Author Topic: Albany County proposed law banning RC flying (Read 5800 times)

Lyle Spiegel · « **on:** December 05, 2015, 02:47:51 PM »

see this link- end of RC in the Albany area. Albany is our state capitol. If this goes through, it will influence all counties in NY State.
http://app.albanycounty.com/legislature/resolutions/2015/20151013/2015-LL_Q.pdf

Randy Powell · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2015, 02:52:30 PM »

I don't suppose they actually have any idea of what they are saying? Sounds like they are painting with not only a broad brush, but with a a broom.

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2015, 03:03:19 PM »

It is hysteria- I read that bad guys were planning to use RC cars to carry explosives into a crowd. The RC guys are next!
Note that Law as written isn't limited to "drones". Good thing they didn't include our "motorized kites"

Albany “DRONE” shall mean any machine that flies in the air, and is controlled
remotely by an operator. This includes, but is not limited to, remote control
airplanes, helicopters and any other similar unmanned flying machine.

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2015, 03:14:46 PM »

I am not asking this humorously.

Could they claim 60 foot lines as "Remote"? Note their wording does not specify Radio Control, only Remote Control.
Clancy

Stew Robinson · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2015, 03:30:26 PM »

Maybe it's time for the AMA to step up and defend the guys who pay their dues and drop the drones, or they too, will soon be just a memory.

I am just returning to the hobby and was planning to jonthe AMA so that I could join a local club. I wonder what the club will require if AMA "insurance" disappears.

There is one U/C club in my area, they require AMA membership.

Pat Chewning · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2015, 04:33:58 PM »

Albany County Legislature is overstepping their authority. FAA law preempts state/county law and the FAA does not ban model aircraft.

I say the people of Albany County should hold a huge "fly in" and test the law!

Carl Cisneros · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2015, 06:39:53 PM »

might sound dumb, but has the AMA or the FAA seen their LAW as yet?

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2015, 08:12:04 PM »

Our AMA district 2 VP, Eric Williams is on top of this and will be attending the public hearing on Tuesday evening.

BillP · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2015, 07:34:38 AM »

Quote from: Lyle Spiegel on December 06, 2015, 08:12:04 PM

Our AMA district 2 VP, Eric Williams is on top of this and will be attending the public hearing on Tuesday evening.

Yep, because it will hit them in the pocket book when flyers drop their AMA membership in the Albany area...and the new drone flyers who may have joined won't join at all. It's probably just the beginning of what's ahead for rc and the AMA.

Motorman · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2015, 07:53:56 AM »

Maybe they'll all start flying control line

MM

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2015, 07:57:02 AM »

Soon to be designated as "motorized kite", LMAO!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2015, 10:00:54 AM »

Who ever came up with this has HUA trouble.

Brett Buck · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2015, 10:53:31 AM »

Quote from: Pat Chewning on December 05, 2015, 04:33:58 PM

Albany County Legislature is overstepping their authority. FAA law preempts state/county law and the FAA does not ban model aircraft.

I say the people of Albany County should hold a huge "fly in" and test the law!

They can certainly prohibit flying locally. For example, it's legal to fire a gun in the US, but it is illegal to fire a gun in most city limits.

Brett

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2015, 11:43:00 AM »

I would guess this will be the first of a wave of such actions brought about by the drone craze. There were few issues with R/C flying before now. And here you see the baby/bath water senario at work. AMA has given up its standing to argue a difference between 'them' and 'us'. A few may fly CL but more likely they'll just quit altogether.

Dave

Brett Buck · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2015, 11:58:11 AM »

Quote from: Dave_Trible on December 07, 2015, 11:43:00 AM

I would guess this will be the first of a wave of such actions brought about by the drone craze. There were few issues with R/C flying before now. And here you see the baby/bath water senario at work. AMA has given up its standing to argue a difference between 'them' and 'us'. A few may fly CL but more likely they'll just quit altogether.

Maybe someone at the AMA has done the math, and found that supporting modeling is not as lucrative as getting $75 (and up) a year from commercial drone pilots and whatever else the drone manufacturers are offering as backhanders. So it's entirely possible they don't care if this wrecks RC (and by extension, everything else).

Brett

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2015, 01:48:27 PM »

Maybe we should storm the bastion, hold the museum and send scouts to the L Pad...........elections will come and I think we may need to get new candidates for every office. Too many run unapposed and few speak up. It doesn't have to be like this.

Dave

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2015, 02:07:47 PM »

Quote from: Dave_Trible on December 07, 2015, 01:48:27 PM

Maybe we should storm the bastion, hold the museum and send scouts to the L Pad...........elections will come and I think we may need to get new candidates for every office. Too many run unapposed and few speak up. It doesn't have to be like this.

Dave

That's really funny Dave!

However there is a lot of truth in it! It doesn't have to be like this. Most of these guys in the AMA are nothing but politicians and they are like most politicians just feeding themselves.

Randy Cuberly

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2015, 02:14:23 PM »

Reading that Law from the Albany Legislature gives a new definition to Tyranny. These A$$ Holes seem to think that no one has any rights outside the Government!

And I don't even like "Drones".

Randy Cuberly

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2015, 02:53:42 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on December 07, 2015, 10:00:54 AM

Who ever came up with this has HUA trouble.

LMAO Doc! "HUA" now that's funny!

Personally, I'd tell them to stick their "proposed" law where the sun doesn't shine.

Let's have that "Giant" fly in!

Jerry

Doug Moon · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2015, 08:04:49 AM »

Just read that law. That really sucks. What has happened to cause this law to be written. Something really hacked someone off somewhere along the way. Or the writers think they are keeping people "safe"

That law is just the first of many if people don’t stand up.

There is a saying somewhere, those how give up liberty for a perceived safety don’t deserve it anyway..or something like that.

I guess they don’t give a crap about anyone in their county who might have an aerial real estate photography business. I guess they don’t want anyone to come shoot a movie or a commercial in their county either. This reeks of A-holeness!

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #20 on:** December 08, 2015, 08:17:29 AM »

Quote from: Randy Cuberly on December 07, 2015, 02:14:23 PM

Reading that Law from the Albany Legislature gives a new definition to Tyranny. These A$$ Holes seem to think that no one has any rights outside the Government!

And I don't even like "Drones".

Randy Cuberly

l

You know, I read that several times trying not to believe what I was reading but to those of us who foresaw this coming, we really should not be surprised with the mentality that is driving these ridiculous actions. If this goes through and we start seeing similar things happen across the country, the fixed wing and helicopter RC population of AMA, should and will turn on AMA and then the only base they will have left will be these people who play with these quadcopter toys. I am just tired of people in Government trying to control every aspect of our lives.

Mike

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #21 on:** December 08, 2015, 08:25:28 AM »

Hi Doug,

The quote was by Benjamin Franklin

The exact quotation, which is from a letter that Franklin is believed to have written on behalf of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, reads, "those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

What he said then is still true today.

Mike

BillP · « **Reply #22 on:** December 08, 2015, 11:04:28 AM »

After reading it I think they are in at the least a violation of the FAA. Most who hold those city and county council official have no education or background in this either. It reeks of "I don't need facts to make decisions" mentality. Most people will not challenge it and the county will get their way without consequences.

Florida had (still has in some areas) a situation in the last few yrs where cities & counties were making and enforcing illegal ordinances (firearms, Fish & Game, boat anchoring). Enforcement went on for decades without challenges. It was so bad a private group of lawyers got together and were able to make changes. The state rewrote laws and specifically noted what what the cities/counties were doing illegal. The state also incorporated a new law that made it a crime for law enforcement to continue enforcing their "illegal" ordinances...and backed it up with a $10k fine to the individual officer who made the arrest and made it illegal to use public funds to defend the officer. That was 5-6 yrs back and the illegal enforcement has 99% stopped (at least in a local city near me) and the ordinances written differently as a thin veil to bully individuals. Example: they can't regulate firearms (per ATF) and hunting (per FL Fish & Game) and changed the ordinances where you cannot "target" shoot or propell a device. Time will tell whether this holds but bows and arrows were pulled into this and are technically illegal now.

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #23 on:** December 08, 2015, 07:31:39 PM »

Damn Yankees!

peabody · « **Reply #24 on:** December 09, 2015, 08:10:56 AM »

I asked Eric Williams (AMA District II VP) about the meeting.....here is his reply, which he asked that I forward to anyone interested.

All
I cannot express enough thanks to everyone who attended Tuesday evening's hearing of the Albany, NY County Legislature, concerning proposed "Drone" legislation. I know many AMA members traveled great distances to attend the hearing in support of our hobby. Our overwhelming standing room only presence, and the testimony of numerous AMA members sent a message, loud and clear! One prominent Albany legislator told me after the hearing that "he learned a lot" and "this legislation is dead." I cannot promise another UAV/Drone bill will not surface in Albany, but be assured we have set the stage for a much brighter outcome and a platform to be heard from. We will continue to monitor for legislation in Albany County and elsewhere. Please help us in being vigilant by forwarding to AMA news of any proposed UAV/Drone type legislation in your area.

Again my thanks and please enjoy the holidays.
Eric

Eric Williams
Vice President, District II
518-356-2057
Academy of Model Aeronautics
Visit amadistrictii.org

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #25 on:** December 09, 2015, 08:15:18 AM »

Eric did a great job in expressing rational thinking to inform lawmakers about our hobby, especially the focus in safety code and responsible flying activities.

BillP · « **Reply #26 on:** December 09, 2015, 10:17:00 AM »

Bravo for the AMA!!!

Now, my question is will the county remove the ordinance? A legislator saying it's dead is only opinion. The same thing happened in Florida and the cities/counties didn't change their ordinances. They continued to arrest and fine citizens...until the state stepped in. It took maybe 10 yrs for the turn around.

peabody · « **Reply #27 on:** December 09, 2015, 10:36:57 AM »

My understanding is that there were lawyers present representing the Academy....not cheap....it's your dues at work....

Criticize them all you may, they are the ONLY legitimate representing fliers in the US.

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #28 on:** December 09, 2015, 10:45:13 AM »

I was there but left before all the people spoke. I heard one attorney and he made a good case against passing the proposed legislation, but to best of my knowledge he was there as private citizen, not being paid by anyone, including AMA. Eric could confirm , but I don't think AMA had a paid attorney last night. Since this was only a public hearing, there was nothing to indicate intention of legislature to enact anything at this time.

Carl Cisneros · « **Reply #29 on:** December 10, 2015, 03:23:04 PM »

Looks like Fairfax county in good old VA here has also banned the flying of RC aircraft at this time.
If memory serves, that puts 3 fields out of commision. I was informed this about an hour ago by one of the RC club members

Carl

john e. holliday · « **Reply #30 on:** December 10, 2015, 07:14:17 PM »

Looks like the clubs need to get together with the people who did this and try to work out a solution. Our local club had to get with the park board to get permission to use a field they paid for on park property. Good old mail order sold to a person that had never flown a radio plane. Our CL circle is out in the boonies by the river and we have shown them we have AMA license as well as home owners insurance. No FF or RC allowed. Now if we can only catch the brainless morons with the off road vehicles.