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As Dream Cruise revs up, Bouchard warns against drone use, urges caution
By Owen McCarthy, MediaNews Group
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard is cautioning against unsafe usage of drones by hobbyists at this weekend’s Woodward Dream Cruise, following “issues” law enforcement have seen with them in recent years.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Sheriff’s Office in Pontiac, Bouchard said that though using drones to record videos of the Dream Cruise is a “fun hobby” for many, they can pose safety risks.
As such, Bouchard urged people to adhere to federal laws mandating drones are flown at no higher than 400 feet. At last year’s Dream Cruise, he said some drones were flying as high as 1,500 feet.
“Everything you can imagine will be out there,” Bouchard said. “Cameras, drones, helicopters, dogs, cars, motorcycles, horses, bikes, pedestrian controls.”
Thousands are expected to descend on Oakland County over the next few days for the Dream Cruise, an annual summer showcase of vintage cars. Billed as the largest one-day automotive event in North America, Saturday marks its 30th anniversary.
Bouchard also reiterated federal laws requiring that drones remain in the operator’s line of sight and that they aren’t flown over large crowds. Bouchard recommended people fly drones over buildings lining the Dream Cruise route, so that if it malfunctions, it falls on a roof rather than people.
Though it’s not a legal requirement, Bouchard requested that people fly drones around 200 feet, so as to avoid interfering with the law enforcement’s drones, used to monitor crowds and maintain “situational awareness” along the 20-mile Dream Cruise route.
One new approach law enforcement will be taking this year is the creation of a “multi-agency” center that will be based in Royal Oak during the cruise. Bouchard said the different agencies involved have always had “great communication,” but “not necessarily all in the same spot.”
The center will allow the communication to be “seamless,” he said.
Though the event can be a “challenge to police” because it includes nine Oakland County communities, Bouchard said law enforcement is prepared because of better coordination among agencies and the fact that police have been handling the event now for 30 years.
“It’s like a ballet,” he said, adding that some law enforcement stay posted at intersections along Woodward to clear the way for emergency vehicles in the event they need to cross the busy road.
For spectators, Bouchard urged people to limit alcohol consumption, and for participants to refrain from doing burnouts.
Many years ago, Bouchard said a driver at the Dream Cruise was tempted to do a burnout by spectators. The driver erred, lost control to the left, “hit the curb and flipped.” If the car lost control to the right, “people would have died.”
“This is not a place to show off your car’s capabilities,” he said. “It’s a place to show off how pretty it is, and how much work you put into it, and have a fun day.”
