Perdix Drone. Photo credit U.S Department of Defense
If you plan on flying a drone, you should probably get some practice lest you end up with slapped with a fine and some jail time. Back in 2015 Paul Skinner, an aerial photographer, was using a drone to cover the city’s Pride Parade. He was using a drone that weighed 2 pounds and measured 18-by-18.
Unfortunately the drone flew into a building and was knocked down from the sky, falling onto a 25-year old woman’s head who happened to be in the audience, knocking her out in the process. The accident also ended up injuring a man nearby, and all of this ultimately resulted in Skinner getting hit with a $500 fine and was also sentenced to 30 days in jail as he was found guilty of reckless endangerment.
Drone accidents do happen from time to time and in the past we have heard how drones have cost a toddler his eye, and how a groom was sued at his own wedding after he crashed a drone during his party and injured some of the guests. However Skinner’s lawyer Jeffrey Kradel told The Seattle Times that he believes that the punishment was too severe for what was clearly an accident, and thinks that Skinner is being used to set an example to other drone pilots.
However Assistant City Prosecutor Raymond Lee begs to differ and says that the public “should not fear a drone strike falling from the sky”. This incident isn’t quite over and done with as Skinner has another hearing scheduled where the medical fees he owes the woman will be determined.