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HughPickens.com [hughpickens.com] writes:

Chris Baraniuk writes at BBC that Brian Bates, known in Oklahoma as the "Video Vigilante," is taking credit for Amanda Zolicoffer's conviction on a lewdness charge after being caught on Bates' drone mounted camera in a sex act [bbc.com] in a parked vehicle last year. Zolicoffer was sentenced to a year in state prison for the misdemeanor while the case against her alleged client, who was released following arrest in December, is still pending. "I'm sort of known in the Oklahoma City area," says Bates . "For the last 20 years I've used a video camera to document street-level and forced prostitution, and human trafficking." Bates runs a website where he publishes videos of alleged sex workers and their clients [johntv.com]. "I am openly referred to as a video vigilante, I don't really shy away from that," says Bates adding that the two individuals were inside a vehicle and the incident occurred away from other members of the public. The drone dropped to within a few feet of the vehicle where it filmed 75 year old Douglas Blansett astride Zolicoffer [mirror.co.uk] in the front seat of the white pickup truck. The duo separated after Zolicoffer, who was identified by her tattoo saying "Baby Gangster", saw the drone hovering overhead.

Some question if it's legal to operate a camera-equipped drone in Oklahoma City limits. Oklahoma City police say it is. "We have yet to see how this is going to play out, but at this time, there is no city ordinance against flying a drone," says Capt. Paco Balderrama, with the Oklahoma City Police Department. Bates believes his drone is a valuable tool, but he says he will only fly it as a last resort because piloting the aircraft takes his attention away from what's going on around him [kfor.com]. "I'd certainly caution other people who may be tempted to use drones to maybe fight drug activity or prostitution or gangs in their neighborhood," concludes Bates. "If one thing goes wrong, you will probably be the person facing criminal charges or civil liability."

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