I think the legal issue could go either way. If it is some private entity spying on me on my own property, I don't think any jury would convict me of knocking it down, and maybe even keeping the parts. Clearly, if the interloper was doing something illegal, they might choose to abandon the property and pretend it didn't belong to them, you know, in hope it would make it difficult for me to press charges against the offending party.
If it was a government drone, though, I'd be in a bit more trouble. Now, if private usage of drones for celebrity spying etc... is common before the government starts using them to spy on US citizens, precedent could be established; but if not, well, I bet it'd turn out at best like that kid who posted photos on the internet of the clumsy car-tracking device that the feds stuck on his car, which is to say, the FBI comes and takes it back and maybe doesn't arrest you. I mean, the kid didn't break the thing, and that might make a difference. Government drones are not going to be cheap, and, I mean, someone might forget about a hacked-together $300 drone, but if it's three million? Yeah, secret technology aside, I think they are going to want their toy back.
They're welcome to ask. Repeatedly. I live in rural Indiana, and drones are close enough to black helicopters that I think it's not going to withstand close scrutiny that I take what they're freely giving.
Especially if they're flying a three million dollar drone over a town that has no fricking jobs to start with. I think people around here would be pretty interested in that disparity. Five bucks says the drones aren't manufactured here, now are they?
Five bucks says the drones aren't manufactured here, now are they?
If it is a military drone, it's almost certainly manufactured here. The military is very careful about ordering things manufactured in the US, for both political and logistical reasons. (if you do get in to a real war, you don't want to have to ship your ammo and spare parts over from the other side of the world on highly vulnerable cargo ships. And, well, if your war material is made in china, you are going to have a difficult time with your saber rattling. Also, representatives will almost certainly get re-elected if they can bring in a bunch of highly-paid defense jobs to their district. )
If it was a government drone, though, I'd be in a bit more trouble. Now, if private usage of drones for celebrity spying etc... is common before the government starts using them to spy on US citizens, precedent could be established; but if not, well, I bet it'd turn out at best like that kid who posted photos on the internet of the clumsy car-tracking device that the feds stuck on his car, which is to say, the FBI comes and takes it back and maybe doesn't arrest you. I mean, the kid didn't break the thing, and that might make a difference. Government drones are not going to be cheap, and, I mean, someone might forget about a hacked-together $300 drone, but if it's three million? Yeah, secret technology aside, I think they are going to want their toy back.