News Release

Visitor Cited for Illegal Drone Operation June 15

Date: June 17, 2016

Washington, DC – At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15 the United States Park Police were alerted to a drone flying on the north side of the Washington Monument near 16^th Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest.

Officers made contact with the operator and ordered him to land the drone.  The officer issued John Newcomer, Jr., a citation for operation of an unmanned aircraft. A blue UDI R/C drone and a black radio controller were confiscated from Newcomer and kept as evidence.

Federal law prohibits flying all unmanned aircraft, more commonly called drones, in the heavily regulated Flight Restricted Zone around Washington, D.C., including from private property inside the FRZ. Additionally, launching, landing or operating unmanned aircrafts is prohibited in all areas administered by the National Park Service. Know Before You Fly! To learn more visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/no_drone_zone/dc/.

This is the 1st reported incident involving illegal operation of an unmanned aircraft in a Greater Washington area National Park in 2016, and the 28^th  incident since 2013.