Los Angeles is paying attention to commercial drones
On August 28, 2015, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously tasked its City Attorney with drafting an ordinance to regulate the use of drones within five miles of any airport. Perhaps more significantly, the Council called for an ordinance that would prohibit the operation of a drone “in a careless or reckless manner. You can find the Council’s recommendation here. The City is part of a growing movement of local agencies looking for ways to regulate, and prohibit, private drone use within its jurisdiction. Whether sports stadiums, airports, or critical infrastructure, there is a growing movement that seeks to blur the distinction drawn so far by the FAA between commercial and non-commercial use. At the federal level, this movement finds its voice in the Senator Feinstein’s proposed “Consumer Drone Safety Act” which would impose restrictions on non-commercial use of drones, including a requirement for geo-fencing or other collision avoidance technology.