Drones are popping up around the U.S. and Missouri. Is it legal to shoot one down?
.jpg "Drones are unmanned aircraft that have been mysteriously popping up across New Jersey night skies.")
More drones have been spotted flying around the country, but an Associated Press report says officials are unsure where they are coming from.
Recent reports show that drones have been reported to the FBI from New Jersey since mid-November. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says the drones don’t pose a public safety concern. Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said that the drones should be shot down if necessary.
In Missouri, residents in Ozark County reported seeing drones flying in the area in December, some seeing around 20 to 25 drones flying around their property, according to a report from Springfield’s NBC affiliate, KY-3.
While it may be alarming to see drones in the sky, you don’t want to do anything to knock it down, including shooting at it. It could land you in trouble.
Here’s what to know about drones in Missouri.
Are there federal laws protecting drones?
Federal laws do protect drones from getting shot down, and you could find yourself in trouble if caught.
The Federal Aviation Administration considers drones a recreational unmanned aircraft system.
Damaging or destroying an aircraft, like a drone, is a federal offense, according to the Aircraft Sabotage Act. If someone is caught, could face a fine of up to $100,000, an imprisonment of up to 20 years or both.
Can you shoot down drones under Missouri law?
Shooting at a drone in Missouri could lead to legal consequences under both state and federal law.
Missouri’s statute generally prohibits discharging firearms in many densely populated or public areas. This means shooting a drone in many locations could constitute an offense.
You can’t shoot a gun at or near these places and things:
- Sensitive areas like schools, courthouses or churches
- Highways and roads
- Aircraft and other flying objects
- Structures used for assembling people
It’s also illegal in Missouri due to Blair’s Law, said Kansas City Police Department spokesperson Captain Jake Becchina. The statewide law is named after 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane who was killed in 2011 after she was struck by a stray bullet.
The law went into effect in August and states that a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if, with criminal negligence, “he or she discharges a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality.”
“Shooting a gun in the air is never advisable,” Becchina said in an email. “When the bullet goes up it comes down with virtually the same velocity. There (is) no way to control that bullet once it leaves the barrel of the gun and it could damage property, hurt or even kill people.”
First offenders are guilty of a class A misdemeanor and repeat offenders can be charged with felonies, according to the law.
Where can you legally fly a drone in Missouri?
There are only three types of places where you aren’t allowed to fly a drone in Missouri without permission: over a prison, a mental hospital or an “open-air facility” like a sports stadium or concert venue.
While state law only restricts flying lower than 400 feet above these areas, federal regulations prohibit most civilian drone pilots from flying higher than 400 feet anywhere. That means these three locations are basically off-limits to Missouri’s recreational drones.
You’re also not allowed to let your drone make contact with any of the people inside these facilities.
Breaking these laws is considered an infraction — a noncriminal offense similar to a misdemeanor— unless your drone is used to deliver dangerous items like weapons or controlled substances to people inside. These types of deliveries are felonies under Missouri law.
Kansas City’s code of ordinances doesn’t place any additional restrictions or guidelines on drone use specifically, although it does prohibit obstructing airspace at city airports.
