Pahoa drone pilot tased in Volcanoes Natl Park

[rainyjim]

Wrong,

LEOs are Rangers.

Google is your friend or call HAVO if you don't believe me.

[Wao nahele kane]

Does anyone here have the actual law pertaining to the ban on RC devices in national parks. I'd like to know if this is a law passed by congress or a "policy" established by the parks department. The reason being is that they are two very different things.

[Lodestone]

The story went national... http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/range...e-30656643
My favorite part was the Park spokesperson's quote:

"Because Sanders fled and was near the edge of the caldera rim — where there's a 500-foot drop — the ranger deployed a Taser," she said.

I'm sure that sentence made more sense in her mind than it did after she said it out loud.

[Lodestone]

Now with video! Enjoy... http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/28914...ional-park

[ironyak]

Looks like NPS tried last year to base a drone ban on a broad interpretation of Code of Federal Regulations:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcnea...heir-side/

But then used a Parks policy while a new regulation is figured out:
http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=1601

Seems tasering is becoming all too common for minor offenses in federal parks although courts have ruled against the excessive use. Travis may have grounds for a lawsuit.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arch...ns/381458/

[Punatic007]

quote:

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Originally posted by Lodestone

quote:

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Originally posted by Punatic007

Electronic use is out of hand in parks and heritage sites worldwide. Taking pictures in any form is not a human entitlement either, one should ask permission first when appropriate which is more often than most realize, and of course follow the rules especially in a National Park.

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One should ask permission prior to taking pictures of lava in Volcanoes National Park? To who? Pele? It's a NATIONAL PARK. Taking pictures is what people do in National Parks.

Granted, the drone/remote-contolled flying toy thingie was against the rules. He probably didn't know. I didn't know. Most people don't know. In that case, the appropriate behavior by the park ranger is to ask him to stop, which he did. The tasing was ridiculous IMHO.

VAS EIS LOS? Vhere are your PAPERS! Actung!! HALT!!! (BZZZTT)

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Re-read, you missed it. Or better yet, think before assuming it ok to take any photo you want, drone or cell phone. Respectful behavior goes a long way.

[Wao nahele kane]

ironyak,
Thanks for the details.
I was afraid of that. I know that the Parks Department isn't allowed to venture outside federal regulations and it would appear as if they did just that with the policy. What they should have done is to do the research first and acquired compelling interest first. Since they jumped before establishing compelling interest they don't stand a chance in HE double tooth picks of their policy holding up under the scrutiny of the courts. There are far too many legal flaws in an outright ban on RC flying devices applied in national parks and unfortunately for this man, he became a victim of the unregulated nature of bureaucratic administrative policy bungling. This is just another example as to why administrative policies need to be dialed down a notch or two, it's just another prime example of over reach.

Now I know we have those that will say you shouldn't run from authorities but when authority operates outside the common sense grounds of our legal system and jumps out of the darkness surprising a citizen with a factually invalid application of law... we end up with stupid situations like this. I'm not impressed by the rangers actions considering the outlandish policy he was attempting to enforce.

[dmbwest]

Was that his daughter screaming " I hate you ? "

Wonder where she learned that from ?

[Wao nahele kane]

School

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

The banning of drones in National Parks is probably a safety measure. If drones were allowed, the people who legally carry firearms in the park might consider a drone in flight near them a "rare circumstance" when they need to defend themselves. If a gun owner does not have to defend himself from a dangerous flying drone, it reduces the possibility that an innocent bystander might get hit by a gun owner's wayward shot. Safety first!

Although it is now legal to carry loaded guns in national parks, guns cannot be fired except in rare circumstances. Hunting is illegal in most national parks except under special permits. Target practice also is banned.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management...2-2010.pdf