Ask the Edmonds Cop: What’s new with drone regulations?

Edmonds Police Sgt. Shane Hawley answers your public safety questions. This week: everything you need to know about updated drone regulations.
  1. It seems to me that the role of drones in law enforcement will increase with time and it would be helpful to have a drone unit, similar to a K-9 unit, for the purpose of developing that capability.

  2. Imagine how many lives and injuries could have been saved if the Las Vegas police used a drone squirting mace against the machine gun perpetrator of the Oct 1, 2017 attack. Just sayin’…

    1. I’m pretty sure the machine gun would have easily destroyed the drone before it ever got close. Although it might have distracted the shooter for a second or two out of the nine minutes of continuous firing.

      1. Doesn’t that depend on how the window is approached? It doesn’t have to come directly at the shooter. It could drop down from above the window. Lots of possibilities.

  3. Tort is a better regulator of drones. If you operate a drone and cause damage, invade privacy, get in the way of air traffic, then our efficient court systems should be used to set precedence. Registration schemes and Prior Restraint schemes always seem to fail. Being in aviation, the government considers all airspace as a national defense interest and there is that consideration. Sgt. Shane Hawley is one smart guy.

    1. I’m thinking there will be times when the police need to intercept a drone, for example one that is carrying a bomb. If a drone violates secure air space it needs to be stopped not sued.

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