A Look At Privacy Rights After OC Man Destroys Drone Flying Near His Home
Today I appeared on KPCC’s AirTalk to discuss an incident in Orange County where a drunk man destroyed a drone valued at $1350.
Here is a video of the incident:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgPaJHBMIeU&w=560&h=315]
Destruction of property in California is a crime, and is a felony when the property is valued at more than $400.
This drone was being operated on a public street by LuckySeven company. There is a lot of confusion among many regarding which laws (Federal vs State vs Local) apply to drones. In this case, the intoxicated man was not being harmed in any way, and yet, took it upon himself to maliciously destroy property belonging to another person.
While some callers expressed concerns regarding the noise associated with drones, that doesn’t justify taking the law into their own hands. I may be annoyed or irritated by my neighbors lawn mower, but that certainly does not give me the right to walk across the street with a baseball bat and smash it to bits.
To listen to the entire interview, click HERE.
Gregory S. McNeal
Along with being a successful entrepreneur, I am a tenured Professor of Law and Public Policy at Pepperdine University. I teach courses related to technology, law, and policy, and serve as a faculty member with the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship.
