Drones Banned From Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is announcing that drones are being banned from the area, citing multiple concerns, including safety.

Visitors to the national park are using the unmanned aerial vehicles to film wildlife and rock climbers. Many have posted these videos online.

Nick Simonian, an avid flyer in Yosemite, said, “I like the challenge, it’s a great challenge, and it gets you outdoors. There is always something new to try, different planes, and different flying styles.”

Park officials state the ban was instated because of noise from the craft, and to preserve the natural beauty of Yosemite.

Rangers sent out a press release stating, “[T]he use of drones within the park boundaries is illegal under all circumstances. [Federal law] states, ‘delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies involving public safety or serious property loss…’ is illegal. This applies to drones of all shapes and sizes.”

Rangers told the press this law was already in place, and they wanted to “remind” visitors to leave their drones at home.

Forbes referred to this comment as “An absurd legal argument.”

The Federal Aviation Administration legalized private ownership of drone aircraft six years ago.

http://www.kmph.com/story/25426463/drones-banned-in-yosemite-national-park

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2014/05/03/yosemite-looks-to-ban-drones-but-the-law-is-not-on-their-side

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2620231/Yosemite-BANS-drones-wildlife-disrupting-copters-daily-nuisance-park.html

http://www.cnet.com/news/drones-grounded-in-yosemite

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-illegal-drones-ruining-yosemites-nature-beauty-rangers-say-20140502,0,3645936.story