You are not a lawyer and you are incorrect.
Model Aircraft are not covered by CA State Fire Regulations. If a local entity (city or school district) has 'banned' model aircraft flying on their property, it is NOT the same as the permit and permission requirements of the Ca State Fire Regulations.
Years ago, people did often get a first time verbal warning to stop and go away. That DOES NOT happen very often these A days. There are many reports of people getting the $1000 or $2000 fine and even going before a judge facing jail time.
Noted stories I have first hand knowledge of:
In the San Fernando Valley a woman was out with her kids launching their Estes Alpha III from a starter set. They launched it twice while a policeman watched and ate his sandwich. he then walked over and handed them a $2000 fine. She was very annoyed and went to the hobby shop that sold it to her and screamed at the owner because he did not warn her about the permit requirements.
A man in Long Beach launched in El Dorado Park. He was cited big time. We don't have details about his behavior with the police officer, but he called our club looking for advice because he was going before the judge facing up to a year in jail. We never heard from him again, so we don't know how that turned out.
In a city in Orange County a hobby shop (now out of business) was fined $1000 for selling motors to a child under the legal age allowed to buy motors. the child ignited them in his bedroom. Irate mother called the authorities.
Stories told to me by fire officials:
teacher sets fire to hillside next to school yard because they used the most powerful motor possible and rocket flew unstable then stabilized and flew horizontal beyond the school yard boundary. The FD would never have given a permit for that motor size on that property. Teacher was cited. no idea if he lost his job or if union protected him.
Visiting instructor launched giant rocket on school yard to show little children rockets that big men launch. It used a motor without a CSFM seal. It crashed into a neighbors backyard and missed a 2 year old sitting in a lawn chair next to their mother by a few inches. Mother hysterically called the bomb squad. Fire inspectors got involved and interviewed Principal of school and rocketry instructor. Rocketry guy left to allegedly get papers to present to inspector and never came back. Fire inspectors are fully aware of safe and legal model rocketry and know the difference between that and what this guy was doing. That's why they tell others about these incidents. School Principal was deeply affected by the incident and it left a bad memory associated with rocketry.
Your continued encouragement of others to break the law makes you a serious danger to the hobby of Model Rocketry.
Do you encourage people to ship motors illegally also?
Are you arguing just for the sake of arguing?
Do you have a psychological problem with any laws or regulations and seek to have other defy them to make you feel better?
If you despise the laws or regulations, GET THEM CHANGED instead of using this forum to encourage others to break the law.
Doesn't that violate a rule of this forum? Or is encouraging others to break the law and endanger the hobby OK on this forum?
Originally posted by danc
Shread you really need to chill out. At worst if he lauches in an area where he shouldn't be(assuming he doesn't know) they will just give him a warning and say to pack it in for the day. You should read the RC plane boards,, those guys really go through hell. Most city parks hate rc planes but the guys fly anyway and the cops aren't about to throw some kid or adult in jail for flying a stinking airplane just because officially he shouldn't.. They will tell him not to come back though.. although some stories I've read went the other way,, the cops would stay and watch and not even have a problem with it. Or, they'll say to fly when there isn't anyone around which is always hte wisest course of action so you don't bother anyone. School fields are probably the best bet for rockets.
If you know ahead of time that you shouldn't fly in a certain area then personally I wouldn't fly there but I seriously doubt you'll get fined or hauled into the poky.