Concerns over drone activity have led to a request from the local police board for signage prohibiting the small aircraft from flying over Niagara Falls.

Niagara Regional Police services board chairman Bob Gale brought the issue forward at Thursday’s meeting, calling on Niagara Parks Commission to consider adding signs around the famous falls to help curb usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the area.

It was brought to his attention during Tuesday’s Niagara Falls city council meeting that a drone was recently seen flying over the falls, crossing over to the American side before returning to Canadian soil.

Questions then arose about who should be called if citizens believe they’re witnessing illegal drone activity, Gale said.

“Who governs this? What are the laws of this? How do we stop it?” he asked.

There are concerns, he added, that drones could be flown across the river to possibly drop off contraband before returning.

Police Chief Jeff McGuire urged anyone who sees a drone being operated in a dangerous or illegal manner to contact police.

“If they see them somewhere they don’t think they should be, they need to let us know.”

McGuire said the service has received about 60 incident reports involving drones in the past few years.

Many were a mixture of nuisance calls, with UAVs flying over people’s homes or property, and calls related to operators losing control and causing damage with the aircraft.

“Part of the challenge is most of the citizenry does not know where they can go and what they can do with them,” McGuire said of the devices.

If drones weigh less than 35 kilograms, no licence is required to fly them and there are no reporting requirements.

That can prevent operators from learning the rules that govern the devices, he said.

Transport Canada, responsible for drone regulation, is in the process of writing new legislation set to come into effect in 2017.

“We’re advised the changes will include new flight rules, aircraft markings … registration requirements, knowledge testing, minimum age limits and pilot permits for certain operations,” McGuire said.

Existing rules for recreational UAV operators prohibit them from flying the devices higher than 90 metres and within nine kilometres of any aerodrome, such as airports or helipads.

They cannot be flown within 150 metres of people, animals, buildings, structures or vehicles, and cannot fly in populated areas or near large groups of people including sporting events, concerts, festivals and firework shows.

They cannot be flown near moving vehicles, highways, bridges, busy streets or “anywhere you can endanger or distract drivers,” McGuire said, or within any restricted and controlled airspace, including over military bases, prisons, forest fires or anywhere that might interfere with first responders.

He confirmed the area surrounding the falls is already designated restricted airspace, with only certified tour operators able to fly there.

If a breach of regulations occurs, charges can be laid by Transport Canada. When necessary, criminal charges can also be laid by police.

Operators can be charged with criminal negligence if, for instance, a drone is flown over the QEW in front of vehicles and causes a crash, McGuire said.

“If you’re flying anywhere in the airspace you have the same responsibilities as anyone flying a plane or a helicopter in regards to safety, which means if they are causing challenges or safety issues, there are Transport Canada offences that can fit.

“If people act in a dangerous or reckless manner and violate the controlled airspace around airports, they can face fines of up to $25,000 or jail time.”

Police board member David Barrick backed Gale’s recommendation, putting forth a successful motion that will see a letter sent on behalf of the board requesting that the parks commission consider the signage addition.

He wanted to highlight that public safety is the board’s No. 1 concern related to the request.

Niagara Parks Police will also be consulted on the issue.

Janice Thomson, chair of the parks commission, said the drone issue “hasn’t been brought to my attention as a concern at this point.”

However, she is looking forward to reading the board’s letter and plans to discuss with staff whether any investigation related to drones has yet been done.

“Obviously we’ll consider that very seriously.”

Thomson said the “new phenomenon” does require some public education to outline regulations for drone usage.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2016/11/24/drones-banned-over-falls