Drone operators can no longer fly their unmanned aerial vehicles near certain national landmarks under a new ban implemented by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

The new restrictions, which take effect Oct. 5, ban drone flights within 400 feet of national monuments, including the Statue of Liberty; Boston National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Folsom Dam and Shasta dams in California, Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, Hoover Dam in Nevada, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in Missouri, and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Drone operators who “violate the airspace restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges,” the FAA said in a statement. But the agency noted that exemptions can be granted when “coordinated with the individual facility and/or the FAA.”

The FAA has previously banned drone flights near military installations and airports, while the National Parks Service banned drone flights, without authorization, in national parks back in 2014.

While the FAA did not say why it had made the decision to restrict drone usage around national landmarks, it may be related to concerns about how drones could be used. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said last week that he was fearful drones could be used in terrorist attacks. National landmarks would naturally be an appealing target for terrorists, albeit with the exception of the dams, primarily symbolic ones.

The FAA and FBI are not alone in their concern that drones could be utilized for nefarious purposes. The White House proposed a law in May that would allow law enforcement agents to track, seize control of and use force to destroy any unmanned aircraft it determines may pose a security threat to an area designated for special protection.

Photo: National Parks Service