[queenpalmgirl]

I am the president of The Villages E-Flyers, the radio controlled airplane club here at The Villages. We accommodate drone flying at our flying field, but strongly advise against flying them in the various neighborhoods for the very reasons listed in this thread. As to The Academy of Model Aeronautics and their safety rules and guidelines for drone flying, they do exist, but are voluntary. We observe these guidelines among our members, but have no authority over individuals who are not members and who may also not belong to the AMA. The person flying the drone around the houses in question is almost certainly NOT one of our members.

As to the FAA regulations, they were designed to keep drone traffic separated from full scale air traffic and did not address the low slow flying discussed here. I say "did" since the courts recently negated the FAA authority over radio controlled "model airplane" and drone flying as hobby interests as an over reach according to a law passed by congress a couple years ago which kept hobby flying out of the government's control. Local police have the authority to enforce whatever of these regulations still are valid, but there is little left to enforce, and local police generally do not understand FAA regulations in detail because it is not in their normal realm of responsibility.

I do, however, agree that contacting the local police is the prudent course of action as they might be able to make a case for disturbing the peace, or perhaps other privacy issue enforcement. Failing any legal action, at least they might have a friendly talk with the culprit and discourage their un-neighborly activity. ..... Hope this helps....