North Hempstead adopts drone regulations, joining other Nassau towns
A drone is used to search for sharks at Smith Point County Park in Shirley in the summer of 2022. Credit: James Carbone
Drone operators will be required to hold permits from the Town of North Hempstead to fly and land the unmanned aircraft on town property, becoming the last Nassau County town to regulate drone use.
The new legislation comes after a “proliferation" of drones, according to the legislation, which the town board approved in a unanimous vote earlier this month.
Multiple council members received complaints about the drones, but the town does not track the total number of complaints, officials said.
The legislation was motivated by safety concerns, North Hempstead officials said. Officials cited the potential for accidents, as well as privacy issues at beaches.
"If we had too many flying in a small area, they could damage each other, they could crash, they could hit people, they could damage property," Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in an interview. "It's a way to keep what could be burdensome, noisy and invasive — keep it from bothering people who are enjoying our parks."
Fines will range from $500 — the maximum for a first-time offense — to $1,500, according to a copy of the law.
Operators can apply for seasonal permits from Oct. 1 through April 30. Nonseasonal permits are also available for May 1 through Sept. 30, with use limited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no application fee for the permits, town officials said.
Applicants must provide proof of liability insurance and name the Town of North Hempstead as an insured party.
In Oyster Bay Town, permits are free and there have been no violations since drone regulations were implemented in 2017, said Brian Nevin, a town spokesman. In 2016, the Town of Hempstead approved legislation limiting drone use near town facilities.
Chuck Idol, a Port Washington resident, was eating dinner with friends on the town dock in late September when he heard a buzzing about 20 feet above his head. He looked up and saw a drone — and not for the first time.
Idol said he's seen about 10 drones on the dock that overlooks Manhasset Bay every summer for the past three years.
"It started dodging in and out of the wires, playing dodge with the cars," Idol said. "It was one of the most intense scenes I've seen, and I've seen many."
Idol reached out to Mariann Dalimonte, a councilwoman who represents Port Washington. Dalimonte then raised the issue to Town Attorney Richard Nicolello, who helped craft the legislation.
"God forbid it hits somebody in the head, those things are powerful," Dalimonte said. "Those things could cause severe damage."
Dalimonte recommended those interested in drones visit the Aerodrome, a town park on West Shore Road in Port Washington. Members of the Hempstead Harbor Aero Modelers Society can fly drones and other radio-controlled toy aircrafts on 25 acres of cleared land.
Drone operators will be required to hold permits from the Town of North Hempstead to fly and land the unmanned aircraft on town property, becoming the last Nassau County town to regulate drone use.
The new legislation comes after a “proliferation" of drones, according to the legislation, which the town board approved in a unanimous vote earlier this month.
Multiple council members received complaints about the drones, but the town does not track the total number of complaints, officials said.
The legislation was motivated by safety concerns, North Hempstead officials said. Officials cited the potential for accidents, as well as privacy issues at beaches.
"If we had too many flying in a small area, they could damage each other, they could crash, they could hit people, they could damage property," Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in an interview. "It's a way to keep what could be burdensome, noisy and invasive — keep it from bothering people who are enjoying our parks."
Fines will range from $500 — the maximum for a first-time offense — to $1,500, according to a copy of the law.
Operators can apply for seasonal permits from Oct. 1 through April 30. Nonseasonal permits are also available for May 1 through Sept. 30, with use limited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no application fee for the permits, town officials said.
Applicants must provide proof of liability insurance and name the Town of North Hempstead as an insured party.
In Oyster Bay Town, permits are free and there have been no violations since drone regulations were implemented in 2017, said Brian Nevin, a town spokesman. In 2016, the Town of Hempstead approved legislation limiting drone use near town facilities.
Chuck Idol, a Port Washington resident, was eating dinner with friends on the town dock in late September when he heard a buzzing about 20 feet above his head. He looked up and saw a drone — and not for the first time.
Idol said he's seen about 10 drones on the dock that overlooks Manhasset Bay every summer for the past three years.
"It started dodging in and out of the wires, playing dodge with the cars," Idol said. "It was one of the most intense scenes I've seen, and I've seen many."
Idol reached out to Mariann Dalimonte, a councilwoman who represents Port Washington. Dalimonte then raised the issue to Town Attorney Richard Nicolello, who helped craft the legislation.
"God forbid it hits somebody in the head, those things are powerful," Dalimonte said. "Those things could cause severe damage."
Dalimonte recommended those interested in drones visit the Aerodrome, a town park on West Shore Road in Port Washington. Members of the Hempstead Harbor Aero Modelers Society can fly drones and other radio-controlled toy aircrafts on 25 acres of cleared land.
Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
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