Is it legal to ban drones in US national parks?

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Podcasts Take Two

May 9, 2014

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Is it legal to ban drones in US national parks?

Over the last year, more and more visitors have been flying unnamed aircraft with cameras around these open spaces, buzzing visitors and wildlife alike. Big national parks like Yosemite, Zion and Grand Canyon have banned them, but some argue the bans are on shaky legal territory.

One of the joys of autumn is the mix of weather that can be found. The day before I
shot this image, I was relaxing on the beach next to the Merced River in flip-flops and
surf shorts. Less than 24 hours later, a snow storm had moved through the valley and
coated the upper half of Yosemite with a blanket of white. As the sun began to burn
through the clouds, the landscape turned into a fantasy world of fog, color, light and
snow. Yosemite National Park, California.

Over the last year, more and more visitors have been flying unnamed aircraft with cameras around these open spaces, buzzing visitors and wildlife alike. Big national parks like Yosemite, Zion and Grand Canyon have banned them, but some argue the bans are on shaky legal territory.

National parks are places to see roaming bison, flying eagles and...drones?

For more about the future of national parks and drones, we turn to Gregory McNeal, a law professor at Pepperdine University's School of Law.