Drone story update January 28, 2025

NJ drones ‘were authorized to be flown by FAA for research,’ Donald Trump says

The mysterious drones that captivated New Jersey late last year were not enemy craft, but instead were authorized by the FAA, President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday.

The statement raises numerous questions about why the FBI and law enforcement officers did not know and were not advised that the flights had been authorized by the FAA, or why the FAA did not acknowledge that they had authorized the drone flights.

Read It Here

Previous story – Dec 2024

Jersey cops launched into the night sky with catapults to throw dreamcatchers at the unknown drones to entangle their props and bring em down! Just kidding – I think.

Darrr.. What drones? Those drones pose no threat there are no drones. That’s just a balloon, Everything is secure.

Dec. 14, 2024

Right now, the FBI, DHS, FAA and DOD have been unable to determine who is responsible for flying the drones, and there’s no indication that there are adversary nations involved.

“To date, we have no intelligence or observations that would indicate that they were aligned with a foreign actor or that they had malicious intent,” the spokesperson said. “But … we don’t know. We have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin.”

“The main point is to deter the activity using some of our electronic means that can respond to most of these small commercial systems and deny them access to the airspace over our bases,” the spokesperson said. “We don’t know what the activity is. We don’t know … if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is irresponsible. Here on the military side, we are just as frustrated with the irresponsible nature of this activity.”

US Department of Defense News

Darrrrr

National Security Concerns

Flying drones near airports, military bases, or other restricted areas can lead to immediate police action. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has strict rules about no-fly zones, and Michigan police will work with federal authorities to confiscate drones that pose a national security risk. Just like in New Jersey, New York, Florida, California and Nevada.

Flying a Drone

Do I Need to Be Licensed?

If you’re flying a drone for commercial purposes, you must have an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. To get this, you’ll need to pass a knowledge test administered by the FAA.

If you’re flying for recreational purposes, you don’t need a license, but you must follow FAA safety guidelines, including flying below 400 feet and keeping the drone within your line of sight.

Do FAA Laws Supersede Local Laws?

Yes, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laws take precedence over state or local drone regulations.

This means that federal rules about airspace, drone registration, and licensing apply across the country, including Michigan. However, local laws that don’t conflict with FAA rules—like those concerning privacy or property—can still apply.

Michigan State Laws:

In Michigan, there are no separate state registration requirements for drones beyond the FAA’s regulations. However, local ordinances may still apply, particularly regarding where you can fly the drone, so it’s important to check local rules.

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Here we go…

Minimum wage

Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act – Michigan’s minimum wage will increase twice during 2025, per a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the standard minimum wage rate in Michigan will increase from $10.33 to $10.56 per hour.

Those under the age of of 18 will also see an increase, from $8.78 to $8.98 per hour. Minors are required by law to be paid 85% of the minimum hourly wage rate.

Tipped employees rate of hourly pay will go from $3.93 to $4.01 per hour.

The Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, Public Act 337 of 2018 (PDF)

MCL – Section 408.934.amended
408.934.amended Minimum hourly wage rate. Effective 2/21/25

MCL – Section 408.934a.amended
Compensation for workweek in excess of 40 hours; exceptions; rules; unpaid minimum wages; appropriation; compensatory time in lieu of monetary overtime compensation.

– Don’t spend it all in one place.

Earned Sick Time Act

Because everyone is sick…sometimes

The Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) in Michigan will take effect on February 21, 2025. The law applies to all Michigan employers, regardless of size, and requires them to provide paid sick leave to their employees

Applies to all employers in Michigan with 1 or more employees, except for those  employed by the United States Government. Includes salaried (both exempt and non-exempt) and full and part-time hourly workers.

Accrual rate: Employees will earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Minimum sick leave: Businesses with fewer than 10 employees must offer up to 40 hours of paid sick leave, while businesses with 10 or more employees must offer 72 hours.

Carryover: Earned sick time must carry over from year to year.
Use: Employees can use sick leave for themselves, their family members, or for certain public health emergencies. They can also use it for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking-related purposes.

Read more on your own time.

Car Safety Restraints

House Bill 4511 makes changes to the existing Michigan vehicle code to align state laws regarding child safety restraints with current federal law.

Under this new law children 12 or younger are required to be in a rear seat of the vehicle; there are also updated requirements base on age and height.

Get out there and buy a $400 car seat for that 12 year old.

Automatic Voter Registration

Beginning June 30, 2025 the Michigan Secretary of State will automatically register any person who applies for a license or ID card who is eligible to register to vote.

The S.O.S. will then send that applicant a notice of registration, including instructions on how to decline that registration should they so choose.

Just like the Automatic State Park Fee.  Here we go again. Michigan eyes hunting, fishing, boating fee increases, change to park fees

Opt out -The new grift.  Fighting to get your money back while they harvest interest on the millions of drivers who automatically paid and want the money back. The perfect hustle. Leave it up to the Government. Just like guilty until you’ve paid thousands to prove innocence and it’s still on your record for the public to find.

How To Find Out If Someone Voted In Michigan?

Driving Under the Speed Limit

We all get irritated with overly slow drivers from time to time, especially on Orchard Lake Road. But is what they’re doing against the law?

It sure is. If you happen to be ticketed for it, you could face a fine of anywhere from $35 to $500.

Read More – 257.627 Speed limits (PDF)

Flashing Your Headlights

This is one of those “it depends” situations.

Michigan law states that it’s illegal to use or flash your high beams within 500 feet of another vehicle. It’s unlikely that you’ll be ticketed for doing it, but it could happen.

Or to warn other drivers of a speed trap…

Drivers must use a distribution of light that’s high enough and intense enough to see people and vehicles at a safe distance. When approaching an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, drivers must aim their lights so that the glaring rays don’t go into the other driver’s eyes.

Here’s the Law – MCL 257.700

The violation, which is considered a civil infraction, will carry a 2-point penalty for “improper use of lights/failure to dim.

Now let’s talk about those “low beam” LED headlights where you have to just grip the steering wheel and go blindly forward.

The Police took your cellphone – Now what?

After your arrest, you arrive at the police station where you go through the booking process, and your cellphone is taken from you. Once you are released, your cellphone is returned to you in a plastic bag. What just happened?

Well your data on your phone, SIM, SD card if relevant, could have been reviewed or copied or not.

Although it’s not easy to get past the password, fingerprint or face security features, it’s possible they let you make a call and saw your passcode or you asked to make a call while you were in cuffs and they held the phone up to your face or used your finger. 

They then kept the phone awake after that.  Simple tricks.  They may even ask you if you want to make a call so they can do that.

The SIM Card

The SIM card holds little information in smartphones but still has your phone number and other unique numbers that identify it.

Police may use that info to track the location of the SIM card.

Some phones may lack SIM cards or the ability to access them, while others may manage all their data directly on the circuit board, with software modifications. It all depends on issuer, make and model.

The SD card

Your SD card if your phone has a place for it, may contain your photos, videos, texts, data, files and other user content.

This data could play a crucial role in building an extensive personal profile of you while also emphasizing any interactions with other people you may encounter who could inadvertently be classified as individuals of interest.

These tactics can be utilized with minimal justification, to create a rationale for surveillance on you or your contacts in the near future as with anything they find on your phone.

Read More Here

What are your rights?

Your rights, laws, and protections may vary based on the specifics of your arrest and how your mobile device was seized.

You have the right to refuse a warrantless search of your cellphone. If you find yourself under arrest or in police custody, it is important to clearly articulate that you do not consent to the search of your devices..

A law enforcement agency is authorized to perform a search of your device without a warrant only when it can sufficiently prove that a pressing emergency situation exists. Which shouldn’t be that difficult of a story to make up.

If you are the victim of an unlawful search by Law Enforcement you will have to put up a fight:

If evidence obtained from an unlawful search of your cellphone or electronic device is being used against you in a criminal case, Your attorney should file a motion to suppress that evidence based on 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

If evidence obtained from the warrantless or nonconsensual search of your device is not presented against you in a criminal case, you may be entitled to pursue a lawsuit for damages as permitted by Section 1983 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code.

Title 42, Section 1983, of the United States Code is a procedural vehicle by which one whose federal statutory or constitutional rights have been violated can bring an action against state “actors” who commit these violations “under color of law.”

Section 1983 actions include suits over freedom of speech, search and seizure, excessive force, cruel and unusual punishment, and due process violations.

How are bullying and cyberbullying defined in Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations?

Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations include the following definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:

“Bullying” means any written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication, including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

(i)  Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.

(ii)  Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.

(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.

(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

“Cyberbullying” means any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm 1 or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

(i)  Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.

(ii)  Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.

(iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental health.

(iv) Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 380.1310b (2016)

Do Michigan anti-bullying laws and regulations encourage or require districts to provide safeguards or mental health supports for students involved with bullying?

No. 

Read More Here

Which Michigan state laws and regulations cover bullying?

• Michigan Compiled Laws §380.1310b. Policy prohibiting bullying; adoption and implementation; public hearing; submission of policy to department; contents of policy; annual report of incidents of bullying; form and procedure; school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or parent or guardian reporting act of bullying to school official; modified policy; definitions; section to be known as “Matt Epling Safe School Law.”
• Michigan Compiled Laws §380.1310c. Restorative practices as alternative or in addition to suspension or expulsion; definitions
• Michigan Compiled Laws §388.1631a. Allocations to eligible districts and eligible public school academies; proficiencies; funding eligibility; early literacy and numeracy; multi-tiered system of supports; weighted foundation per-pupil payment for economically disadvantaged pupils; school breakfast program; primary health care services; hearing and vision screenings; report; audit; implementation of schoolwide reform in schools with at-risk pupils; research-based professional development; instructional or behavioral coaches; prorated payments; dissolved district; anti-bullying or crisis intervention program; assignment of Pathways to Potential Success coaches; definitions
• Michigan Compiled Laws §750.411t. Hazing prohibited; violation; penalty; exceptions; certain defenses barred; definitions; section title.

Read More Here

Definition of Bullying

In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Education released the first federal definition of bullying. The definition includes three core elements:

• unwanted aggressive behavior
• observed or perceived power imbalance
• repetition or high likelihood of repetition of bullying behaviors

This definition helps determine whether an incident is bullying or another type of aggressive behavior or both.

Research on Bullying

Bullying prevention is a growing research field that investigates the complexities and consequences of bullying. Important areas for more research include:

• Prevalence of bullying in schools
• Prevalence of cyberbullying in online spaces
• How bullying affects people
• Risk factors for people who are bullied, people who bully others, or both
• How to prevent bullying
• How media and media coverage affects bullying

What We’ve Learned about Bullying

• Bullying affects all youth, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying. The effects of bullying may continue into adulthood.
• There is not a single profile of a young person involved in bullying. Youth who bully can be either well connected socially or marginalized, and may be bullied by others as well. Similarly, those who are bullied sometimes bully others.
• Solutions to bullying are not simple. Bullying prevention approaches that show the most promise confront the problem from many angles. They involve the entire school community—students, families, administrators, teachers, and staff such as bus drivers, nurses, cafeteria and front office staff—in creating a culture of respect. Zero tolerance and expulsion are not effective approaches.
• Bystanders, or those who see bullying, can make a huge difference when they intervene on behalf of someone being bullied.
• Studies also have shown that adults can help prevent bullying by talking to children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, modeling kindness and respect, and seeking help.

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