Despite New FAA Drone Restrictions, Proper Legislation Needed Urgently

The Federal Aviation Authority passed an order restricting the unauthorized use of drones over the Statue of Liberty and other such landmarks, adding to the existing list of no-fly zones for drones in the United States. "At the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 99.7 – "Special Security Instructions" – to address concerns about unauthorized drone operations over 10 Department of the Interior (DOI) sites, including the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore," FAA said in its press release Thursday. The restrictions go into effect next Thursday. To ensure the general public is aware of these restrictions, FAA has issued an interactive online map that is available on both its website and its B4UFLY app. According to the press release, violation of the restrictions could result in civil penalties and even criminal charges.