As Dream Cruise revs up, Bouchard warns against drone use, urges caution

By Owen McCarthy, Medianews Group

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard warns in opposition to unsafe use of drones by hobbyists throughout this weekend’s Woodward Dream Cruise, after “points” legislation enforcement have seen with them in recent times.

Throughout a press convention on Thursday afternoon on the Sheriff workplace in Pontiac, Bouchard mentioned, though using drones to report movies from the Dream Cruise is a “enjoyable passion” for a lot of, they’ll type security dangers.

As such, Bouchard was inspired to stick to the federal legal guidelines that require drones to be flew on not more than 400 ft. Throughout final 12 months’s dream cruise, he mentioned some drones flew as much as 1500 ft.

“Every part you’ll be able to think about will probably be there,” mentioned Bouchard. “Cameras, drones, helicopters, canine, vehicles, bikes, horses, bicycles, pedestrian controls.”

1000’s are anticipated to descend on Oakland County within the coming days for the Dream Cruise, an annual summer season prings case of classic vehicles. Invoiced as the most important one-day automotive occasion in North America, marks its thirtieth birthday on Saturday.

Bouchard additionally repeated the federal legal guidelines that require drones to stay in sight of the operator and that they aren’t flown over giant crowds. Bouchard suggested individuals with drones on buildings alongside the dream cruiser route, in order that it falls on a roof as a substitute of individuals.

Though it isn’t a authorized requirement, Bouchard requested that individuals fly drones round 200 ft, to stop the drones from being disturbed of legislation enforcement, used to comply with crowds and retain “situational consciousness” alongside the 20-Mile Dream Cruise route.

A brand new strategy that may comply with the legislation enforcement this 12 months is the creation of a “multi-agency” middle that will probably be situated in Royal Oak through the cruise. Bouchard mentioned that the assorted businesses concerned have all the time had ‘nice communication’, however ‘not essentially all in the identical place’.

The middle will permit communication ‘seamless’, he mentioned.

Though the occasion generally is a “problem for the police” as a result of it contains 9 communities of Oakland County, Bouchard mentioned that legislation enforcement has been drawn up due to higher coordination between businesses and the truth that the police have been coping with the occasion for 30 years now.

“It is sort of a ballet,” he mentioned, including that a lot of legislation enforcement stays on the intersections alongside Woodward to clear the street for emergency autos in case they need to cross the busy street.

For spectators, Bouchard urged individuals to restrict alcohol consumption and for members to chorus from doing burn -outs.

A few years in the past Bouchard mentioned {that a} driver was tempted by the Dream Cruise to do a burnout by spectators. The driving force was mistaken, misplaced management on the left, “hit the curb and turns round.” If the automobile had been to lose management on the correct, “individuals would have died.”

“This isn’t a spot to indicate off the chances of your automobile,” he mentioned. “It’s a place to indicate how stunning it’s, and the way a lot work you place in and have a pleasant day.”

Initially printed: August 14, 2025 at 4.09 pm Edt