205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 07/15/2016 - Due to the increase in availability of UAS (unmanned Arial Systems) or “Drones”, we are seeing more cases of misuse by operators and over reaction by angry neighbors. Per Undersheriff Myers, most of these conflicts involve a misunderstanding of the “Private” and “Public” property laws and how they apply to drone use.
Let’s begin by noting some of the primary restrictions. Private Citizens may only operate UAS/Drones weighing less than 55 pounds and may not fly above 400 feet AGL (above ground level). UAS/Drones weighing over 1/2 pounds are required to be registered with the FAA. UAS/Drones must remain in visual line of site of the operator with a minimum weather visibility of 3 miles. UAS/Drones may not be flown during the hours of darkness or above large crowds, airports, dams, stadiums/sporting events and established no fly zones. Unless prohibited by local ordinance, drones may be flown over public lands and waterways, so long as they do not interfere with other lawful activities in the area. See FAA Rules for additional guidance. Now let’s talk about private property. Courts have held that law enforcement must have a search warrant to obtain Arial Photographic Evidence below 500 feet on private property; therefore it stands to reason that an individual’s right to privacy extends vertically 500 feet up from his/her property lines. So it also stands to reason that, absent permission from the owner, operating a drone over private property would constitute Trespass, a criminal violation of state law. Don’t do that. The following is a list of things you CANNOT DO when a drone is trespassing. You may not shoot it down, knock it down or damage it in any way. UAS/Drone trespass should be handled in the same manner as any other trespass issue. If you are comfortable speaking with the operator, advise them that they are over private property and that continued violations will be reported to law enforcement. If possible, photograph the violation and note the specific time of the incident. If you are not comfortable speaking to the operator, request law enforcement. Drone operators should also be aware that using a drone to intimidate, threaten or harass groups or individuals is also a criminal violation of state law, so don’t do that either. Most recreational conflicts may be prevented by displaying a general respect for the environment, the laws, and other people. For more information on the use of UAS/Drones, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 509-925-8534 or the FAA www.FAA.gov. and download the “B4UFLY” APP.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Clayton Myers, Undersheriffclay.Myers@co.Kittitas.wa.us509-925-8534