Are You Allowed To Fly A Drone In California Or Not? As drones are exponentially gaining popularity, various states across the nation have been in pursuit to adopt laws with the aim to protect privacy and limit drone use as they are sometimes involved in carrying cameras, weapons, and other video recording devices. These drones can be used for some nefarious activities as well so there arises a need to bring them under the radar says a renowned criminal defense lawyer.
Regulation of Air Space: As per the Federal Aviation Administration, drones can fly above private property if they are not engaging in any notorious activity or not in any way causing harm or injury to anyone. All drones between 0.55 to 55 pounds are required to be registered with FAA by their owners. In case one fails to comply with the guideline of registration, one can face a fine of up to 27,500 USD. What if the violations are serious? In case the violations are serious then the prison term could stretch up to 3 years and the fine could go as high as 2,50,000 USD. Penalties and Punishment: Violating these laws with misconduct or drone snooping could well result in felony or misdemeanor charges depending on the crime's severity. The resulting punishment can be more severe if the accused has already accumulated previous convictions. Penalties for violating certain penal and civil codes may include: Penal Code Section 632 - (Eavesdropping) in case charged as a misdemeanor then you may be awarded up to a year in jail and a fine of $2500. If charged as a felony then the jail time may stretch up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to $2500.