Drones Banned From 2 U.S. National Parks

Sick of seeing drones flying above the treetops, two U.S. national parks recently told visitors to leave their miniature remote-controlled aircraft at home.

Zion National Park in Utah told visitors Monday to keep the buzzing unmanned vehicles out of the park, as they had been disturbing everyone from hikers to herds of bighorn sheep. Photographers often use drones to take aerial pictures.

Yosemite National Park in northern California had earlier released a statement Friday complaining that drones had become a “daily sight” and sound in the park.

The parks have warned that visitors who continue to bring drones to the park would be in violation of a federal rule that bars unauthorized airplanes in the park. Violations could result in 6 months in jail or a $5,000 fine.

Critics, however, are saying that the parks are misinterpreting the rule which they claim only applies to manned aircraft.