Killing a drone, is it legal?

So last night, about 11 PM I was laying in bed (basement) and saw light shining down the basement stairs. It happened a few times in a few seconds. WHAT!? Someone is shining a flashlight in my side-door!! I get my skivvies on and bolt upstairs. I ask the kids, they weren't walking around the house with a flashlight. So I grab a weapon and head outside to put the smack down. My wife calls 911 (it appears she us much smarter than I). I don't see anyone, and don't see the light. After a few minutes my wife says the cops say to get in the house so they don't shoot me since they are coming to look for "a male with a flashlight". I don't need to be perforated so I wait for the cops to show up. The cop pulls in the driveway and tells me it was a dude about 3 doors down flying a drone around with "a freaking light almost as powerful as my spot light on that thing".
She chastised him pretty good and he put it away. I don't know if he was looking in houses, or it he was just zipping through backyards and the light was just that strong. Either way, not cool. The cop said she read him the riot act "for being such a huge bone-head".
Anyway, if I see a drone in my yard, at night, with a light on, I'm putting some holes in it or bringing it down in some way. Would that be illegal? I'm in MI.

In reply to DrBoost:

I'm pretty sure this has already been discussed, and the answer is a resounding "yep". Edit to clarify: downing an aircraft (drone) is illegal.

Don't kill, capture. Same way you catch bats... wet towel... except wear a ski mask in case of camera. Sell on ebay. Profit.

Would have been a great question to ask the LEO that was standing at your door last night...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gsO3sYjQ9_o

It depends, dude in Kentucky that made national news for shooting down the drone in his yard, he got arrested, but the judge eventually dismissed the charge. That drone had a camera, and the judge called it an invasion of privacy and said "He had a right to shoot at this drone, and I'm gonna dismiss this charge."

That's all well and good for that case, but it was a long and drawn out headache to get to the point of being vindicated for shooting it down. Now, the guy that got his drone shot down, has now filed a federal case asking for a ruling on whether or not he (his drone) was trespassing, and for damages for the loss of the drone.

I personally would likely shoot the thing, and let come what may, but I'm not so sure that's the best advice.

If you're in city limits it might be good to know what the firearm discharge laws are. My friend's mom had to make a court appearance and pay a fine for discharging her shotgun in the air in an attempt to scare off some teenagers who were up to no good, and disturbing the peace out in front of her driveway.

Don't shoot it, that's illegal. Spraying it with a garden hose, however, is totally legit.

The phrases "3 doors down" and "zipping through back yards" lead me to believe that you live in a pretty suburban neighborhood.

I would think destroying the drone may be A-OK, but discharging a firearm in that kind of setting could land you in some serious trouble.

If it were flying close enough that you could tennis racket or baseball bat it, I would seriously doubt any repercussions against you, but I understand wanting a ranged solution.

*EDIT +1 to what Jav says. Perhaps some sort of water balloon launcher? or Paintball! Frozen paintballs are a real possible option as well (just omit that they were ever frozen if you tag one).

More nebulous legally, but a cheap and ready option might be a spud gun. I wonder how hard it would be to rig a net to launch from one...

DIY Net Gun here but the range is only 18-25 feet. Better than a baseball bat but not great. I have ideas on how to extend range but the accuracy would probably be terrible.

In reply to dculberson:

What about flying into it with a net hanging from your own drone?

Hmmmm what about modifing a T-shirt gun??? Those things shoot a decent distance......

Tell them you thought it was a UFO from Mars and you feared for your life. They are known for their anal probing.

BTW I saw a news blurb yesterday that had something about new drone rules. I didn't catch what they were saying.

Are airsoft guns legal? How about paintball guns? You can get pretty accurate with a blow gun.

A nice passive defense might be more effective. String monofilament across the flight path. Invisible to drone pilot and brutally efficient at stopping high speed rotors.

Then in the morning you can go out and collect your prize like a spider shops for dinner.

Honestly I think catching it is the best bet. You will then be able to give your opinion directly to the pilot, because they will likely come for it. It should also have their FAA # on it, if they are playing legally.

As to the new rules, they dont change much, just REALLY clarify things, and allow for commercial flying.

And I fly a drone, none of my neighbors have given a crap, but i dont fly around their back yards either.... Mine is not FPV so it stays line of sight (which even FPV is technically supposed to)

This

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It would seem that they are fairly easy to hack/hijack/destroy if you want to go through the effort. This could become a hobby in and of itself.

http://www.dailydot.com/debug/wi-fi-drone-disabler-raspberry-pi/

The programming enables the Raspberry Pi to tap into a drone's Wi-Fi connectivity and take command of it. In the case of the drone the tests were conducted on, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, a person using the "cantenna" could hijack the drone with a smartphone app and control it or disable it entirely.

Javelin wrote: Don't shoot it, that's illegal. Spraying it with a garden hose, however, is totally legit.

Ohhhhhh I bet you could get an attachment for a pressure washer that would make it interesting. The 0 deg nozzle already sprays pretty far but if you could get rid of the fanning and keep it as is solid jet of water I be the range could be made much greater.

Wall-e wrote: In reply to dculberson: What about flying into it with a net hanging from your own drone?

But, what if he put razor blades on his drone to cut through your net?

aircooled wrote:

Wall-e wrote: In reply to dculberson: What about flying into it with a net hanging from your own drone?

But, what if he put razor blades on his drone to cut through your net?

Battle-Bots are passé. Time for Drone Wars!!

In reply to aircooled:

Then we will get monkeys that throw dookie.

spitfirebill wrote: Tell them you thought it was a UFO from Mars and you feared for your life. They are known for their anal probing. BTW I saw a news blurb yesterday that had something about new drone rules. I didn't catch what they were saying.

They are lifting the bans on commercial drones. Now that they have to be registered with a tail number you don't have to be licensed by the FAA to fly them for commercial reasons. I believe the ceiling will be 400ft and within line of sight. Night time flying will only be allowed with previous permission.

I've got an idea! Potato gun, ice cubes, and sabot shell made from old plastic water bottle. Instant portable hail storm!

Call the FAA and report it. They will likely ask how high it was flying because there is some rule about at a certain height the FAA takes control.
My guess is that you and I have no experience at judging vertical height so leave it to the FAA to knock on his door and see if he is "legal".

Sure, the drone was low to the ground when it looked in your basement window but whats to say that he did not take the drone super high as a way to try to get away once you discovered him/it?

You likely have a police report (or at least a call log) and a the responding officer to help warrant your concern.

Edit: post above seems to imply that if this was night and not line of sight, the FAA would be "interested."

KyAllroad wrote: A nice passive defense might be more effective. String monofilament across the flight path. Invisible to drone pilot and brutally efficient at stopping high speed rotors. Then in the morning you can go out and collect your prize like a spider shops for dinner.

This is a great idea. It works for the gulls at beach restaurants too. A nearly invisible obstacle wholly contained on your property and some doofus flew his drone into it! Proof he was where he didn't belong and he owes you for fixing any damaged fishing line ta boot!