Drones over New Jersey: A month later, what we know.

More than a month has passed since mysterious drones began appearing over New Jersey.

Since then, there has been social media infatuation, pleas for federal transparency and an official ban of drones in a number of South Jersey communities.

Here’s what we know so far.

On Dec. 18, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions for a number of communities, including Camden, Evesham, Westampton, Burlington and more.

The restrictions were implemented for “Special Security Reasons” and are to last through Jan. 17.

Pilots breaking the ban may be intercepted, detained and interviewed. The federal government has stated that it’s also willing to shoot down drones.

The ban included the following South Jersey communities:

• Gloucester City.

• Westampton.

• Burlington.

• Hancock’s Bridge.

The FBI in Newark and New Jersey State Police reminded residents not to aim laser pointers or guns at suspected drones in a press release Dec. 16.

“There could be dangerous and possible deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly as (drones),” the press release said.

Since Dec. 7, there have been 15 lasing incidents of military aircrafts assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a spokesperson for the Burlington County base said Dec. 18. One pilot also received medical care after landing and is in good condition.

According to the base spokesperson, lasing incidents during flight “pose a significant danger to pilots and the safety of flight operations.”

Though Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst said there was no connection between the lasing incidents and the ongoing complaints of drones in the South Jersey area, the spokesperson asked for citizens to follow the FAA guidelines to ensure aircrew, passenger and community safety.

Numerous lawmakers and state representatives, including Gov. Phil Murphy, have issued statements and letters requesting more transparency from federal agencies investigating the drones.

“While I am sincerely grateful for your administration’s leadership in addressing this concerning issue, it has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity,” Murphy wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden on Dec. 12.

On the same day, New Jersey Senate Republicans urged Murphy to not only insist transparency from federal agencies working to identify where these drones are coming from, but to ensure the ability to strike drones from the skies.

“You must insist that the Biden Administration immediately provide the necessary tools and resources to protect our state — including the authority to neutralize any drone that poses a threat to our residents,” the letter read in part.

State Sen. Nick Scutari (D-Union), president of New Jersey Senate Democrats, also addressed federal officials a day earlier.

“I urge the White House to direct all relevant federal authorities to use their resources to gather as much information as possible and then provide the public with a full accounting,” Scutari wrote.

Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@gannett.com. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Drones over New Jersey banned: FAA. Is it illegal to shoot drones? Yes

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel