywhere.  The
> prohibition on flying also includes every helipad
> that might be a hospital, police station, fire
> station, and building top.  You start drawing
> circles around these locations and every where is
> off limits.

This site confirms this fact with detailed information, including Temporary Flight Restrictions:
 
https://app.airmap.io