2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

So do Youtubers who use drones get special permission?

 

In my perfect world, all drones flown by the public should be banned. Who wants drones snooping on them? All drone use should be by permission only, with clear knowledge of what they are being used for and the area they will be allowed to fly. I don't anyone flying drones over my head.

 

Google already has strict guidelines for what they can show on Google Maps, but drones shouldn't be restricted?

 

 

2 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

In my perfect world, all drones flown by the public should be banned. Who wants drones snooping on them? All drone use should be by permission only, with clear knowledge of what they are being used for and the area they will be allowed to fly. 

 

 

 

I tried remembering back to laws in the US, before drones, where I believe we needed to fly model airplanes/helicopters only on registered model airplane fields (with restricted radio codes). It wasn't like we could just fly them anywhere, but now people think they can fly drones anywhere they want with cameras and no restrictions. Welcome to the age of entitlement.

55 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I thought I would take up drone flying, the first thing I did was lookup "drones Thailand", immediately saw what's needed (registering/insuring) and the restrictions.....That was the end of my dreams. Plus I live within 9km of Don Mueang Airport which makes any drone usage here a no go for me.

 

Son fly's his in the Moobann...    just up and down the road, not over peoples houses etc...  He prefers the RC car.

 

I can't see the police being bothered by it, there aren't enough Karen boomers in the moo-baan here to take affront to it...  But I never thought / realised it was illegal.

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Son fly's his in the Moobann...    just up and down the road, not over peoples houses etc...  He prefers the RC car.

 

I can't see the police being bothered by it, there are enough Karen boomers around here to take affront to it...  But I never thought / realised it was illegal.

 

Yeah, I really wanted to fly them here, but 30m-50m away from anything here in my area is impossible, plus I am very close to the airport, so there is no way I can legally fly it here, not to mention that I am a farang, the phones at the RTP would be ringing off the hook every time I would even try to fly one.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Karen boomers

 

 

Hahaha 

 

The exact type of person you'd expect to turn you in for this stuff

2 hours ago, JensenZ said:

In my perfect world, all drones flown by the public should be banned. Who wants drones snooping on them? All drone use should be by permission only, with clear knowledge of what they are being used for and the area they will be allowed to fly. I don't anyone flying drones over my head.

 

Google already has strict guidelines for what they can show on Google Maps, but drones shouldn't be restricted?

 

 

Trust me, nobody is going to snoop on you with the drone. You are highly irrelevant.

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

Pathetic blanket "law"

Typical Thailand. 

How does flying a drone in Pattaya possibly constitute any risk or connection to the Thai/Cambodian Border?!

 

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Son fly's his in the Moobann...    just up and down the road, not over peoples houses etc...  He prefers the RC car.

 

I can't see the police being bothered by it, there aren't enough Karen boomers in the moo-baan here to take affront to it...  But I never thought / realised it was illegal.

Its not usually illegal.   They have just temporarily grounded all drones because of the border situation.  

 

 

 

 

https://uasportal.caat.or.th/

 

https://www.caat.or.th/en/archives/27220

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

Its not usually illegal.   They have just temporarily grounded all drones because of the border situation.  

 

You are not allowed to use it in public parks, national parks ,  inside populated areas and you have to keep it in sight.

15 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

Typical Thailand. 

How does flying a drone in Pattaya possibly constitute any risk or connection to the Thai/Cambodian Border?!

 

Simple answer it doesn't, just the usual kneejerk reaction one comes to expect

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Not really. I live here and, to be honest, I've been unaware of any official drone ban currently in effect - I wouldn't expect tourists to know,

 

My son received a DJI drone for Christmas - not a large one, but apparently even that falls under the category of what’s now prohibited. I had absolutely no idea.

 

So yes, people are quick to criticise tourists for flying drones - but how are they supposed to know there's a blanket ban if that information isn’t clearly communicated or publicly accessible? This is the first I’ve heard of any such restriction.

 

 

 

What I have just found out: my Son needs to register his 135gm DNI neo Drone (with NBTC & CAAT) because it has a camera even though its less than 2 kg.

I never knew this - for some reason I thought it was only drones over 2kg that required registration.

 

And I found out insurance before starting toi apply  😟

5 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

I'm actually surprised he got one through Custom's inspection.

It's not illegal to bring a drone into the country, so customs could care less.

 

 It's illegal to operate one without both licences and the required insurance.

6 hours ago, save the frogs said:

So do Youtubers who use drones get special permission?

 

Why would you suggest that when there is nothing to back it up?

4 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

I highly doubt that, but this individual would have been well aware of flying it illegally (which he was) if it was licensed and insured in Thailand, and I don't see a registration label on it either. 

 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not really. I live here and, to be honest, I've been unaware of any official drone ban currently in effect - I wouldn't expect tourists to know,

 

If, as was said, it was licensed and insured (and even if he'd just made an insurance enquiry) in Thailand he would have received an email from FEIC Thailand informing him of the CAAT ban and possible consequences.  They were perhaps a bit tardy in sending them out, but they didn't receive much notice.

 

4 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

I think it was more likely he was  trying to get images of people in their things, bikinis  etc.

 

Really, at 10:00pm?

6 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Didn't the poster from the RTP say 20 years or the death penalty.....should be interesting.

In the context of the border skirmishes, he also implied that those were the maximum penalties, not the mandatory punishments and that was either hyperbole or only applied in the case of drone operation being considered spying.   These are the actual penalties...

 

Urgent Notice: Nationwide Drone Ban in Effect (30 July – 15 August 2025)
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a temporary nationwide ban on all drone operations from 30 July to 15 August 2025, or until further notice. This measure supports national security efforts amid heightened tensions along the Thai–Cambodian border.

Operating any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) across the country during this period is strictly prohibited. Offenders may face up to one year imprisonment, a fine of up to 40,000 Baht, or both. Military and security forces are authorised to neutralise unauthorised drones deemed a threat.

53 minutes ago, Colki said:

They could not possibly screen all incoming checked bags. They may do a flight following a tipoff or maybe select certain flights during day. They did make some claim to do so 2 - 3 years ago but is an impossibility just look at numbers of incoming flights.

 

Your post and the quote are a bit screwed up, but I think you posted this bit above (apologies if not).

 

The airport certainly has the hardware to screen all incoming bags as there is an X Ray machine at the start of every baggage return belt in the basement.  Whether they staff these up and what they are trained to look for may limit their use, but not the number of incoming flights as they all get assigned a baggage belt.

6 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

What's this...Scotch mist?

 

 

 

That applies only to espionage or spying charges, as your own post clearly states.   Recording of Pattaya beach by tourists almost certainly does not fall into that category.

3 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Really ?  its been on the TV news shows every day for a week or more    surely you understand some basic Thai   "Tid kook talort cheewit"   life in prison     "Praharn cheewit "    death sentence,    always handy to know    

Depends on the company you keep, I suppose.

I doubt any tourists watch or understand the news in Thai.

1 minute ago, champers said:

Depends on the company you keep, I suppose.

I doubt any tourists watch or understand the news in Thai.

The member I replied to is not a tourist,  and ignorance of the law is no excuse

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

Do please explain why you think this is not a (pathetic) blanket law

After you...do please explain why you started it by posting that "this is a pathetic blanket law".

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That applies only to espionage or spying charges, as your own post clearly states.   Recording of Pattaya beach by tourists almost certainly does not fall into that category.

 

So Cambodians flying drones, ones with cameras fitted....okay....... as long as they are tourists?

 

 

6 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

I'm actually surprised he got one through Custom's inspection.

Why?  Possession isn't illegal, operating them is the issue.

20 minutes ago, treetops said:

Really, at 10:00pm?

 

Isn't one of the normal restrictions, no flying at night?

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

After you...do please explain why you started it by posting that "this is a pathetic blanket law".

Just what I said - unnecessary for the whole county - please explain why people in (say) Phuket cannot fly a drone ?

5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Because it isn't.

Get you facts straight! Blatantly posting 3 No, just made a hit on the stupidity meter. 

Criticising his opinion in the manner that you did makes exactly the same hit on the stupidity meter

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

people are quick to criticise tourists for flying drones - but how are they supposed to know there's a blanket ban if that information isn’t clearly communicated or publicly accessible?

https://www.tatnews.org/2025/07/flying-a-drone-in-thailand-updated-guide-for-tourists/

Visitor Information

Flying a Drone in Thailand – Updated Guide for Tourists

Note: Flying is temporarily prohibited nationwide from 30 July to 15 August 2025, or until further notice.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5b0fa8daec09d6b0a510e435fcde6c5c059019a2d5bb7b0654ee9537efb24bf4?s=140&d=blank&r=g TAT Newsroom Send an email5 days ago

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https://www.tatnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Flying-a-Drone-in-Thailand-30July2025-1.jpg

🔴 Urgent Notice: Nationwide Drone Ban in Effect (30 July – 15 August 2025)

6 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Isn't one of the normal restrictions, no flying at night?

 

I think your right so the Swede should have been arrested even without the new rules.

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

Sorry but many 'tourists' have the necessary Thai license/insurance

don't think you are allowed to fly it above people.

5 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

It is illegal to take images by drone in Sweden, without the consent of the subjects.

No, it is not.  Operating a drone without a permit is, though.