Hossfly
Posts: 3927
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: New Caney,
TX, USA
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Banche
Today I was going to go fly my Showtime. I went to this area that is next to a lake, there is a field and a road that you can land on and I have flown there about 15 times in the past. There is a bike trail that goes along next to the road but there are no cars that travel along the road, there were hardly any people around and the sun was going down so I was only going to get in about one flight.
I was standing there with my engine running and these two police officers ride over to me on their bikes.
I smiled and said hello, and one of them just said, "this is not a runway  " in a low disgusted authoritative tone.
I was surprised and said that I was not aware of any ordinances that had anything to do with rc airplanes. (There are none I have been confronted by the police before but they have all been very interested and helpful, they have told me that there are no ordinances against rc airplanes and that I could fly.)
The officer just said, "Did you hear what I said".
I responded politely, "yes but I have been flying for 3 years and have talked to several different policemen in the past and none of them ever said that there was anything wrong with flying and I am not aware of any laws against this sort of thing."
The officer looked thoroughly disgusted and said "you are not going to fly here so what’s it going to be?"
I was thinking.... so OK, you are going to arrest me for flying an rc airplane.....
//snip//
Could a policeman really arrest me for flying? I always thought that the had to have a legit reason like assault or DWI or indecent exposure.. .. ..
quote:
He was a little guy, and I think he had a big guy complex, there are some people who just love confrontation and he was one of them, he was in uniform and he was not one of those guys to answer some 17 year old guys question.
As one that has experienced both problems and also very good help from police officers, judges, and the legal system, let me advise you that giving a cop a reason OR AN OPPORTUNITY to create a situation where he will always be the "good guy" is not a very wise decision.
While at 17 you can question your parents and have a tantrum, with a policeman it doesn't often work in your favor when it can possibly result in "resisting arrest". Don't believe the news people or the TV shows that the younger person "in-the-right" will always win over the legal system.
I won't go into details of the bad experiences, but here is a good one. A rather new club-member (CM) was stopped for doing 55 in a 35 mph residential area. The cop questioned him and noticed his Texas Inspection sticker was also out of date. (CM is an airline captain) CM was just knowing that he was in a fix so he remained humble! The cop also noticed a RC model in the
CM's car. Cop asked CM if he knew Horrace Cain. Club member said, "YES, he taught me how to fly these things." The cop said that if the CM would promise to slowhis speed and to get the sticker updated within the next day, he would let him go without a ticket. CM promised to get things done.  So you see that was a good cop, and not just only because he is my neighbor. 
So, Banche, reserve your feelings until you speak with someone in higher places that can say yes to your situation. Don't screw around with the cops. They have all the aces.
Not that you want to hear this but I would not make a bet that anyone is going to OK your flying on a public road regardless of the travel situation. That could open one big Pandora's Box.
Join a Club. Have fun.
_____________________________
Horrace Cain. AMA Life L-93, Leader and CD for 45 years
Christian TEXAN American Heterosexual PRO-GUN Conservative: Any Questions?
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Off Topic Forum - Planes/Helis >> What Can the Police Do? 
What Can the Police Do? - 
RE: What Can the Police Do? - 
Figure that one out. 