Starting in Los Angeles; but coming to a city near you! Government Attacks on Realtors – More Dumb Government – Less Common Sense!
Today I read the California Association of Realtors newsletter. The Big Head Line - LAPD Warning Against Hiring Unmanned Aircraft Operators for Aerial Photos.
The Article goes on to state that this may violate FAA Policy on flying unmanned aircraft without a license. There is also an LA County Policy about needing permits for Commercial Filming and Still Photography!
Now first off I want to state I am all for safety and technology always presents new challenges.
For years kids (and big kids) have flown model airplanes and such without permits. You can find them on weekends around big fields. However, the low cost of technology has made these unmanned aircraft much better and at the same time has provided excellent tools for unmanned military aircraft to the point where at a squad level troops may be carrying small remote aircraft with them.
Yes Technology is blurring the lines between hobbyist and series commercial/military use. Right now I can by a toy helicopter for under $100.00 designed for kids – with a camera.
I think we all want safety. We can understand that some of these “toys” could cause legitimate safety concerns and people could use them for nefarious activities. So pass local ordinances that are reasonable designed to deal with real problems. (Like maybe limit them near airports and over freeways; and perhaps altitude and range restrictions.) Punish people who use them with malicious intent, but don't restrict everyone. The FAA does permit the flying of small unmanned aircraft for recreational purposes – but once you take a picture for your real estate listing or web site you are now in FAA jurisdictions. This is an example of Government overstepping what should be decent limits of power and a failure to adapt to new technology.
What is of more concern is this thing about permits for Film and Still photography and applying it too Realtors! Guess who that impacts? That rule would seem to apply to any picture we take. There are lots of business that take video and film incidental to their primary work. (I was a PI and Independent Claims Adjuster and we took lots of pictures for our commercial work.)
This is taking one thing that was aimed at Hollywood and large commercial undertakings – probably with a reasonable concern about public safety and expenses as they work in public places – and using it to tax and raise revenue off of small businesses.
Both of these impact Realtors unreasonably.
Yes the City and County of Los Angeles will be looking at your MLS and Web Site Photos soon to fine and punish you. I am sure with the positive cash flow it will generate we can expect this to expand. Why limit this to aerial photos? They are all commercial in nature! Did you get a permit for that shoot?
What was the response of the CAR – the organization that is supposed to represent us? Well they explained the rules to us and expect us to fall in line.
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Hi Gene, We agents have so much technology available and the early adopters seldom have a sense of the unintended consequences accompanying same.
Guess the government wants to be the only one with drones....
Gene you said it all with - Less common sense.
Man!! it was one thing I was going to do with the iphone drone!!!
Can we call LAPD air support so they can take the pictures??
I can understand safety issues but I think they can still make money, here is my idea, License for flying drone!!
Bill - Government is more interested in power than in serving us.
Mark - You are right - the drones work for them.
John - it is all about money and power for them
Hesperia - LMAO - Where did you get that!
Gene, And, next will be the remote control operated boats. But the regulations will come from a class action lawsuit waged by an enviornmental group advocating for protection of seahorses in delta area near Discovery Bay...and will affect all "waterways" in the State of California. Prompting Governor Brown to increase our State taxes another 10%. Gotta love Calii Forn Eye Aye!!! LOL!
Gene -- let's see, if you are the listing agent for a larger property - and the owner gives you permission to take off and land the RC plane on his property - why should the government care - if you take pictures of that property from that plane?
Deborah - You think you are joking, but the Bay Area Air Quality Control Board will fine you $400.00 for burning a wood fire in your fireplace.
Steve - Unless there is a real Safety Hazard there is no reason the Government should be involved.
All laws start out with those in power thinking about what can happen to them if they do not restrict the public in some way. Can you imagine the uproar if youtube videos start showing up showing government for the messed up entity that it is/
It is for your and the publics own good or public safety! Be quiiet and let us protect you!
Common sense and government do NOT go together. As long as we let the government control more and more of our lives things are going to get worse and worse.