DRONES NOT ALLOWED IN YOUR CAR TO GO INTO HOOVER DAM.
Today on my way to Vegas, I decided to stop at Hoover Dam. Got to the security gate and the guy asked me, do you have a drone in your car? I said yes. He called over to another security guy and shouted "Security check at gate 2." He then asked me to go to gate 2. I went there an the security guard asked me to get out of the car and open the trunk of my car. These guys all have guns.
I opened my car and he even asked me to open the big tote I have and he stretched to look inside. Then he said ok, everything looks good. So, I go to get into my car and I hear that security guard scream, "He has a drone!" It sounded like he was screaming I had a gun! I was shocked. Well, next thing I know, the security guard next to me said Sorry sir we, we cannot let you have access to the Dam because you have a drone with you. I said, "What?" He said new rules require them to not allow any drone get into the dam. I told him I am not flying the drone at the Dam. It is in its case locked up in the car. He said, it is not a matter of flying it. We just do not allow any drone to get into the park. So, you need to turn around and leave. You can come back any time as long as you are not carrying a drone.
I explained to him that I am just arriving from Texas and on my way to Vegas. So, how would I know to not have a drone in my car when there is no notice outside the park as I drove into the park? Then I asked if I could get a copy of where that is said on their website for people to know. He said it is somewhere on their website and I should go search for it.
Ok, I was done at this point and I said "No problem, I will leave." I made a u-turn and left the park.
I got to the visitor center and told them about this and asked if I could speak to someone to see if this information is written anywhere so visitors can know before coming to Hoover Dam. I mean, if you are on a road trip going to use your drone offroading in some back roads, it means you cannot even have the drone in your car and get into Hoover Dam. So, would be nice if the have this information to share.
well, I got a number to call and got customer service who transferred me to someone in security. He said he was in charge of security. I told him what just happened and asked if that was true. He said yes. Then I said I really did not know and wanted to know if there is a link to their website to read this so I can be well informed for next time and tell friends too for next time. He said it is somewhere on their website. Well, I had taken a few minutes to look at their website to find the information but could not find it. I told him I did not find it when I looked, so can he please direct me to the correct link? He said I should go on the website (US Bureau of Reclamation) and look for it or go on the hoover dam website and look for it also. That he does not have time to look for it. So, I said can they please print out that information on paper and have it at the gate so they can give it out to people like me who just found out about that rue today? He did not respond to that and just said that is all he could do for me now. That was it.
That is something I have never heard before.
The only picture I could get was at the outlook.
