[Scan-DC] Visitor Cited for Illegal Drone Operation near Washington Monument

[Alan Henney]

Visitor Cited for Illegal Drone Operation near Washington Monument

WASHINGTON – At 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16 the United States Park
Police observed three individuals operating an unmanned aircraft system
(UAS), or drone, in the northeast quadrant of the Washington Monument
grounds.  Flying any kind of UAS or drone anywhere in Washington, D.C. or
in national parks is illegal.

Officers made contact with the operator and ordered him to land the drone.  The
officer issued William Stokes, Jr. a citation for operation of an unmanned
aircraft.  A Wondertech Zenith drone and controller were confiscated from
Stokes and kept as evidence.

Federal law prohibits flying all unmanned aircraft, more commonly called
drones, in the heavily regulated Flight Restricted Zone around Washington,
D.C., including from private property inside the FRZ.  Additionally,
launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircrafts is prohibited in all
areas administered by the National Park Service. Know Before You Fly! To
learn more visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/no_drone_zone/dc/.

This is the 10th reported incident involving illegal operation of an
unmanned aircraft in a Great Washington area National Park in 2015, and the
27th since 2013.


Sergeant Anna Rose
Public Information Officer
United States Park Police
1100 Ohio Drive, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20242