Adan Wadley of Dunwoody, Ga., wears a drone hat as he protests the use of drones outside the International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Atlanta. The Colorado town of Deer Trail wants to ban low-flying drones to protect property rights.
The Colorado town of Deer Trail will vote on a proposed ordinance that would allow officials to issue drone-hunting licenses.
Drones may be taking over the skies around the country, but one small southeastern Colorado town aims to assert its sovereign right over the airspace 1,000 feet above private property by adopting a drone-hunting law.
Deer Trail's Town Board this week debated and voted on an ordinance that would have given the town authority to issue drone-hunting licenses and offer a $100 bounty on drones. The vote ended in a three-three deadlock, with one board member not voting.
The tie sends the issue to an Oct. 7 townwide special election, Deer Trail town clerk Kim Oldfield told MSN News on Wednesday, adding that the board had a lively discussion about the larger privacy issues raised by low-level surveillance flights.
DenverChannel.com reported that the law specifies what type of ammunition can be used, and that the bounty will be paid to drone hunters who bring in specific parts of unmanned aircraft, including those with U.S. government markings. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that people can be prosecuted for shooting at drones, according to the website.
Around Colorado, drones have been used for search-and-rescue missions, law enforcement operations and wildlife monitoring. The unmanned planes have also been touted as a tool in the fight against forest fires.
"I intended this as a symbolic start to a movement,” said Deer Trail resident Phillip Steel, a metal worker who drafted the ordinance. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that the right to privacy extends up 1,000 feet, Steel told MSN News, so it's the low-flying aircraft conducting individual surveillance that's of concern.
FAA rules have yet to catch up with the technology. Currently, the FAA is trying to streamline permits for drone operations. In April, the agency held a public outreach session on privacy issues. Links to transcripts and an audio recording of the session are online at this FAA website.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center has been watch-dogging the FAA on drones.
Deer Trail's Town Board this week debated and voted on an ordinance that would have given the town authority to issue drone-hunting licenses and offer a $100 bounty on drones. The vote ended in a three-three deadlock, with one board member not voting.
The tie sends the issue to an Oct. 7 townwide special election, Deer Trail town clerk Kim Oldfield told MSN News on Wednesday, adding that the board had a lively discussion about the larger privacy issues raised by low-level surveillance flights.
DenverChannel.com reported that the law specifies what type of ammunition can be used, and that the bounty will be paid to drone hunters who bring in specific parts of unmanned aircraft, including those with U.S. government markings. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that people can be prosecuted for shooting at drones, according to the website.
Around Colorado, drones have been used for search-and-rescue missions, law enforcement operations and wildlife monitoring. The unmanned planes have also been touted as a tool in the fight against forest fires.
"I intended this as a symbolic start to a movement,” said Deer Trail resident Phillip Steel, a metal worker who drafted the ordinance. The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that the right to privacy extends up 1,000 feet, Steel told MSN News, so it's the low-flying aircraft conducting individual surveillance that's of concern.
FAA rules have yet to catch up with the technology. Currently, the FAA is trying to streamline permits for drone operations. In April, the agency held a public outreach session on privacy issues. Links to transcripts and an audio recording of the session are online at this FAA website.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center has been watch-dogging the FAA on drones.
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