- Police in Canada have come under fire for using drones.
- They were used to issue 20 distracted driving tickets in May.
- Some have been dropped and the practice is raising questions.
Distracted driving is a serious issue and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it killed 3,275 Americans in 2023. To combat the problem, police regularly ticket drivers using their cellphones.
However, what if it’s the police that are distracting you? That’s an unusual accusation, but it’s one being played out in Canada.
More: Man Fined $2,900 For Drunk-Piloting A Drone Over Car Show
CBC News shared the story of Laurie Esseltine, who reportedly noticed a “drone hovering above her vehicle with no pilot in sight” while stopped at a red light. She thought this was odd, so she snapped two photos with her phone and waited for the light to change green.
When it did, she continued on her way and was quickly stopped by Kingston police. Authorities said Esseltine was using her phone while driving, which meant she was on the hook for steep penalties including three points on her record, a $615 CAD ($449 USD) fine, and the possibility of having her license suspended for three days.
Esseltine didn’t think this was fair, but the publication says the charge was mysteriously dropped without explanation. At least one other drone-related ticket was also withdrawn that same day and officials aren’t saying much of anything.
However, authorities seem to be quietly acknowledging the use of drones was a bad idea. Kingston police said they haven’t used drones for addressing distracted driving since that first incident in May and aren’t aware of any other agencies using drones for traffic enforcement.
The drone in question – a DJI Matrice 300 – entered service in 2021 and is typically reserved for “collision reconstructions, missing persons, fleeing or hiding suspects, and large-scale events.”
Kingston police / Carscoops edit
While the department has stopped using drones for distracted driving enforcement, their use in the first place has raised a lot of questions. As Esseltine said, “What better way to catch a distracted driver [than] by providing the distraction?”
The publication also noted the Canadian Constitution Foundation got involved as they believe the use of drones constitutes an unreasonable search and seizure. For this reason, the group believes the government is dropping some cases, but they want all 20 tickets dismissed.
