Can you shoot down a drone?

[Johnny P]

Read an interesting piece on whether you can shoot down a drone that comes over your property. While it seems reasonable that you could as this seems to be an invasion of your privacy, the answer is no. Seems the FAA classifies a drone as an aircraft and comes under their rules, which could result in up to 20 years in prison and/or $100,000 fine. You would probably come out better shooting the operator.

[barretcreek]

Correct on all counts. However, drones have a minimum operating altitude which a lot of operators ignore. Bag one with one of those gadgets which throws a net to capture wildlife and prove the thing was way too low. Finding the operator would probably be best chance of a sympathetic jury.

You'd think someone in DoD would invite an FAA two legged drone to watch an A-10 as a hint.

[Johnny P]

https://www.droneblog.com/what-happens-if-shoot-down-drone/

[JB White]

So, it takes 6 months to over a year to possibly ID the drone and its user. Only then can you contact authorities on a non emergency number. As if your local authorities have the resources to follow up on what could be (to them) an annoyance call.
Meanwhile the drone can freely provide imagery and time stamps to the operators. Intel for China, Hamas, North Korea?
Theft rings compiling a shopping list. Research for human trafficking and porn producers. The list goes on. That includes the nosey neighbors and local gossip queens. The list goes on and on and on.

No small wonder Chinese drones and balloons fly over the USA unimpeded.

Easy to see why people would prefer a 10 gauge to a telephone.

[Allen]

This is a growing problem as drone technology improves.

Perhaps a size factor needs to come in such as: "anything smaller than 10' can not be manned and thus not considered an aircraft". Otherwise, kites could be protected by law. Military drones normally fly at much higher altitudes, not pose the same problem, and couldn't be shot down easily anyway. The government at all levels have satellite and high flying drones to photo our property for their snooping. That "big brother" avenue will always be protected for them but they wouldn't be using the tiny Walmart type models used by common residents.

The problem I see is perverts using drones to snoop on neighbors sunbathing around their pools, thief's using them to "check" what you have worth stealing in your yard and so forth. We have a right to our privacy regardless of law.

People need to bring the issue up at town meetings and writing to their congressmen. It will take many repeated complaints and time but I feel (with the right president) things will someday, someway, change.

[Mark in Ottawa]

I seem to recall that when cheap drones first came on the market, a father found that someone was hovering one over his backyard where his teenage daughters were sunbathing. It was low enough that he was able to knock it down with a shotgun. He did get charged for discharging a shotgun in an urban area but was let off with a warning. I suspect that at that time, the FAA had not developed any rules about drones. Bottom line seems to be Do not shoot at them. I do wonder if you could spray them with a garden hose if they are low enough