UAV Operator Uploaded Video To YouTube, Accuses Boat People Of Running Illegal Operation

People living on a transient boat in the Willamette River in Portland, OR recently took exception to a person flying a UAV over their boat, and began taking potshots at the aircraft with a rifle.

They missed, and the operator, who goes by the nom de drone of "Dorne Man", posted the video on YouTube.

There are many things here that are not illegal. It is legal for people to anchor their boats long-term on the Willamette River and live there. It is legal to fly a UAV over the river and post captured video to YouTube. The Willamette River is considered a public space, and the people there do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, meaning Drone Man is protected by the First Amendment.

It is not legal to take shots at the aircraft.

Motherboard reports that Drone Man believed that the people living on the boat were running an illegal bicycle "chop shop", in which they would take apart stolen bicycles and sell the parts. They do have a lot of seemingly random bicycle parts on their boat, if the video is any indication. But Portland Police say they know the family that lives on the boat, and they are not doing anything illegal. After watching the video and talking to the family, which police described as "well organized", they declined to file charges.

Drone Man also says he is posting videos of the transient boaters and their "hoboats" to "document environmental destruction" on the river.

So Drone Man is essentially repeatedly surveilling people living legally on a boat under the guise of documenting environmental destruction.

Oregon does have drone privacy laws, but none would have made Drone Man's flights or videos illegal. Motherboard reports that since neither side filed a formal complaint, that's likely the last that will be heard from this incident ... until it happens again.

(Images from YouTube video uploaded by user Drone Man)

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