"Proposed legislation regulating drone use in North Carolina would open the door for use of the unmanned aircraft by government agencies and for commercial flights once the Federal Aviation Administration allows them.
The draft legislation, approved unanimously Wednesday by the House Committee on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, includes proposed regulations that lawmakers said were intended to protect residents’ privacy, while at the same time allowing government agencies to use drones for legitimate purposes and putting North Carolina at the forefront of an emerging new industry.
Rep. John Torbett, a Gaston County Republican and co-chairman of the drone committee, said he expected the legislation to be considered in the General Assembly’s short session, which begins May 14.
“I hope the people that represent the citizens of North Carolina understand that there are remarkable job opportunities out there for growth,” Torbett told reporters after the committee meeting. “This is a new market. This is a relatively innovative, fresh market with unknown applications at this time.”
The legislation, if passed by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Pat McCrory, would make it a felony for a drone operator to damage or disrupt the operation of manned aircraft, such an an airplane or a helicopter. It also would be a felony to possess or use a drone with a weapon attached. And it would be a misdemeanor to use an unmanned aircraft while fishing or hunting.
Under the proposed legislation, it would be illegal to use a drone to conduct surveillance of a person or a residence without consent. It would also be illegal to photograph someone with a drone and publish photos without consent, unless the photos were taken at “newsworthy events or events to which the public is invited.” That language was inserted through an amendment by Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Guilford County Democrat, to ensure media outlets could photograph people partaking in public events.
The proposal would allow state and local law enforcement agencies to use drones for surveillance if they get warrants or if the surveillance wouldn’t require a warrant for a manned flight. Police also could use drones to counter possible terrorist attacks, prevent “imminent danger to life or serious damage to property” or the escape of a suspect, to search for a missing person and to photograph public gatherings on public or private land..."
Read rest of story here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/04/23/3805042/lawmakers-propose-law-regulating.html
Comments
I'm sure the FAA is drafting a letter and fine for this clearly unsafe, illegal, and blasphemous use of an unauthorized UAV that is totally against the "law".
I think that the Governor of North Carolina may need to focus a little bit more on Duke energy and the fact that they dumped 32 million gallons of coal ash in a towns river. Just because of lack of maintenance on a couple of drainage pipes. Oh the FBI is looking into his campaign and money given to him by Duke. Here is a link to a 3D rendering of a fly over a great example of how UAVs can be used.
http://youtu.be/3ecsAaQei2M
I'm a little perplexed by prohibiting photography of people unless it is a "newsworthy event to which the public is invited". I'm pretty sure they don't have the authority to stop me from taking pictures of people on public property, parks, the beach, the road, etc.