Clampdown on drones, laser lights

(Trinidad Express) – The Ministry of National Security is clamping down on the use of aerial drones being operated by people to record personal and public events.

The ministry has also advised against the use of laser lights, which can interfere with a pilot’s ability to land an aircraft safely.

Owners are being told to register the drones with the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA).

The United States last month issues a series of regulations regarding the use of drones, including that users had to register, with criminal penalties of up to three years in jail, or up to $250,000 in fines.

Locally, there have been several complaints about the drones being flown over public events.

Two years ago at a Carnival fete in San Fernando, a drone malfunctioned and injured a person, who made a police report and had to be financially compensated.

The Ministry of National Security, which has been working on regulations since early 2015, said that the unmanned aerial systems, commonly called drones, were being used in a manner that could cause danger to persons and property and may be an invasion of privacy.