Drone users warned they risk fines, jail time for flights in restricted areas
Pilots flying drones at Melbourne sporting events have copped fines and had their drones seized, with some risking penalties of up to $10,500 in fines or five years in jail.
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Dozens of drone users have been fined for flying in restricted areas, including at major Melbourne sporting events.
Events at which some of the 61 fines were issued this year included the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open and Australian MotoGP.
A man flying his drone over Rod Laver Arena during the tennis was served with a $1050 fine, while an incident at the MotoGP in Phillip Island cost a man $630.
A person caught at the Melbourne Cup had their drone seized, with the matter still being investigated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Penalties for using a drone in restricted airspace range up to $10,500 in fines or five years in jail.
“For a few likes on Insta or Facebook, you’re potentially putting lives at risk,” CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said.
“The problem with getting those dramatic shots, whether they be over the Melbourne Cup or an approach path of a major airport, is that they are the high-risk situations where we simply can’t have drones operating,” he said.
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The number of fines was similar to 2018, when 63 had been issued, although Mr Gibson said this year’s tally could rise as people took drones out over the holiday period.
Of the 15 fines in Victoria this year, one was for a man who copped a $1050 penalty in January for flying his drone at a height of 230m over Southbank — almost twice the maximum legal altitude of 120m.
“We’re not trying to be Christmas grinches with the rules, we’re just trying to get people to understand that the rules are there to manage some known risks with drones,” Mr Gibson said.
For information on drone laws, visit knowyourdrone.gov.au