A Drone is merely an unmanned, robotic vehicle. The most common type of Drone is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV. In many respects, Drones are far more economical than traditional aircraft. However, not all Americans are content with hordes of Drones flying overhead. The increasing popularity of Drones has prompted debates between balancing regulation versus privacy. The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, administers Drone licensing in the United States.
Failure to adhere to FAA Drone regulations can result in Administrative regulatory enforcement action. In some instances, violations of FAA Drone regulations can also lead to civil enforcement action and criminal enforcement action. This Blog Post focuses on FAA Administrative regulatory enforcement action. The FAA has created a basic chart to enable a greater understanding of Drone licensing and Drone regulation for the general public. https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/.“Business Insider” published a comprehensive article on the topic of Drone regulation. http://www.businessinsider.com/drones-law-faa-regulations-2017-7.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States are pushing for even greater regulation of Drones. Federal law enforcement agencies maintain serious security concerns over the possible illicit uses of Drone technology. Americans violating Drone regulations promulgated by the FAA face Administrative enforcement action.
The FAA maintains an Administrative Law disciplinary process for Administrative Drone regulation violations. “Air and Space Magazine” reports that as of July 2017, 48 Drone related disciplinary actions are pending before the FAA. http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/36_aug2017-uav-criminal-180963942/. As more privately owned Drones become available, it is expected that the number of FAA disciplinary enforcement actions involving Drones will substantially increase.
Could the rising popularity of Drones impact the development of self driving cars? What about other modes of unmanned transportation? The FAA’s Drone regulatory mechanism acts as a test run for the regulation of similar technology platforms. Individuals facing an FAA disciplinary action involving Drones should consult with a law firm experienced in FAA License Defense.