[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Morrisville 10-6-2016 by L.L.
No. 7-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
An aircraft or powered aerial vehicle or other device, the
flight of which is controlled either autonomously by onboard computer(s)
or by remote control of an operator on the ground or in another vehicle
or aircraft, without the assistance of an onboard pilot, also commonly
known as "drones." As used in this chapter, the term specifically
excludes traditional model aircraft incapable of being equipped with
cameras and/or any other types of surveillance equipment.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Morrisville, after due
deliberation, finds the operation of unmanned aircraft systems within
the Village of Morrisville to pose a potential safety risk to aircraft
and the public in general. In addition to the crash threat created
by loss of control of the UAS, the noise created by their operation
also creates a detriment to the public welfare. The operation of UASs
also raises significant security and privacy issues. As such, the
Board of Trustees of the Village of Morrisville hereby determines
that it is in the best interest of the Village of Morrisville and
the public generally to restrict the operation of unmanned aircraft
systems from all property within the corporate limits of the Village.
A.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, no person
shall operate a UAS upon or from any real property, or from any vehicle,
platform or other structure located upon any land or water body within
the corporate limits of the Village of Morrisville.
B.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, no person
shall operate a UAS so as to cause the UAS to be over or above any
property owned by the Village of Morrisville, or over or above the
property of any owner who has not consented to such operation.
C.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, no person
shall operate a UAS over or above any property within the Village
of Morrisville in such a manner as to disturb the peace or invade
the privacy of any person or persons.
A.
The restrictions imposed by this chapter shall not prohibit or impair
the use of any UAS within the Village of Morrisville by authorized
law enforcement and/or emergency response personnel, or pursuant to
a duly issued warrant or court order.
B.
The Village Code Enforcement Officer may grant a temporary permit
to operate a UAS within the Village for a demonstrated legitimate
commercial purpose or purposes. To obtain such permission, the operator
must demonstrate that the operation of the UAS will serve a legitimate
public or commercial purpose, that the consent of all owners of property
over which the UAS will be operated has been obtained, and that the
operation of the UAS will not pose an undue risk of invasion of privacy,
or injury or harm to individuals or property.
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be guilty of an offense and shall be punished, upon
conviction, by a fine of not more than $250. Each day's continued
violation shall constitute a separate and additional offense hereunder.
This chapter is in addition to all applicable laws of the State
of New York and the United States of America, and in no way is it
intended to conflict with said laws, and this chapter shall be construed
accordingly. Any section of this chapter or part thereof which conflicts
with any state law does not invalidate any other section of this chapter
or part thereof.
