Florida's National Parks: Drone On Elsewhere
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. - Florida is home to 11 National Park Service (NPS) units, including the Everglades and Key Biscayne, but visitors won't be seeing any high-tech flying drones over Florida's National Parks any time soon.
A ban on aerial drones being used inside National Parks, primarily to capture photos and video, is now in full effect in Florida and nationwide. The National Park Service initiated the drone ban in late June, but gave park superintendents two months to implement the policy. Jeffrey Olsen with the Park Service says the decision came out of concern for the safety of people and animals.
"These devices often crash, and if somebody is standing in the way when one crashes, people are going to get hurt," says Olsen. "Drones have also been used to harass wildlife."
Despite the ban, drones may not be grounded for good. Olsen says the National Park Service will spend the next 18 months drafting rules for drone operation in parks, as well as deciding which areas to designate as appropriate for drone use. Eventually, the Park Service may also use the technology to help locate people stranded or injured at parks.
Olsen says the NPS hopes, with time, drone operators will gain more experience and responsibility in using the devices.
"It's a new activity and park rangers in the field could tell people didn't have very much or any experience with these unmanned aircraft."
Olsen says anyone cited for using an aerial drone inside a National Park could face a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $5,000.
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