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Originally Posted by BrianL99
So what the drone proponents are saying, is the Police don't have the right to search your property, but they do? That's not the side of an argument that I'd want to be on.
I'm don't wish ill will on the drone operators, but I hope the Developer pushes this to the limits. It's about time, someone with deep pockets, stepped up to the plate and defended our right to reasonable privacy.
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When the government fails to respect constitutional rights, any evidence they collect is not admissible in court.
Flying a drone, as you described, is surveillance.
That is not what the drone pilots are doing here.
The "deep pockets" need to spend their money on changing the law. The actions they have already taken (C&D, demands, allegations of breaking the law, and financial threats) may get the developer in serious legal trouble.
Until the law changes, all the "what if" examples you raise are moot. What the drone pilots here have been doing are all 100% legal activities. Some may not like it, but that is the reality.
Lets also add some other places aerial photography is used, showing close up details, far more detailed than any of the videos our drone posters perform. And these are also all 100% legal activities.
- Real estate sales people post photos of the neighborhoods around houses for sale.
- Sumter County property tax web page show sky photos of every home, often including neighboring houses.
- Newspaper photos of events and activities often captures nearby homes.
- Surveying activities happen all the time. Used to document existing neighborhoods, and plan new.
- Television stations cover news events, traffic congestion, vehicle accidents... using drones and helicopters. Often remaining over the scenes showing continuous live video. Nearby properties, not involved, are also often shown.
- Utility companies fly over infrastructure and land to inspect existing lines, to determine routing for new areas, and troubleshoot problems. Commonly seen are helicopters recording power transmission lines, and the homes next to them.
All the satellite based imaging companies continuously record the ground. Some have resolution that is highly detailed.
So if the developer "pushes this to the limits" then how do the lawmakers address the big picture? How do they allow one type of aerial photography, but not another; and not make it discriminatory? This is just a tiny list, there are plenty of others.
So show me one example of someone in their home where one of our drone operators zoomed their camera into the inside of their house? Good luck - because they don't do that.
Show me one example of someone naked in their pool where one of our drone operators zoomed their camera on them for a close up? Good luck - because they don't do that.
Making up "what if" for things that simply do not happen is irresponsible. The sky is not falling.