I suppose it was only a matter of time… In the wake of growing public concern over privacy issues, state lawmakers are now considering new laws to regulate the use of unmanned aircraft systems (Drones) within their state.
Republican Del. Todd Gilbert, one of Virginia’s most conservative lawmakers, is working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and has recently announced plans to introduced new legislation into the 2013 General Assembly aimed at regulating the use of unmanned aerial drones within the State of Virginia. If passed, the law would require police to get a warrant before using drones. It would also impose public monitoring and accountability standards and require the destruction of any pictures acquired by drones unless they are part of an authorized investigation.
I strongly encourage all modelers to carefully watch for similar bills that may be introduced into your state legislature. Be especially watchful for language that could have a negative effect on model aviation or a consequential impact on the manufacturing, distribution or use of model aircraft. And please, keep your elected officials informed of any issue that may present unintended consequences for our hobby.
Rich Hanson
AMA Government and Regulatory Affairs
Click the link below to read the article posted on PilotOnline.com…
Va. lawmaker, ACLU say bill will regulate drones
While I agree that the feds and police don’t need to be flying around monitoring our activities and warrants are a good way to discourage abuse. The 4th amendment protects us from government intrusions. If a citizen finds incriminating evidence and turns it over to authorities that is completely legal, admissible and proper. Making criminals out of guys having fun with video and pictures from planes who happen upon something criminal is wrong. We will see where this goes. If the “drones” stay within the law enforcement category and don’t stray into our hobby, I am not super concerned. Scott Paschen, President Signalseekers R/C club, Westland MI Retired police officer
Issues about safety relating to unmanned aircraft flying over civilian populations are legitimate.
Blanket banning of photographs and videos are not.
Right to privacy is tenuous at best and our rights to record information when and as we choose except in the rare instance of violating specific government secrecy related locations are our only protection from institutional abuse.
If the government forbids us to acquire verifiable video information, who protects us from the government.
There are already states and police forces attempting to silence their own abuses relating to phone cameras by making them illegal.
If this is allowed to succeed we will become slaves without a voice.
Seems to me this used to be a free country. That being said many oppressive countries only allow free flight and U Control. Can GPS autopilots be miss used to guide weapons or do unmanned smuggling? Of course. Can fly through goggle lead to guidance systems for weapons? Of course. Unless the people you are really afraid of is we Americans such restrictions seem just plain wrong in a free society.
In regards to photography – what is the difference between me taking pictures while walking down the street or by flying my RC plane? The only difference in my feeble mind is the perspective from which the camera sees! So do I have distroy all the pictues I’ve taken without a warrant? Don’t think so!