I realize this is an ancient thread however when google searching this one comes up and it is what lead me here to register.
Basically model Rocketry all over Long island NY has been made illegal in all public parks and or fields with the exception of Eisenhower park where you have to pay quite a bit of money for the privilege of flying low powered rockets.
to be clear, owning and buying and selling of them and launching them on private land is all legal. but, by the government making them illegal in public spaces they have effectively banned them through the back door. nobody is going to have a large enough backyard or access to any type of farm with permission to launch them thus they are pretty much banned.
there are stiff fines in all parks for long island for doing anything hobby related. so this ban does not just effect model rocketry it applies to model aircraft, model cars, drones, and it even effects the throwing of any projectile of any kind.
some parks have signs posted on base ball diamonds requiring a permit just to play ball. public schools are totally out of bounds they have all kinds of firearms laws now that cover missiles and propellant this is why there is no model rocketry clubs offered at schools any more. i agree it is over the top but seems to be how it is.
over the last 3 weeks i've called towns all over and gotten pdfs of parks department rules, everyone has basically banned hobbies, there are 4 fields that allow aircraft with permits and AMA insurance but even they do not allow rockets or drones.
ok,, so what about a quick in and out for a launch; yes you could do it as long as you do not get caught. however my situation would be 2 small kids in tow with a launcher and some rockets and a quick setup in the field with launch and recovery then quickly take it all apart and run out of there, not going to happen.
at one park i had a conversion with a police officer about the subject and he told me he would fine me if he caught me and asked me to leave the area, so there is zero common sense or good human nature left in the island on the subject.
as a note thanks to all the laws and regulations the parks are empty. every park i went to was devoid of life and posted huge signs warning against basically all activity that wasn't banned requiring a permit.
so unless you know somebody with a football field sized back yard and they give you permission to launch from it you are totally out of luck for long island NY if you want to remain Legal.
otherwise like a guerrilla action and a van loaded full of rockets you have to be in and out in a heartbeat to be able to launch and get away with it.
many of the videos on youtube that show launches in parks in NY open the people to litigation by the state if they decided to peruse you.
there was a nice video of a kid flying a drone in Bethpage park, if the parks department wanted to they could prosecute that kid for a 1000$ fine under the 2017 rule book.
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as a history note: i used to launch rockets in 1980s all over NY with no problems at all, the last time i launched in New york was in 1989.
now in the 1990s i was kicked out of alley pond park for flying a model helicopter as the police officer saw me and decided it was illegal and i was not fighting him over it.
that was 25 years ago and i'm sad to say it has gone so insane here it is mind boggling.
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that said if somebody from long island does actually find a place where it is legal or you do have permission to launch please let us know..... it is a blue state hell hole.
as another note after this idiot killed himself.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...an-decapitates-remote-control-helicopter.html
that guy was known by all the hobby clubs in the area and was Banned because he was dangerous.
the rules and regulations at all NY parks when into Hyper mode with banning everything since this occurred.