Using a drone? Don't forget to follow rules By Gary M. Singer

When marketing home, FAA is strict about aerial devices.

Q: We are getting ready to sell our home, and one of our neighbors offered, for a small fee, to take some aerial pictures with his drone. Are there any rules or restrictions we need to know about? - Susan

A: Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems, are revolutionizing the videos and photos people take to market and sell their homes.

Smart real estate agents and homeowners are marketing with vista views of the property and surrounding neighborhood. This sort of photography used to be out of reach of all but wealthy homeowners, but now it’s available to all comers.

The law still is still catching up to this technology, and new rules are popping up all the time. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and most state govern- ments have been quick to enact regulations designed to ensure the public safety

and privacy. Anyone using drones to take pictures to sell someone

else’s property must abide by the rules, though hobbyists who are flying smaller model aircraft within their line of sight solely for their own enjoyment generally are exempt.

Penalties include fines and liability for getting sued if you caused damage to another person’s property. In very rare occasions, you could face criminal charges.

The pilots must ensure that the drones weigh less than 55 pounds, fly less than 100 mph, below 400 feet off the ground and stay within view of the pilots.

Also, the drones can’t be operated from a moving vehicle, although that just seems like common sense.

If you live close to an airport, stadium or similar buildings, you probably won’t be able to use a drone. This can be confusing, but

the FAA has an app to help you stay within the guidelines (www.faa.gov).