The government has been using drones for warfare and surveillance for years, and recently the public has gotten in on the action. Drones, or pilot-less aircraft, have been seen over major sports events, neighborhoods, protests and rallies all over the country. The public has been uneasy, at best, at the rise of drone use over the past few years, as they become more and more common in everyday life. The use of drones is a relatively new occurrence, and while it’s becoming more and more common, it has not yet become so widespread that legislation has been penned to govern their proper use. That lack of legislation is what made a recent incident in which a man flying a drone had a run-in with a police helicopter so strange.
According to reports, an LAPD helicopter was assisting in the search for a suspect on August 27. During that search, another individual allegedly flew a drone into the path of the police helicopter, forcing the pilot into evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision, eventually leading to the helicopter ending its search for the suspect.
So, with precious few rules and regulations regarding drones on the books, what were police to charge the drone pilot with? Obstructing a police officer. The suspect has been formally charged with two counts of obstructing a police officer in the lawful performance of his duties, a misdemeanor offense, and faces penalties including up to 1-year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000 if convicted.
It’s lucky for the suspect that the helicopter pilot didn’t lose control, or that the drone didn’t collide with the helicopter, as he would be facing much heavier charges.
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