Sabha, Tamer
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Yadi
Thursday, August 28, 2025 10:1 1 AM
PublicComment-AutoResponse; Sabha, Tamer
Public Comment - Pasadena Public Safety Committee Meeting 08/28/25 Public Comment - Pasadena Public Safety Committee 08-28-25 Fireworks Drones.pdf Follow up
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Hi,
Please find attached my public comment for the August 28, 2025 Pasadena PSC Special Meeting, agenda item 1. Fire Department fireworks drone enforcement.
Thanks,
Yadi
(Attachments: 1;
1. Pasadena Fire Department Fireworks Prohibition Enforcement Drones I sincerely hope this proposal to address illegal fireworks with drones is part of the initial brainstorming phase and that drones are just one of several proposed enforcement options.
Being an Eaton Fire survivor and having a strong interest in fire safety, I will hold my optimism that the Pasadena Fire Department will be thoughtful and careful in their considerations about brining in technology by taking into consideration safety and security concerns, including, but not limited to privacy implications.
Pasadena does not clearly state its objective or the mechanics of a drone enforcement program
Is it to stop all fireworks or generate revenue through fines? A handful of other cities in the state recently used drones to issue citations for illegal use of fireworks. However, many cities were not clear and up front about their objective, or that drones would be used for enforcement.
Moreover, having the Fire Department present on drones as enforcement comes across a bit disingenuous if they are not going to be the ones actually issuing citations. Is PFD going to purchase, maintain and use these drones exclusively, or will PPD or another city enforcement entity?
Pasadena does not evaluate technology on merit or efficacy I am against the use of drones as it is a massive invasion of privacy and the evidence does not support arguments that benefits outweigh costs .However, Pasadena has the opportunity to let the evidence speak for itself by establishing a robust pilot program if it is interested in exploringthe use of drones for enforcement. There are countless examples of government technology pilot programs such as:
AB 270 (Petrie-Norris) CalFire autonomous firefighting helicopter pilot1 AB 645 (Friedman) California automated speed camera pilot2 SB 1079 (Portantino) California Highway Patrol noise detection pilot3 Pasadena has a habit of purchase first, policy later (without public input) Pasadena leadership has a track record of bypassing community input or buy-in by allowing several large technology purchases (many high dollar value surveillance tools) without first establishing parameters for the use of these technologies. Even when the public stated thatpolicy was required by law prior to purchase a la cell site simulator. There are no public assurances that drones won't be misused or loaned out to other departments for uses aside from firework enforcement.
Will a use policy be established prior to the deployment of drones as other sensible entities like the Altadena Search and Rescue have done?4
Firework drone enforcement is usually conducted by the police department 4 lhttps://leainfo.leciislature^a.c(QV/faces/biljNavClient,xhtm]?bilL id=202520260AB270 2httDS://leainfo.legislature.ca.aov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill id=202320240AB645 3httDS://leainfo.leaislature.ca.aov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill id=202120220SB1079 https://pars.lasd.orgA^iewer/Manuals/15944/Content/21406
1. Pasadena Fire Department Fireworks Prohibition Enforcement Drones Pasadena needs to be clear and transparent with the public about who will actually be doing the enforcement...why are they not part of this presentation and conversation? Other cities purposely avoided telling the public that drones were going to be used for enforcement.
In Sacramento, "law enforcement was driving around in unmarked vehicles and flvina drones"5 unbeknownst to the public. That's an unfair gotcha.
Other cities have issues hefty fines for illegal fireworks, and efficacy is uncertain, so is this actually about revenue?
It was reported that some cities viewed the issuance of citations as a "success". Based on the fine structure, the average fine issued is several thousand dollars. In one city, a single person was issued a $100,000 fine.6
Other reporting shows cities boasting about the increase in fines issued in just one year.7 Is the point to issue more fines every year or deter the use of illegal fireworks? Because drones helped with the former but not the latter.
Sacramento Fire Department Captain said "A lot of people are going to be wildly surprised when they get massive fines in the mail".8 Is Pasadena ready to deal with the collection of these large fines and the fallout of people being hit with these hefty fines who were unaware of drone use?
Will Pasadena use DJI drones despite their security concerns? Many law enforcement agencies have been adamant about their desire to use DJI drones because they're "cheap" like Shein products and that there's no better US alternative. I am amazed that public safety agencies are willing to undermine national security, public safety and our privacy for cheap goods they can just throw away every couple of years - especially in this political climate. The facts show that agencies that follow this logic end up purchasing higher volume of drones because they are so cheap. So not really a cost savings to the public. Not all agencies are jumping on the CCP drones bandwagon, as US Capitol police and the Department of Defense have prohibited the purchase and use of CCP drones like DJI.10 Yadi
Pasadena Public Safety Committee
August 28,2025
1. Pasadena Fire Department Fireworks Prohibition Enforcement Drones 5 6
7 https://fox40.com/news/local-news/northern-california-residents-to-be-wildly-surprised-by-massive-illegal-fireworks- fines-in-the-mail/
https://www.kcra.com/article/elk-grove-100k-fine-4th-of-july-illegal-fireworks/62012193 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/more-drones-for-illegal-fireworks-enforcement-results-in-330000-in-fmes-elk- grove-officials-say/ar-AAUGpQI
8 https://fox40.com/news/local-news/northern-california-residents-to-be-wildly-surprised-by-massive-illegal-fireworks- fines-in-the-mail/
9 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/capitol-police-stops-using-chinese-made-drones-pushback-rcna87491 10 https://www.diu.mi^lue-uas-cleared-list