Report Recommends Every City In Orange County, CA Pass Its Own Drone Laws

A recent report released by a Grand Jury in Orange County, CA urges every local municipality in the county to pass laws restricting the flight of UAVs, and imposing fines or jail time if those laws are violated.

The Grand Jury also recommended that the county pass similar legislation.

According to a story posted online by The Orange County Register, the panel said that the laws should emulate a recently-passed law in Los Angeles that makes it a misdemeanor to fly within 25 feet of another person, more than 500 feet above the ground, or within five miles of an airport unless permission has been obtained in advance.

The document concedes that there have been no "major" drone-related incidents in the county, but it says that local cities have received nearly 100 complaints about unmanned aircraft in a recent, but unspecified one-year period.

“Recreational drone owners are largely self-policed, which leads to a wide range of behavior,” the grand jury report, released last week, stated.

While the report and recommendations are not binding on the county or local municipalities, the county and cities have 90 days to respond to the report indicating whether the support the findings or disagree with them.

(Image from file)

FMI: Full Report