Peter Sachs, Id really like your input on this one. Earlier today I was flying my P2V+ at one of the state parks here in Texas. I was just about done and was bringing my bird down when Park Ranger pulled up and proceeded to tell me that I wasnt allowed to fly my drone in the state park. I said, what about HB 912? (which is the, evidently, unconstitutional law that TX passed in 2013 giving us permission to fly) The Ranger had never heard of HB912 so I explained briefly what it said and his response was that that didnt matter because the Texas Parks & Wildlife Division (TPWD) is able to make their own laws and they have a law against me flying. Not so, I said. I read through all of the laws this morning and saw nothing about drones. Oh well, he said...it goes under the section about using the park for its intended purpose. This law he is referring to says in section 134 (g) Facilities Use. It is an offense for any person to: use an area or facility for any purpose contrary to its designated purpose; I contacted the TPWD and got to speak with who I believe is their 2nd in command for the Law Enforcement of TPWD. He is the one that clarified that specific law is what they are using at the moment to cover drone use in the parks. He told me that the TX Legislature gave the TPWD Commission the ability to make their own laws, and that they are hoping that within the next couple of weeks to have something specific in their regulations about this. He, of course, said that there were safety and privacy concerns because of other folks in the park and the drone could crash and injure someone and privacy wise he was referring to people in the campgrounds and they have a right to privacy in their tent, and someone could fly and hover over some of these open-topped tents and take pictures of them in their tents. At which point I almost laughed and cried out in disbelief at the same time. Peter Sachs...I know you have said that the TX law is unconstitutional, Im curious what you think of this TPWD rule and how they are portraying that it covers the use of drones as well. Thoughts, anyone?
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:26:01 +0000
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