Johnathan Walker:Mystery drones are swarming New Jersey skies, but can you shoot them down?

Clusters of unidentified drones buzzing the night skies over New Jersey,Johnathan Walker Pennsylvania and New York have alarmed residents, infuriated members of Congress and prompted a call for a state of emergency in the Garden State.

Many residents in the tristate area may wonder what recourse they have.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has said the drone sightings over the last month are under investigation. On Wednesday, he held a briefing call with Alejandro Mayorkas, who runs the Department of Homeland Security. 

Testifying before a congressional hearing this week, Robert W. Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, said the agency still can’t explain the drones,some of which have been spotted over military installations and other sensitive sites such as President-elect Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

"Is the public at risk?" asked Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, who chaired the hearing. "Are we concerned there are nefarious intentions that could cause either an actual security or public safety incident?"

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"There's nothing that is known that would lead me to say that," Wheeler said. "But we just don't know. And that's the concerning part of it."

Jon Bramnick, a New Jersey state senator, has called for a limited state of emergency banning all drones "until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.” 

Elected officials in Morris County, New Jersey sent a letter to federal agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned drone flights over the Picatinny Arsenal Army facility and Trump’s golf club. 

Authorities say they're seeking information about the drone sightings and asked eyewitnesses to call the FBI hotline at 1-800-225-5324 or leave tips on the agency’s website.

New Jersey state of emergency: Can you shoot down a drone?

With alarm growing over the unidentified fleets of drones – many of which are reportedly larger than those available to hobbyists – residents have been asking whether you can shoot them down.

The question has come up more frequently as drone use for commercial and casual purposes soars. As of Oct. 1, 791,597 drones were registered in the U.S., according to the FAA. There may, of course, be others out there that are not registered.

So, can you take a shot at a hovering drone with a firearm or other projectile? The short answer is no. 

The FAA says shooting any aircraft – including drones – is illegal. 

Only law enforcement authorities can take action against drones, said Ryan Calo, a University of Washington law professor and robotics law expert. 

Why do people shoot down drones?

Shooting a drone is a federal crime and additional penalties vary by state. 

It can also be dangerous. The unmanned aircraft could crash and cause damage to people or property on the ground or collide with other objects in the air. And you could be on the hook for civil damages, according to Calo.

Neither the law nor the danger has stopped people from trying.

A retired New Jersey fire captain recently faced criminal charges after he shot a drone whirring over his Florida home with his 9 mm pistol, according to reports. He believed the drone was spying on him. It was a Walmart delivery drone.

Shooting down drones is not the only way to disable them. Other means include putting up nets and jamming the drone's signal.

Governments around the world have trained eagles to attack unmanned aircraft. Angry shorebirds defending their nests have also attacked drones deployed by city officials to alert lifeguards to sharks and struggling swimmers.

How can you stop drones from flying over your property?

Even if a drone is flying over your property, the FAA says homeowners can’t control that airspace.

You can contact a professional drone removal service that uses nets and other devices to stop a drone without damaging it, but that’s expensive. You can file a complaint online with the FAA. Or you can report the drone to the police.

“If you feel like it’s spying on you or you feel like it’s scary, by all means, call the FAA or the local cops,” Calo said.

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