PLEASANT GARDEN, N.C. (WGHP) — A Pleasant Garden man claims a drone has flown too close to his home.
James Himes has lived in the Pleasant Gardens community for about 10 years.
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Himes said he noticed a drone hovering around his home and watching from a distance for the past year.
“You could watch this drone actually elevate. It would come forward, drop and then run completely across the property,” Himes said. “It would traverse into the eastern side and drop down in elevation and then simply hover and watch our home.”
Himes said the user of the drone seems to fly the device in accordance with his family’s schedule each day. He said the chosen route of his device is a frustrating invasion of privacy.
“Our window is facing South, and it would be directly lined up with our restroom,” Himes said. “Sometimes, it would be directly lined up with a telecommunications towers here to kind of blend in with its natural environment here.”
Pleasant Garden man says drones around home invade his privacy (WGHP)
Himes said he reported his claims to law enforcement.
The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said that they are investigating the claims to find if a crime is being committed.
A spokesperson with the sheriff’s office told FOX8 that the situation is not criminally enforceable, according to North Carolina General Statute 15A-300.1.
The statute puts restrictions on the use of unmanned aircraft systems. The statute differs from criminally enforced statutes such as 15A-300.3 and15A-300.4 which prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system near a confinement facility, correctional facility or forest fire.
“As of right now, I have yet to find any kind of statute or any case law to support the general public … It almost seems now that the devices themselves have more rights than the people,” Himes said.
Himes said he appreciates how technology continues to advance. He said the advancement may also give bad actors the tools necessary to invade the rights of others.
“Any person that has a home and works everyday for a living, pays taxes … should be able to come back to their home and feel like they’re in a place of peace not under arrest or in a place of surveillance,” he said.
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