Ramapo Indian Hills Regional BOE bans drones

OAKLAND — The Ramapo Indian Hills Regional Board of Education passed a resolution this week banning the unauthorized use of drones and other remotely

-controlled devices on its two campuses.

The resolution is the most recent from area school districts limiting the use of unmanned aircraft systems, which include remotely-controlled planes as well as drones. Fort Lee, East Rutherford and West Milford have passed similar regulations.

The regional district has high schools in Oakland and Franklin Lakes.

The resolution, which was approved Monday, prohibits drones and other unmanned aircraft from being operated on, launched from or landed onto, or flown over school grounds.

The flying of such devices over school grounds, the resolution states, "presents a public safety issue as school grounds are populated any hours of the day by students, staff members, parents and community members."

The Franklin Lakes Borough Council also passed an ordinance in August limiting the use of drones and unmanned aircraft. The devices cannot be operated in airspace below 500 feet from dawn to dusk over private property without the owner's permission. They are prohibited over borough streets and buildings unless advance permission is obtained from the mayor and council. They also cannot be flown over people within 100 feet of where the drone is being operated.

Exceptions to the Franklin Lakes ordinance are made for operation of a drone by governmental or law enforcement agencies, and authorized operation for commercial, business, educational, scientific, environmental and personal purposes.