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Soccerdad1995 wrote:IANAL, but I read this as saying that you're OK as long as your drone is no more than 8 feet off the ground, and you are taking the picture of a publicly owned location. I don't know how the restrictions in 15 would play out "without using any electronic, mechanical, or other means to amplify the image beyond normal human perception". I'm guessing that means no zoom cameras?

So as you understand it, this laws is saying it is illegal for me to go to the lake near my city and launch from the shores of a city park, fly up 50 or 60 feet, and take pictures of the sunset on the water, or the creeks flowing into the lake, etc..?

This is also how I tend to understand the law yet it just seems to illogical to me to be true.

I've been researching Texas drone laws since Christmas when I received a Phantom 3 from my wife. In regards to taking photos and video, I am a little confused by two sections of the law. Below is the relevant sections in question:

CHAPTER 423. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

Sec. 423.002. NONAPPLICABILITY. (a) It is lawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in this state:
...
(15) from a height no more than eight feet above ground level in a public place, if the image was captured without using any electronic, mechanical, or other means to amplify the image beyond normal human perception;

(16) of public real property or a person on that property;

So, assuming there is no city ordinance about flying in a city park, can I legally do so, and can I take video while flying?

To me, (16) says it is legal to fly and take pictures and video in a public park. Period. But what does (15) mean? Is (15) saying you can only take pictures/video from a height of 8 feet or lower? Does this apply to public/city parks? If not what is (16) saying and what is its purpose?

Thanks