Hughie said:
Without a commercial licence, this would not have even been a debate in the UK . You can't fly within 50m of a building or structure or vehicle even without a camera. End of.
The guy who flew over the LAPD is known to instigate problems and would have done so regardless. Fortunately, we don't need a commercial license to fly in an urban environment.
I will say that in the numerous flights I have done in and around LA, I have never had an issue with LAPD. Not once. On a couple of flights, I've had LAPD ask questions but they've always done so in a non-disruptive manner and with professionalism.
Seems they did the same even when confronted by a bunch tin foil hat wearing kids flying over the precinct.