What a ridiculous overreaction. Sounds like that employee needs to get laid or get therapy. They shouldn't be creating a problem where wasn't one, and they should not come out to confront you giving directives like that without any legal basis for it. That was condescending and patronizing.

Has no one ever heard of double jeopardy? I thought you couldn't get charged twice for the same thing, unless there's another crime related to it. (Disclaimer: I'm NOT a lawyer.)

Well Mr, Kraser, I was on the same situation few years ago, I also had a very respectful male ranger walked up to me and asked me to land the drone, I had no intentions of being hard on no one, so of course I knew that I shouldn't be flying it there but I couldn't resist the gorgeous landscape and a huge waterfall that made me to fly the bird. so he was very nice explained to me the restrictions within the national park's limits that's definitely a (NO FLYING ZONE) after a few minutes of educating me I also Explained to him that I understood their rules or restrictions but that I also was aware about the FAA airspace regulations and that I've flown drones for long time as well so I think that If we all are responsible while our flying time should be all what matters and if we are respectful in every encounter with them will DEFUSED a lot of trouble. Blessings and fly those birds out there guys but do it safe.

They can’t fine you again, that would be double jeopardy. I would think you could have faught it being that they did not catch you in the act. It’s like traffic cameras on stop lights. Sure they can send you a ticket based on video evidance but they can’t force you to pay the fine.

I don’t care where you fly drones but that annoying background music is your true crime!

Doesn't she have better things to worry about then a single drone that's probably no louder than a big insect come on. Didn't know Karen got a job as a fire lookout. If there were alot of drones buzzing around the fire tower all at once maybe thats a different story but a complete drone ban in parks is absurd.

I love hiking/nature. I used to support the park service but I don't anymore because they make it too hard to access the park, we don't seem to be getting anything for recent big fee increases and some of the parks rules are absurd. The park is the perfect place to fly drones. I can see if there were alot of drones in one area then maybe you'd need some rules for that specific area but the park is pretty big and there are alot of places you could fly a drone without disturbing anything. I was just watching another area where this guy was climbing a peak in the Yukon and there might not have been another person for 50 miles but he still wasn't allowed to fly his drone. I've noticed the park service is too lazy/cheap to hire enough rangers to enforce their own rules and if something becomes an issue they don't even try to enforce the rules they just ban it. I tried to backpack the Wonderland trail around Mt Rainier last year and they only allowed like 50 people on a 90 mile trail. Excuse me its a really big park I think you can have alittle more than 1 person every 2 miles. They also forced you to camp in designated areas which is crazy there are lots of spots in the forest where you could pitch a tent without doing any damage and a big part of the fun of a backpacking trip is camping where you feel like. They questioned my bear canister that I've used for 20 years without incident and wanted me to buy a heavier more expensive bear canister and I laughed at them. They also wanted me to pack out all my shit which makes sense in high alpine area where nothing biodegrades but not in a forest. I know how to dig a deep enough hole, I'm not putting bags of shit in my backpack and risking really bad contamination. There recently was a vote to expand the National Park and I voted against it because I'd rather the area remain National Forest with easy access and less red tape, I didn't believe the Park Service would come up with reasonable rules or enforce them properly.

I am title 107 licensed and the rules just keep getting more and more strict. I want some shots as close as I can get to Parks and plan on just using the app now. Thanks for info!

pretty lucky with $180 fine the max fine is 5,000 in 3 years in prison..

Bottom line, don't have good clean fun here

I don’t see anywhere in the FAA regulations that you cannot fly over towers in a national forest. The FAA restricts you flying over people that have no protection like a permanent awning or building. In that spirit I understand that you cannot fly over occupied campgrounds and I understand that a person on the walkway of a tower is unprotected and therefore FAA regs would be in play. Having said that you should always defer to their sensibilities and be a polite drone operator lest they change the laws further on us. It would be nice though if they were all on the same page.

Where are u going😂😂😂

how do they have your flighting photo?

They were more concerned about the State Voyeurism laws. You were quite legal however she got upset that you might be watching her as it was her living area. Some people get excited about nothing.

They made it illegal because idiots like you would fly over thermal features, the drone would crash into the thermal water and plug up the thermal feature you were trying to film, DESTROYING IT. Several hot springs lost their vibrant colors because people would toss things (like coins) into the pool and destroyed it. Never again to be enjoyed by other visitors to the park. It was for the protection of the very features you were trying to video. The whole National Park System was created for PRESERVING national treasures for future generations to enjoy. Are you so STUPID you can't understand the park rangers are there to PROTECT the park from people who would otherwise DESTROY the beauty of our environment? WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU NEED AN EXPLAINATION???

The officer was cool, the tower Karen is super mad over nothing. If it was buzzing the tower, maybe, but he was nowhere close.

Fly in NP and posted on YT?sound likes rob the bank and tell cops: I reside here😀😀😀😀

Since your in the states and you were flying a drone over 250g not sure how that works Iam assuming the same in Canada here cant fly over people some provincial parks and banff National park, but here in Canada with micro drone sub 250g we can literally fly anywhere. Over people buildings. Only places we cant are military bases class F airspace, Restricted notams permenant or temp. Parlament hill and over the priministers house. Thats it. No registration no restrictions on VLOS or height or flying over people. Transport Canada just says use good judgement and dont be neglegant with your drone because the onus is still on you flying it.

you are taking a BIG LEAP telling folks to Fly into a national park area. Thats a HUGE risk. Even if you operate outside of the boundries you WILL NOT win an argument with law enforcement. This advice is poor and obviously you havent had enough experience doing so in different parks etc to make a broad scape vid.

Why would you do that? You knew it was illegal. People now days seem to think that they are so entitled! National Parks are a place of natural beauty and wildlife. To be preserved for future generations. There are tons of places where you can legally fly your drone. Very few where you cannot. No one wants drones buzzing around when out enjoying the peace and quiet of nature! They spook wildlife, fall into sensitive areas and are simply inappropriate. Gorgious vistas ruined by drones flying through your photograph! Everything isn't about you! Can we have nowhere left where man and beast can escape technology? I hope they throw the book at you.

At least four people have asked "How much was the fine?", which suggests they didn't pay attention while watching the video. The amount of the fine was shown clearly. And far more than four people--none of them, apparently, with any legal training--have given their own (incorrect) interpretations as to what the regulations regarding drones mean. They are the sorts of people who will end up getting fines of their own. (I'm a retired lawyer.)

I understand this video is several years old now, if there isn’t a local law/regulation my guess is there might have been a misinterpretation of part 107.39 which to simply put it says no flights over human beings unless they are in a structure capable of providing protection from the drone or they are a direct participant. The other thing could be 107.45 if it is actually a restricted area. Clarity is key here which it seems like in terms of laws wasn’t exactly specified to you. Can’t talk about local stuff because I don’t know anything about that area.

Good info, am going to the Grand Canyon. Will definitely be flying outside the park.

The tower operator needs to be re-trained to ignore drones if they're in a legal fly area. Then it won't be a distraction. She paid way to much attention to it rather than her job. No harm, no foul.

flying in state parks or mountains is a no no. i see them on signs all the time. ive looked at the DJI fly map and it would say its good but going to the state web site its says no.

They are likely hiding something and don't want drones spotting it.

Tell him to stfu or arrest u. I cant stand cops. He has no authority over faa. If its legal its legal u cant make up rules on the spot.

If I said I couldn’t do my job because a drone flew over me I wouldn’t have a job.

Did you fly within 400 horizontal feet of the tower? Hard to tell in video, but looks like it was well under and you are in violation of flight rules. Do not blame law enforcement for holding the standards of the law. it was U. And you got lucky.

you shoulda fought that shit..who has standing? nobody! A camera? and a crime..what a joke

I don't understand how the sound of a drone affects, but if flying by helicopter is accepted for example there or in the big canyon, that makes much more noise than a drone, but of course helicopter operators pay more taxes than having paid the taxes of a new drone

Super helpful thank you! 🎉

why let some dumb woman tell you what to do..should have ignored her

You can't be charged twice for the same crime. It's against the law. It's called double jeopardy.

The officer was on your side though 😂 chill dude

I would imagine a Cessna 150 flying around the fire tower would be a much bigger distraction, but unless there was a Flight restriction the Cessna would be able to fly there. The FAA is the sole agency that controls National Airspace. The States do not. Unless the airspace around the Fire Tower was classified as controlled airspace, or there was a TFR issued, then you can legally fly around it as long as you follow FAA regulations. If the fire lookout person was under a roof, then you could actually fly directly overhead. The only legal restrictions tthat can be applied is to restrict takeoff, landing, and actual controlling of a drone from certain areas.

As an amature law student, I would advise you NOT to lie about where you took off, because that could be construed as obstruction. Rather, ask them if they have proof that you broke the law, because you are innocent until proven guilty. You do not have to prove your innocence. Also, don't record your crimes. Haha Good vid.

Don’t fly near any Karens.

Basically I think they subpoena KZbin for criminal activity and at that point KZbin has to cooperate and so I think they got your address from KZbin.. they probably contacted local detectives probably have more power than subpoena companies

Park Ranger Karen called the cops to report a non crime.

Alot of these drone laws are crazy. National parks are OUR land. how on earth is a 250G drone hurting a park?

Rights are fougth for just read your history books omg don't let take everything from you grow some balls

I am sorry this has happened to you. This doesn't sound like a "criminal" violation, more like a "civil" one. You could verify (if you haven't already) by looking at the exact law that was reported that you violated and then look it up as to the classification of it, civil or criminal (misdemeanor or felony), etc. Also, like you eluded to, just don't post yourself or your vehicle in the footage next time. I also wouldn't worry about taking the original video down. I am sure you will not receive a 2nd violation since they will have your name in a database that will document the original citation. Lastly, however it was discovered, it would be a simple subpoena to KZbin (google) or whoever, to get your personal information. I do not know which drone you were using but with DJI products, they also document where you fly so they could get a subpoena as well to show the authorities where you fly. That is why I will never get rid of my Horizon Hobby Blade QX3. It does not require an app to fly to it will fly wherever I want it to. Sure, it has limits but I can still fly under the radar. :)

“Aaaahhhhhh” 😂😂😂😂

The way the park ranger he spoke with handled it is fine I can respect that but that first part ain’t don’t come at me with unwelcome energy

Maybe she was doing unconfessable things up there. Wouldn't that go against her privacy? Otherwise why would she bother.

You should have said that, althou the screaming woman, you can legally fly there while showing him your license. Having some printed laws at hand will help enormously. Always using the best manners, of course. The intention should be to educate at least the agents first, not run out every time somebody screams "droooooooone".

How much was your fine?

Basically you really can't fly anywhere near people. If anyone complains, you lose. Whether you're right or wrong, doesn't matter.

It is rare to invade her privacy so if she was on deck rubbing one out .,... a drone might cause her to freak ...... LOL 🥵