From Malay Mail · · 1m 20s
Beijing is about to make drones illegal to own
From November 15, keeping a drone anywhere inside Beijing city limits becomes grounds for confiscation and fines.
In brief
From November 15, keeping a drone anywhere inside Beijing city limits becomes grounds for confiscation and fines. Beijing is moving from restricting drone flights to banning the devices themselves, with a hard deadline of November 15. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
Owning a drone becomes illegal
From November 15, Beijing bans possessing and storing drones anywhere inside the city. The municipal government announced the rules on September 13.
“Beijing will ban the possession and storage of drones within the city from November 15”
Flights and parts too
The regulations also ban drone flights in the capital's airspace and block bringing drones or their components into the city at all.
A crash changed the mood
Airspace worries spiked in June when a small aircraft hit Beijing's tallest skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 people.
The ratchet started in May
Drone sales were already banned in Beijing from May. Owners had to register their devices, but they were still allowed to keep them.
Dispose or lose it
Owners must scrap their drones or move them out of Beijing by November 15 or face confiscation and fines. The city is offering subsidies, buy-back channels and free shipping.
Narrow exits remain
Exemptions may be granted for counter-terrorism, agriculture, disaster relief and research. Everyone else has two months to comply.
At a glance
Beijing is moving from restricting drone flights to banning the devices themselves, with a hard deadline of November 15.
