fIf you want to go to Yosemite National Parks, grab a campsite, capture the good time in close proximity using a drone, and share it online for your family and friends… this is illegal.  No you cannot do that.  Even if you are alone and the drone will only fly maybe 25 ft off the ground and fly around you closely, it is not allowed.  On one hand, because drones are an aircraft, it needs regulation to protect the pilot and others around them.  We get that, but it is now making it useless for everyone.  Yes, Drones should not be used or should have limited use in some circumstances.  For example, drones should not be allowed around emergency for the safety of medical helicopters and they certainly should not be flying around the airpot.  But to say I can’t film my family vacation even when remote is kinda wild.  Here are some rules you should be aware of before thinking of buying a drone.

Can’t fly over people or vehicles in motion
This one seems reasonable. But it basically limits nearly all of the main streets so you can’t really fly around the city.  Can’t do most plazas, businesses, etc.  Even if it is your own business you are taking or a wedding event.  Technically you are not allowed to fly around.  Just close to you and your building.

Can’t fly miles away
Got a drone that can be flown 10 miles away?  In most places, you have to be able to see the drone or have a line-of-sight to operate.  If you go beyond what you can see with your eyes, it is illegal.  The drone disappears from your eyes way before a mile so don’t expect to get a shot from too far away.

Can’t fly near… everything
You can’t fly near airports.  Even little ones.  Or helipads.  In a city, especially with some agriculture, this limits a lot.  I tried to take a drone shot of this church ones and half the church property was within a proximity of an allowable fly-zone near an airport.  So I was not able to get a circular shot of the church.  Just half circle. It limited lots of different movements.  And yes, the drone refused to fly past the border even if it was lowered 10 ft above the parking space.

National parks and others don’t allow them
There are plenty of places that allow RESPECTABLE drone usage but most of the places you are likely to visit don’t allow them.  National Parks for one do not allow you to launch a drone from the parks.  Lots of campgrounds I visited also had “no drones” sign.  Drones do hinder wildlife and disturb the peace so everyone understands why this rule exists. But it is a bit harsh.  Perhaps drone operating hours or some kind of sign up to limit its number might be a better idea.  And I don’t mean permits that costs lots of time and money. Just signup to keep track and to deny busy days.  But yes lots of places specifically say no drones.

You can’t upload them to YouTube… technically
Did you know uploading to YouTube is considered monetization?  EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT, just because Google themselves can put ads on all your videos, it is considered making money.  It is illegal to use your drones for money without a drone license called Part107.  Uploading to YouTube is considered using the footage for money.  I have not heard anything about Instagram or Tiktok.

You must register your drone… and even if you don’t, they still see you!
Well technically untrue.  Any drone above 250 grams must be registered with the FAA.  Anything below 250 grams, while technically you do not need to register, still requires Remote ID.  Basically your drone sends out a signal for the government authorities to track all your drone usage.  They will find you and observe your flight paths.  Expensive fines or arrests are in order.  And yes, more and more places are getting drone tracking devices and the police do come to you because they know exact point in which the drone launched.  Even if you are launching from middle of nowhere in your car.  Registered drones go further.  If you crash it and they find your drone, they’ll probably hit you up and tell you all the consequences of crashing a drone. 

Remember it is an aircraft
Because your are operating an aircraft, you are using the airspace.  Airspace is heavily regulated by nearly all levels of government.  Particularly the FAA.  You must do all your research and in most cases take some type of a drone test.  Yes, that’s right.  A drone test.  There’s one literally called TEST.  But really they want you to take the Part107.  Violations have hefty consequence.  And all you wanted was maybe a footage your family playing around the campfire in Joshua Tree NPS. 

Conclusion
So with all this, what is the point of owning a drone?  We all understand there needs to be rules but this is getting to a point where the government is saying, “You can own a drone, you just can’t use it.”  I love drone footage but every year it becomes more and more difficult to recommend to people to get a drone.