A man who allegedly flew a drone in the High Peaks Wilderness in June is headed to court in Keene next month.

The man allegedly flew and landed a drone on June 17th near the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Johns Brook Outpost. The man was issued a ticket after the incident was observed by a forest ranger.

The ticket was first of its kind for operation of a drone on the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve. It alleges the individual operated motorized equipment within land classified as wilderness.

The ticket is a violation that carries potential fines up to $250 with a $75 surcharge to the court. Despite requests to the DEC, no further information was about the incident.

Drone usage in the Forest Preserve has become an issue of debate in recent months, in part because the DEC’s regulations don’t specifically address drone usage.

The DEC told the Almanack earlier this summer it is currently working on regulations that would address usage in the Forest Preserve. DEC says operation of drones are currently not allowed in primitive, wilderness and canoe areas.

Mike Lynch reported on drone usage on the Forest Preserve recently for the Adirondack Explorer.

Photo of drone by Mike Lynch.