Company Says It Worked With Miami, FL Police During Ultra Music Festival On Virginia Key

Questions have arisen over the use of anti-drone jamming technology during the recent Ultra Music Festival held on Virginia Key in south Florida.

In a news release, a company called "Rational Point" said that it, along with its partners Vigilant Drone Defense Inc. and Pemica Inc. provided counter-UAV services at Virginia Key Beach to protect the Ultra Music Festival from unauthorized and invasive drones.

The company claims the team was able to "intercept a total of 61 drones that were attempting to enter the secure airspace above the festival. All 61 drones that were intercepted were visually confirmed intercepts. During our three days of service, no unauthorized drones were able to penetrate the secure airspace protecting the Ultra Music Festival."

However, Aero-News has learned that there was no TFR posted for the airspace over the festival.

Attorney Peter Sachs, tweeting as "The Drone Guy", said that the FCC can levy fines of up to $16,000 for each jammer use, and as much as $112,000 for a single use. The agency can also confiscate equipment and the persons operating the jammers face possible imprisonment.

Television station WSVN reports that the FAA said it is "looking into reports that the Miami Police hired a company to provide counter-drone services. MPD stopped the operations after the FAA advised the department that the use of counter-drone technologies may create possible conflicts with federal law.”

Miami police told the station that they did not hire the company, but had accepted an offer for a demonstration of the anti-drone technology. The department said they were not aware that such a demonstration might violate the law.

Meanwhile, due to multiple considerations, the Ultra Music Festival has ended its association with the City of Miami, and said it will look for another location for the event next year. It has been held in Miami since 1999.

(Image from file)

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