Think of drones as flying red-light cameras and you'll see their future. Unlike present red light cameras that are installed at just a few heavily trafficked locations, drones allow violations to be recorded for going through a red light, stopping in a crosswalk, making a right turn without making a full stop first, on every corner in an entire community. And then allow fines to be generated in a very cost effective manner.

And that's just starters. Think of all the regulations on local government books, the minor infractions that could generate fines if only there were an economical way to get photographic proof who committed the infraction. There could then be countless fines for jay walking. Parking more than six inches from the curb, any curb. Drinking from a bottle not in a brown paper bag. Spitting. Littering. Not cleaning poop deposited by a dog. Leaving a garbage can with its top off on trash pick up days. Not shoveling your walk after a snowstorm. Not picking the leaves off the sidewalk in front of your house. The list goes on and on.

Drones can spot all such infractions, most of which were never enforced much less fined because it was too expensive for local governments to do so. Soon it will be both practical and cost effective.