A dozen drone operators in St. Charles Parish and the surrounding areas have been arrested since 2017, when the parish installed a drone detection system, according to St. Charles Parish Sherriff’s Office.
Jason Tastet, director of the St. Charles Parish Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said a group of industries funded the detection system for the parish after drones were spotted over critical infrastructure. According to the LA Illuminator, the drones were spotted over Dow Chemical and Occidental Chemical.
It is illegal in Louisiana to fly drones near or over critical infrastructure, which includes petrochemical facilities, grain elevators, pipelines, government buildings and similar areas.
Tastet said the parish’s Emergency Operations Center monitors the detection system and works in partnership with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. The system works by detecting drones’ signals, he said.
Tastet said that, although drones are fun, residents should remember there are rules associated with flying them.
“Just because [the drone] can do things doesn’t mean you should,” Tastet said. “There is a height limit of 400 feet, you shouldn’t be flying above that. Be aware of the rules. You can’t fly over crowds and things like that.”
All drones must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, he said.
According to the FAA, drone operations must also follow other rules: 1) fly only for recreational purposes 2) keep your drone within your line of sight 3) do not fly at night unless your drone has lighting that allows you to always know its location and orientation 4) never fly near other aircraft, especially at airports 5) never interfere with emergency response activities 6) do not operate your drone in a careless or reckless manner
In recent weeks, many people have reported seeing drones flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S. In response to the reports, the FAA banned drone flights in areas of New Jersey and New York through mid-January.
The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness said on its website that the investigation into the drone sightings is ongoing. In a statement on Jan. 12, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said there is no evidence that the drones in the eastern U.S. pose a threat to national security or public safety threat.
