AL Law: Shooting Drones for Christmas

Allen Ritchie • December 20, 2024

Can I shoot down a drone in Alabama? Really, this is your number one question at Christmas time? Well, apparently, it is since drones are flying all over New Jersey and some of our fellow citizens fear they could come south.

To not hold you in suspense, the answer is NO. Do not shoot down flying objects over the state of Alabama. You could go to prison.

Though the state has no drone law, the federal government does. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says drones are considered aircraft, and shooting at them (even if you don’t hit them) is a felony. A big, giant felony that could land you in prison for a quarter of a century.

Now, some local areas do have drone laws, such as Orange Beach. There, drones are prohibited within 500 feet of the beach or any performance area. Here is my favorite part of the law – a drone cannot legally be flown by anyone under the influence of alcohol or similar drugs. I would say that restriction should apply to the person shooting at it, too.

If there is a drone accident in Orange Beach, you are required to basically treat it like a car wreck. At the least, you must stay until you’ve provided your contact info. By the way, it is unlawful to use a drone to spy in a person’s bedroom. Just in case you were asking for your cousin.

If you get a drone this Christmas, what can you do with it? Here are some FAA rules:

  • Fly the drone below 400 feet.
  • Don’t bother other people or objects, especially other aircraft.
  • Keep the drone within your line of sight.
  • Don’t be a jerk. OK, that last one is my rule … but a good one.

Here are my observations for this Christmas. Though we have had some UFO sightings along the Gulf Coast in the past, I think you are probably pretty safe from interstellar visitors this holiday. And let’s be honest, New Jersey is quite a distance away!

Wishing you the best this holiday season from all of us at Steele Ritchie Law. God bless us, everyone!

If you or a loved one is injured in a personal injury accident, you can talk to us at the law firm of Steele Ritchie for free. We genuinely want to help. We are local attorneys with decades of experience helping people, especially in the southwest Mobile area.

Give us a call at (251) 666-1212. We are proud to be called the “personal injury lawyers near me” by many people here in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

Allen Ritchie

Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer

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