Time to Regulate Private Drone Use in Canada

[Big Guy]

Yesterday, I was enjoying a large towel on the vast beautiful beach of Long Point (north shore of Lake Erie) when we heard a buzzing. At first look it appeared to be a small helicopter but far too close. As we focused on it we realized it was a small “helicopter” drone with what looked like a camera mounted underneath. There was no one on the beach operating it so we assume that the pilot was in some cottage somewhere on the beach.

I found the experience unnerving.

We did a little searching on the web and found that there is no federal regulation on the use of private drone devices in Canada.

The interest in private drone use in Canada is exploding. For under a $thousand anyone can fly a remote aircraft with a video feed.

http://www.canadadrones.com/

Some legal opinions can be found at;

http://www.cba.org/CBA/sections_airandspace/newsletters2013/drones.aspx

I believe that is is time to regulate these devices. While I understand that the air above you is a public commons there have to be some legal guidelines for its use.

Proponents suggest that this is the new communications of the future while others charge that this is a gross invasion of privacy.

Our society is currently in a situation where you could look out of your 10^th floor apartment bedroom and see a drone hovering there while giving off a live feed into the Internet.

I have asked some locals on what would be their reaction if they were in their back yard swimming pool and a hovering camera attached drone visited over their private pleasure. The reaction varied from outrage to shotgunning the drone to following and suing the remote pilot.

What about a drone hovering over a professional sporting event and feeding the video to a remote watcher?

I believe that in the next federal election, the issue of private drones, air space above private property and licensing of drone pilots be addressed.

Do you think that a person has the right to pilot a drone over your private property and/or video what is happening on the ground?

[eyeball]

Does Google have the right to put my backyard online? Do municipal planners have the right to use that image as a pretext to investigate my land use?

I figure I should have as much right as anyone else when it comes to penetrating secrecy.

[Derek 2.0]

Do you think that a person has the right to pilot a drone over your private property and/or video what is happening on the ground?

What private property? What right do individuals have to airspace within Canada, when Canadians don‘t have rights to property enshrined in the Charter……

Safety would be the key in any legislated effort, for instance, in the United States, the FAA requires in urban areas a 1000 ft, and rural 500 ft, minimum attitude (The limits in Canada are similar) as a safety factor…….for privacy advocates, that is likely the only avenue of approach.

And for the tin-hatters in the United States:

http://curezone.com/upload/Members/trapper/2013/555436_344605698989601_1767139210_n.jpg

[Big Guy]

I believe that the way in which we have built our houses, towns and cities was on the assumption that the view from the sky would not be available. That is now changing.

U.S. moves toward opening skies for commercial drones;

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/06/usa-drones-faa-idUSL2N0P718M20140706

[bush_cheney2004]

Model RC aircraft have been legal in the U.S. for many decades. However, the U.S. is not Canada....blaze your own trail.

[Guest]

The shotgun is a good idea, but we don't all have access to one. How about a decent catapult and a good supply of rocks?

Lots of fun.

And if you actually break one, the arrival of an indignant owner gives one the opportunity to thump him too.

Edited July 7, 2014 by bcsapper

[Big Guy]

The shotgun is a good idea, but we don't all have access to one. How about a decent catapult and a good supply of rocks?

Lots of fun.

And if you actually break one, the arrival of an indignant owner gives one the opportunity to thump him too.

That may be the theme of the next video that goes viral on YouTube. A movie from a hovering drone videoing some persons back yard. An individual appears, looks up at the drone and sets up a catapult. He fires, the rock approaches and the screen goes blank - and people cheer!

[monty16]

Big guy, Pay no heed to the call for US style violence with guns. This is Canada. And chances are that this could be handled in a civilized manner anyway if we didn't have Harper and his cronies in control. We simply tell the US that drones aren't welcome in our country and neither is spying on the privacy of Canadians. If Harper wasn't totally intimidated by the US and it's blackmail tactics he would put an end to this tomorrow.

Or just wait until you see a picture of your wife sunbathing in the privacy of your backyard and then you'll underatand that US influence has become over the top and all pervasive.

In other words, thanks Stephen Harper for betraying the ideals of your fellow Canadians!

[On Guard for Thee]

Model RC aircraft have been legal in the U.S. for many decades. However, the U.S. is not Canada....blaze your own trail.

They're legal here as well. Trail blazed. Sorry about the dust in your eye.

[Remiel]

What happened to the laws on voyeurism and stalking? The skies may be free but so are the streets and the sidewalks and never has anyone had free reign to harass people in their homes from there. Irresponsible drone use could also be filed under public nuisance.

[monty16]

This is funny! Indeed b_c could be totally right and this is nothing more than a r.c. aircraft and a great big over reaction. But in fairness to the OP, there's no harm in guarding against Harper's complicity with US domestic spy tactics which will only harm our Canadian way of life.

But on drones explicitly, are they necessary and if so then are they only necessary because the world is now full of aggrevied people who are seeking revenge against US aggression. Do we want that to be our Canadian way of life and our problem too.

Harper and his cromies have to go!

[bush_cheney2004]

Then stop driving across the U.S. border to buy...cheaper "drones". LOL!!!

[On Guard for Thee]

Then stop driving across the U.S. border to buy...cheaper "drones". LOL!!!

OK, if you stop driving across our border to get cheaper meds and then blabbing on about US health care. Dead last by all accounts.

[bush_cheney2004]

"Drones in Canada"...a 2013 report by Canada's Privacy Commissioner....with the usual overdose of American content.

...Model aircraft (weight not exceeding 35 kg) on the other hand, are distinctly different from UAVs in the fact that they are used for purely recreational purposes, and thus not covered by regulation.

https://www.priv.gc.ca/information/research-recherche/2013/drones_201303_e.asp

[Boges]

As long as laws don't stop people from doing cool stuff like this.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/watch-a-drone-fly-straight-into-a-fireworks-display

[GostHacked]

As long as laws don't stop people from doing cool stuff like this.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/charliewarzel/watch-a-drone-fly-straight-into-a-fireworks-display

This is very good use of drone technology. The drone is small allowing a spectacular view that you cannot get from the ground or from larger aircraft. Very cool video.

But everyone has a camera on them, and are tracked via CCTV most of their day. People seem to love it when the government does this, but is put off when citizens do it.

[eyeball]

What's really bizarre is how many citizens are put off when people suggest we track the government.

[The_Squid]

A quadcopter is not a drone. If it has a camera, laws that already exist and court precedents about filming someone else's property will already apply whether the camera is in a tree looking into your property or from a quadcopter.

[Wilber]

When it comes to aircraft, the term "drone" refers to unmanned aerial vehicles which is exactly what these things are. There are safety and liability issues as well, not just privacy. I kind of like the 12 gauge solution but you would probably get charged with discharging a firearm in a populated area or some such thing as well as any injury or damage caused by the wreckage and spent shot. Maybe we could have a drone season, like duck hunting season.

Edited July 8, 2014 by Wilber

[GostHacked]

Then stop driving across the U.S. border to buy...cheaper "drones". LOL!!!

Cheaper drones made in China. Nothing USA about that at all.

[GostHacked]

A quadcopter is not a drone. If it has a camera, laws that already exist and court precedents about filming someone else's property will already apply whether the camera is in a tree looking into your property or from a quadcopter.

Any RC vehicle can be classified as a drone. Some regulation does need to happen, but I think the current rules for RC craft cover this as well. I live under the flight paths of the approaching planes at the Ottawa airport. When your landing approach is under 1000 feet, it becomes a problem and a severe hazard to air travelers.

Be wise on where and how one uses a drone.

[Big Guy]

Looks like this issue continues to gain ground;

Drones pose new risk for aircraft in Canadian skies;

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/07/15/drones_pose_new_risk_for_aircraft_in_canadian_skies.html

Time for regulation.

[gman29]

lawsuit

most are electrical directed EMP discharge would probably be sufficient to down not going to the sky running on military grade craft RC controller

http://defensetech.org/2013/12/09/hacker-releases-software-to-hijack-commercial-drones/ the real issue is preprogrammed flights or autonomus using ai systems

commercial RC can also be overridden by stronger

or what about Fighter drones

licensing of the unmanned vehicle other than in the air ground is more of a provincial matter anyway although with aircraft that is federal correct one federal licensing will undoubtedly occur just a question of how large it has to be that's probably going to be the decide and factor based on the size of the craft

the real issue comes with landing and take off

the logical conclusion is the heavy things fly you know at least 20 feet above electrical systems and skyscrapers but a good distance below the flight basement

the low altitude could also help with hardening of the drone defenses against hijacking

I would think you would be up for municipalities to establish by laws regarding aerial vehicles in specific areas the morning what not what property owners permitting over flight from their specific properties or other

what is the real travesty here is that undoubtedly will move to create a government and public use seperation which will once again subject the people to be second class citizens

and the government as the violater of Rights because in the future more population as needed to keep government functioning

by subscribing to this service you indemnify us from crashing into your house or abducting your dog or children and dissecting them we'll just wrap up all that other weird things we could do in a general na na disclaimer and universal indemnity Clause

after all technology that increases people's capacity has to be controlled because people with capacity are a threat

all you gotta do to understand what's going to happen is if I was to occupied another country what would I do

it may take awhile for people to catch on in government but they will figure it out eventually

either by failure or design the key is not to scare people as that creates the potential for resistance to change and control

rest assured under the current regime the key is to limit the populace and exert as much influence as possible through technology for the sole and exclusive use of the overlords

come on that same day delivery for the price of economy!

just click the box is not like a predator payload

what's cooler than Swords to Plowshares

backwards logic the more that are flying the last chance of getting hit im betting these things will catch on the Middle East

spend $5,000 per day and get yourself a free life shield

Edited July 17, 2014 by gman29

[Big Guy]

Looks like the issue will not go away:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1931614

[cybercoma]

Drone use shouldn't be regulated. People should be able to defend themselves and their property. If that means having drones with cameras or automated firearms on them, then so be it. If you're not a criminal, you shouldn't have anything to be worried about.