City controlled airspace?

On Apr 18, 8:34 am, Dallas wrote:
I stumbled upon the Aircraft and Airports section of the Dallas City Codes
and found a whole new layer of regulations I never knew about.


Not unusual. Some cities have even tried to enforce their own
aviation related ordinances. Several years ago, the city of Mesa, AZ
enacted an ordinace prohibiting flight over the city below 1,000 ft.
(except for takeoff and landing). They went so far as to have their
police helicopters chase down suspects and issue tickets on the ramp.
Many complained, but the FAA didn't show any interest in getting
involved. Eventually, local pressure ended the enforcement (i.e.
don't airborne cops have anything better to do than waste fuel chasing
errant Cessnas?), but the ordinance is still on the books.

Also, several years ago, the city of Las Cruces, NM enacted an
ordinance that required pilots to make radio calls in the pattern at
the (untowered) municipal airport. Again, the FAA showed no interest
in getting involved. The ordinance was the brainchild of the local
(former pilot) airport manager who thought the local pilots needed
some incentive to do things "the right way" (i.e. his way). This
one was eventually repealed when a high profile local citizen and
pilot appeared before the city council and convinced them that the
ordinance made them look like idiots to the aviation community.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

John Galban writes:

Not unusual. Some cities have even tried to enforce their own
aviation related ordinances. Several years ago, the city of Mesa, AZ
enacted an ordinace prohibiting flight over the city below 1,000 ft.
(except for takeoff and landing).

That is already prohibited by the FARs for the most part. Who was flying over
the city below 1000 feet?

They went so far as to have their
police helicopters chase down suspects and issue tickets on the ramp.
Many complained, but the FAA didn't show any interest in getting
involved. Eventually, local pressure ended the enforcement (i.e.
don't airborne cops have anything better to do than waste fuel chasing
errant Cessnas?), but the ordinance is still on the books.

Were the suspects in question convicted, and did they have to pay fines?

It's also illegal to wear jeans in Mesa, but that isn't enforced much, either.

Rarely-enforced and stupid laws enable the development of a police state.

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