The Department of Homeland Security recently issued an intelligence bulletin warning area law enforcement of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, being used in a possible terror attack, according to a report in the New York Daily News.
DHS last Friday sent the memo, which was first obtained by CBS News, to agencies, including the NYPD, after close calls at John F. Kennedy International Airport in which drones were seen flying near two Delta Air Lines flights.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown on Tuesday released a statement saying the recent drone reports and sightings “raise serious concerns.” Brown announced that his office is coordinating enforcement efforts with federal partners, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the JFK office of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Port Authority Police Department.
“Under FAA rules, if you endanger manned aircraft or people on the ground with an unmanned aircraft, you could be liable for a fine ranging from $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000,” Brown warned. “Moreover, under New York State Penal Law you may be prosecuted for reckless endangerment in the first degree, a felony which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison.”
Brown also noted that the FAA is promoting voluntary compliance and working to educate unmanned aircraft systems operators about how they can operate safely under current regulations and laws. The agency has partnered with the industry and modeling community in a public outreach campaign called “Know Before You Fly”—knowbeforeyoufly.org.
“While I strongly prefer voluntary compliance, let the message be unequivocally clear to those who choose to violate the law and endanger the public—my office will utilize all legal tools available to insure the safety of those in the air and on the ground,” Brown said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
