Why would it be wrong to have taken this photo?

[Drestin Black]

A buddy of mine shot this a few years back. He took off from an open parking lot and never fly any closer than this and never above 400 feet. Hobbyist at night. Got chased for several miles by unmarked security vehicles but he managed to make it to the freeway so never found out why they were following him. What could he have done wrong?

 

[Forgotten_Fox]

Parking lots can constitute as private property. The FAA allows flying over private property, but all flights must takeoff and land on public property. However most security guards will chase someone with a drone if they feel it intrudes on their privacy.

 

[Drestin Black]

Parking lots can constitute as private property. The FAA allows flying over private property, but all flights must takeoff and land on public property. However most security guards will chase someone with a drone if they feel it intrudes on their privacy.

It was a parking lot for a hardware store, not related to the place shown.

 

[Ansia]

Perhaps the Security personnel were bored and gave chase for amusement.

 

[Troy.Spark]

One possibility is that the site is a Homeland Security Site. I work on on for about two years no phones with cameras or pictures from the road or air are allow. And yes they will chase you. If they are able to track you by the your Facebook or YouTube account if it gets post they meaning Homeland security with pay you a visit. Most the people I seen that got busted they just scared the crap out of them. But until they figured out who you was and why you did what you did then they were are in on the Interrogation

 

[skymonkey]

One possibility is that the site is a Homeland Security Site. I work on on for about two years no phones with cameras or pictures from the road or air are allow. And yes they will chase you. If they are able to track you by the your Facebook or YouTube account if it gets post they meaning Homeland security with pay you a visit. Most the people I seen that got busted they just scared the crap out of them. But until they figured out who you was and why you did what you did then they were are in on the Interrogation

Are you allowed to give address of said facility?
I would like to check it out on google earth.
Thanks in advance.

 

[MackeyC34]

Living in the greater Houston, Tx. area as I do - this looks a lot like a refinery or chemical plant. I can well understand the sensitivity of the security guards.

 

[Canyon Mike]

A buddy of mine shot this a few years back. He took off from an open parking lot and never fly any closer than this and never above 400 feet. Hobbyist at night. Got chased for several miles by unmarked security vehicles but he managed to make it to the freeway so never found out why they were following him. What could he have done wrong?
View attachment 107843

I believe, today, you cannot fly at night.

 

[Troy.Spark]

Are you allowed to give address of said facility?
I would like to check it out on google earth.
Thanks in advance.

Dropped pin
Near Clarksville, TN 37040
Google Maps

 

[Forgotten_Fox]

I believe, today, you cannot fly at night.

How to fly a Drone at NIGHT (FAA Rules) KEN HERON

 

[Drestin Black]

I believe, today, you cannot fly at night.

A hobbyist can today ... or should I say, tonight

If the current FAA draft revisions go into place p107 will be able to without waiver as well

 

[Drestin Black]

Are you allowed to give address of said facility?
I would like to check it out on google earth.
Thanks in advance.

It’s a Commercial Petroleum Refinery

 

[Troy.Spark]

It’s a Marathon Petroleum Refinary

Are you referring to my dropped pin in google maps which it is not a refinery. But if you referring to the picture. Then it could be a site that is considered infrastructure which may fall into Home Security Regulation.

 

[Troy.Spark]

If you google drone laws on infrastructure you will find these articles. I am shocked to see Amusement Parks listed as a no fly Zone


Shortly after the FAA released its regulations, Congress approved a 17-month extension of the FAA. The extension included a number of provisions regarding UAS and critical infrastructure, specifically sections 2209 and 2210. Section 2209 requires FAA, by the end of 2016, to establish a process for applicants to petition the FAA to prohibit or restrict the operation of an unmanned aircraft in close proximity to a fixed site facility. The section specifically lists critical energy infrastructure, oil refineries, chemical facilities and amusement parks.

 

[Drestin Black]

Are you referring to my dropped pin in google maps which it is not a refinery. But if you referring to the picture. Then it could be a site that is considered infrastructure which may fall into Home Security Regulation.

Sorry for the confusion. Not referring to your pin.

Apple Map 3D day time view

 

[skymonkey]

If you google drone laws on infrastructure you will find these articles. I am shocked to see Amusement Parks listed as a no fly Zone


Shortly after the FAA released its regulations, Congress approved a 17-month extension of the FAA. The extension included a number of provisions regarding UAS and critical infrastructure, specifically sections 2209 and 2210. Section 2209 requires FAA, by the end of 2016, to establish a process for applicants to petition the FAA to prohibit or restrict the operation of an unmanned aircraft in close proximity to a fixed site facility. The section specifically lists critical energy infrastructure, oil refineries, chemical facilities and amusement parks.

Walt Disney World has had a Permanent TFR since October 2014.
4/3634 NOTAM Details

 

[Not A Speck Of Cereal]

This my main question, more so than what might be wrong with taking the image:

Why did he run? I've been confronted by security guards several times and each time, they asked me to go away. They didn't take the drone, didn't take the SD card or even look at the footage, did not call the police or the FAA, I didn't receive a fine -- nothing. If I was on private property, they told me so and asked me to leave, so I did and always have. This includes at least 2 incidents with federal protections, including one with the FAA itself.

There was a time or two when I found myself being watched and thought "okay, time to pack up and leave", but there was never a "chase" (your word in the OP).

Chris

 

[grin factor]

Should have been wearing cloths at the time.

 

[dkeberhardt]

I took some video last summer which involved flying over an old state mental institution which was being converted to private property for development by a prominent Indian casino in our state. I was going to take off from an area right by a public commuter parking lot. About 100 yards away, a small group of people had gathered to hold a brief daytime ceremony at 10am and light a bonfire which was to burn for several days - some sort of ritual they performed every year to "cleanse" evil spirits" from this old mental institution which had closed many years before.

Instead of taking off from my public location, I instead walked over and talked to them. They asked me to hold off till after their brief (15 minute) ceremony. I said I would be glad to hold off. I don't know if there would have been trouble had I not talked to them (I didn't need their permission) but it sure made life easy for both of us.

It pays to talk to people and if necessary, work things out in advance.

 

[FunN4lo]

Commercial Petroleum refinerys are part of critical infrastructure. You can not even fly full scale aircraft over them, or near them. You can not photograph a refinery at all. From the ground, or especially from the air. Living close enough to fly at a refinery, you do not know this? You are lucky you were not caught. The only thing dumber that flying at the refinery, is posting that you did it

This why we can't have nice things! Learn the rules. Every time someone does dumb like this with a drone, they just make more and more restrictive rules.