I was filming a sign in the little town nearest my house, I had stopped in the shop and asked the owner before I began filming, she said it was fine. I started to pack my stuff in the car and that's when the police pulled up. There was an older officer and a much younger one. The older police officer approached me and asked "have you been using a drone around here?", I said you know I have, it's in the back of my car (you could see it). The older cop did most of the talking and explained that "a woman" had complained that I was chasing her with my done. I told the cop that wasn't true, I was filming the sign I was standing next too.
About that time some strange creature came screaming out of the Burger King across the street. She started yelling at me that I was a pervert and that I was trying to record her without her permission. I said that's crazy, I didn't film you, and my quad never left the parking lot I'm in. She seemed drunk, and she didn't have a tooth in her head, so I asked the cop who he was going to believe, me standing there minding my own business, or the drunken toothless wonder over there? That pissed the cop off, and he told me it was uncalled for. I said it was okay for her to call me a pervert, but I'm not allowed to point out the teeth missing from her face? He told me to drop it.
Right then a Sheriff's deputy came over and informed the police that he had been there the entire time, and that I never once moved the drone from that location, and that I wasn't chasing anyone. I asked if the cop was going to arrest the woman for driving while intoxicated, and for making false statements to the police. He replied that he wasn't there to arrest anyone, but you sure could have fooled me!
During all this the younger cop asked "How much does it cost? How long can you fly?" All the usual stuff...
The older cop finally admitted that he was mistaken, but he believed the woman because of other reports of my drone being in a local park. I told him that was true because they were constructing a skate park, and I had been filming their progress. He asked if I had written permission, I said I had verbal permission. The police then informed me that from now on I was required to get written permission for any subject I was filming, be that a building or person. If I was stopped again and did not have the required forms signed and dated they would confiscate my quad.
Just thought you guys should know.
Also I live in Indiana, and according to my attorney (oh hell yes I called him!) the cop was correct about written permission.
About that time some strange creature came screaming out of the Burger King across the street. She started yelling at me that I was a pervert and that I was trying to record her without her permission. I said that's crazy, I didn't film you, and my quad never left the parking lot I'm in. She seemed drunk, and she didn't have a tooth in her head, so I asked the cop who he was going to believe, me standing there minding my own business, or the drunken toothless wonder over there? That pissed the cop off, and he told me it was uncalled for. I said it was okay for her to call me a pervert, but I'm not allowed to point out the teeth missing from her face? He told me to drop it.
Right then a Sheriff's deputy came over and informed the police that he had been there the entire time, and that I never once moved the drone from that location, and that I wasn't chasing anyone. I asked if the cop was going to arrest the woman for driving while intoxicated, and for making false statements to the police. He replied that he wasn't there to arrest anyone, but you sure could have fooled me!
During all this the younger cop asked "How much does it cost? How long can you fly?" All the usual stuff...
The older cop finally admitted that he was mistaken, but he believed the woman because of other reports of my drone being in a local park. I told him that was true because they were constructing a skate park, and I had been filming their progress. He asked if I had written permission, I said I had verbal permission. The police then informed me that from now on I was required to get written permission for any subject I was filming, be that a building or person. If I was stopped again and did not have the required forms signed and dated they would confiscate my quad.
Just thought you guys should know.
Also I live in Indiana, and according to my attorney (oh hell yes I called him!) the cop was correct about written permission.