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Colorado town ponders bounty for shooting down drones | Colorado town ponders bounty for shooting down drones |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The farming and ranching town of Deer Trail, Colorado, is considering paying bounties to anyone who shoots down a drone. | The farming and ranching town of Deer Trail, Colorado, is considering paying bounties to anyone who shoots down a drone. |
Next month, trustees of the town of 600 that lies on the high plains, 55 miles (34km) east of Denver, will debate an ordinance that would allow residents to buy a $25 hunting licence to shoot down "unmanned aerial vehicles". | |
Governments once paid bounties to hunters who killed animals that preyed on livestock, but only after they produced the ears. Similarly, the town would pay $100 to anyone who could produce the fuselage and tail of a downed drone. | Governments once paid bounties to hunters who killed animals that preyed on livestock, but only after they produced the ears. Similarly, the town would pay $100 to anyone who could produce the fuselage and tail of a downed drone. |
"Either the nose or tail may be damaged, but not both," the proposal notes. | "Either the nose or tail may be damaged, but not both," the proposal notes. |
The measure was crafted by resident Phillip Steel, a 48-year-old army veteran with a master's degree in business administration, who acknowledges the whimsical nature of his proposal. But the expansion of drones for commercial and government use was alarming, he said. | The measure was crafted by resident Phillip Steel, a 48-year-old army veteran with a master's degree in business administration, who acknowledges the whimsical nature of his proposal. But the expansion of drones for commercial and government use was alarming, he said. |
"We don't want to become a surveillance society," he told Reuters in a telephone interview. | "We don't want to become a surveillance society," he told Reuters in a telephone interview. |
He said he had not seen any drones, but that "some local ranchers" outside the town limits had. | He said he had not seen any drones, but that "some local ranchers" outside the town limits had. |
Under the proposal, hunters could legally shoot down a drone flying under 1,000 feet with a 12-gauge or smaller shotgun. | Under the proposal, hunters could legally shoot down a drone flying under 1,000 feet with a 12-gauge or smaller shotgun. |
The town would also be required to establish a drone "recognition programme" for shooters to properly identify the targeted aircraft. | The town would also be required to establish a drone "recognition programme" for shooters to properly identify the targeted aircraft. |
"In no case shall a citizen engage an obviously manned aerial vehicle," the draft proposal reads. | "In no case shall a citizen engage an obviously manned aerial vehicle," the draft proposal reads. |
Steel said that if the town trustees did not vote to adopt the ordinance, it would go before voters in a special election. | Steel said that if the town trustees did not vote to adopt the ordinance, it would go before voters in a special election. |
"Yes, it is tongue-in-cheek, but I'm going to vote for it," said Dorothy Pisel, one of the town's trustees. "It could benefit the town with all the publicity." | "Yes, it is tongue-in-cheek, but I'm going to vote for it," said Dorothy Pisel, one of the town's trustees. "It could benefit the town with all the publicity." |
Steel acknowledges his idea is symbolic, but he hopes it will curtail the use of drones over the area. | Steel acknowledges his idea is symbolic, but he hopes it will curtail the use of drones over the area. |
"If you don't want your drone to go down, don't fly it in town," he said. | "If you don't want your drone to go down, don't fly it in town," he said. |
The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately have a comment. | The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately have a comment. |
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