Seattle police drafting policy for using drones
SEATTLE - The Seattle Police Department is one of the first in the nation to receive permission from the federal government to start using drones.
The department is drafting a policy on how it will use the remote control aerial vehicles.
A Thursday evening question-and-answer session about the drones became heated when members of the public spoke out against the technology.
"I'm not really surprised that people are upset. It's a frightening thing to think that there's government surveillance cameras overhead," said Jennifer Shaw of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Police have said they expect to use drones in search and rescue, accidents and natural disasters, and unusual crime scenes.
Aerial drones can be as small as a hummingbird or as large as the lethal Predators and Reapers used by the military in the Middle East and Asia.
Seattle police plan to use the mini-helicopter Draganflyer XG made by the Draganfly Innovations company of Saskatoon, Canada,
It is operated with a hand-held controller and joysticks. It carries cameras that can take still pictures, videos and infrared shots. It is limited by a battery life of less than 10 minutes and an inability to carry more than 35 ounces - a little more than 2 pounds, police said.
The FAA has guidelines on how and when law-enforcement agencies can use drones. They cannot be flown at night or over crowds. The drones must be flown below 400 feet and must remain within eyesight of an operator as well as an observer at all times, according to the FAA.
Despite those guidelines, many at Thursday's public event suggested the police department would abuse its power.
"We all know this will be used for political suppression," one person said.
The law enforcement use of drones prompted an ACLU review that found existing laws and policies are inadequate to safeguard citizen privacy.
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View the proposed operations manual here »
The department is drafting a policy on how it will use the remote control aerial vehicles.
A Thursday evening question-and-answer session about the drones became heated when members of the public spoke out against the technology.
"I'm not really surprised that people are upset. It's a frightening thing to think that there's government surveillance cameras overhead," said Jennifer Shaw of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Police have said they expect to use drones in search and rescue, accidents and natural disasters, and unusual crime scenes.
Aerial drones can be as small as a hummingbird or as large as the lethal Predators and Reapers used by the military in the Middle East and Asia.
Seattle police plan to use the mini-helicopter Draganflyer XG made by the Draganfly Innovations company of Saskatoon, Canada,
It is operated with a hand-held controller and joysticks. It carries cameras that can take still pictures, videos and infrared shots. It is limited by a battery life of less than 10 minutes and an inability to carry more than 35 ounces - a little more than 2 pounds, police said.
The FAA has guidelines on how and when law-enforcement agencies can use drones. They cannot be flown at night or over crowds. The drones must be flown below 400 feet and must remain within eyesight of an operator as well as an observer at all times, according to the FAA.
Despite those guidelines, many at Thursday's public event suggested the police department would abuse its power.
"We all know this will be used for political suppression," one person said.
The law enforcement use of drones prompted an ACLU review that found existing laws and policies are inadequate to safeguard citizen privacy.
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View the proposed operations manual here »
"You think you've private lives Think nothing of the kind. There is no true escape I'm watching all the time. I'm made of metal My circuits gleam. I am perpetual I keep the country clean. I'm elected electric spy I'm protected electric eye. Always in focus You can't feel my stare. I zoom into you You don't know I'm there. I take a pride in probing all your secret moves My tearless retina takes pictures that can prove..." Judas Priest, "Electric Eye", 1982
Hiding behind the excuse of keeping YOU safe.
@Taxedstwrker and the fact that it's ridiculously less expensive to fly a remote controlled airplane than a Bell JetRanger when you're just trying to monitor a drug house or a hostage situation.
Cool! I wonder if eventually they will be armed with water canons, tasers and pepper spray.
Wow, lots of paranoia.  I can't imagine a use of these devices beyond aerial surveillance. The police have mobile cameras in their cars already and that form of mobile surveillance has helped save you and I (fellow taxpayer) thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of discussion as to what exactly happened.  Also, the advent of video footage has helped solve (and prevent) a lot of crimes.  If one of these video drones is trespassing on your property, take it down and fight it out in court.  If they ever are armed with weapons, I'd approve of a taser-toting drone that could take out a fleeing suspect.
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Yes, the police have helicopters but they're very expensive to fly around. Â You and I pay for that. Â You don't approve of a cheaper alternative?
 @negativerep seriously, are you paid? Or do you just love getting run over by the police state? You support the banks and police in like every one of your comments. Extremely creepy.
@negativerep exactly. AS LONG AS it stops at legal surveillance. When they cross the line the lawsuits will cause it to cease to be a cheaper alternative but in the meantime, it makes much more sense than a Jet Ranger.
 @Playanekes Read the FAA limitations again: The FAA has guidelines on how and when law-enforcement agencies can use drones. They cannot be flown at night or over crowds. The drones must be flown below 400 feet and must remain within eyesight of an operator as well as an observer at all times, according to the FAA.
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That part about remaining within eyesight of the operator and not flying at night pretty much nukes any "interesting" use of the technology. Â There are individuals with private ROV's that don't have share some of those limitations. Â Google "R/C POV". Â It's most likely that when these "drones" cross the line, it will the FAA whom is doing the suing.
as if some of the general public isn't paranoid enough, they dump this on us. i need to buy some extra aluminum foil
Equip them with Hellfire missiles also. That will teach the bad guys...
 @Billy Batts I'm sure they are foaming at the mouth to do just that.
Here is the plan:  Implement the use of these devices then incrementally erode the rules and expand their use and increase the technology and capabilities. Eventually they will be able to probe inside our houses at will with remarkable resolution. This is a continued erosion on our privacy and civil rights POLICE STATE HERE WE COME. ILLEGAL SEARCHES HERE WE COME.
@Rest of Story pray tell... How do you know "the plan?" You got the briefing too? Did it mention the part about the extraterrestrial agenda, the chupacabras, HAARP, the Y2K disaster and the zombies? Are you ready for the zombies?
Why do I feel like this is not a good idea at all? The police have helicopters to follow suspects, why on earth would they need drones. Oh thats right, because they can spy on us and we won't even notice.
@paulelijah also, it costs the taxpayers about $500/hr to operate a police helicopter. But that's okay, it's just the taxpayers paying for it. We can't have the anarchists and occupiers and non-taxpayers howling about having their privacy violated.
"Aerial drones can be as small as a hummingbird or as large as the lethal Predators and Reapers used by the military in the Middle East and Asia." How comforting.
They love drones in a police state. They hate your privacy as well.Such a sad road the "land of the free" has come down to become a police state.
@gjUhnhwwMspREt Besides they want to keep the defense contractors in business.
@Taxedstwrker "They love drones in a police state." Yeah, they've been using drones in police states for centuries now. Let's see, it's okay for a border agent to rifle through my vehicle with a dog even though I'm violently allergic to them, but now that they're replacing Jet Ranger helicopters with RC ones, suddenly we're in a police state. Apparently, using Cessnas and Bell helicopters @ $5.25/gallon doesn't keep the defense contractors in business.