WikipediaBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers are making a bipartisan push to regulate drones, an area where developing technology meets privacy concerns.
A number of proposals under consideration in the House and Senate would criminalize drone trespassing, outline surveillance and privacy laws and establish registration and licensing guidelines.
Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, said drones are "showing up on people's radar better now" as the technology has become cheaper and more accessible. Some hobbyists fly the unmanned aircraft, but people also use them in a number of industries from movie production to utility inspection.
Backers of the legislative proposals say creation of statewide drone regulations will secure public and private property. Most of the measures have met little resistance so far, though none have reached final passage.
CRIMINAL TRESPASS
Claitor tried unsuccessfully to enact drone regulations two years ago. He's back again this year with a two-pronged legislative approach.
One of his bills, approved by the Senate, would regulate drones under criminal trespassing law, making it illegal to fly a drone over someone else's property without permission. The measure awaits a House committee hearing.
Claitor's second proposal would ban flying drones over another person's property without permission, but it would also classify illegal drone trespassing or surveillance under criminal harassment, stalking, assault or battery definitions. That measure is scheduled for Senate committee debate Tuesday.
Sen. Bodi White, R-Baton Rouge, wants to make it illegal for drones to intentionally pass police tape or other law enforcement partitions, including the airspace around each. The Senate unanimously approved the measure, which awaits a House committee hearing.
SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY
A proposal by Rep. Marcus Hunter, D-Monroe, would make using a drone with an attached camera or video recording device to watch, photograph or film a person without consent illegal under Louisiana's invasion of privacy — or "peeping Tom" law. The bill sailed through the House and heads next to a Senate committee.
Rep. Stephen Dwight, R-Lake Charles, is taking a narrower approach. His proposal would ban drone use near schools, school property or correctional facilities. The proposal makes exceptions for police and situations where the landowner grants permission, such as recording football games at schools or universities that use the aircrafts for promotional purposes. The House-approved bill also awaits a Senate committee hearing.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES
Lawmakers have outlined criminal penalties for prohibited drone use.
Rep. James Armes, D-Leesville, has filed a proposal that would penalize illegal drone surveillance with a fine up to $500, a jail sentence up to six months or a combination of both.
REGISTRATION AND LICENSING
The Federal Aviation Administration already requires drone users to register their aircrafts, keep the systems in sight and avoid flying near airports. If lawmakers pass a bill from Rep. Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, people will have to pay registration and licensing fees when using the aircrafts for agricultural work. The House approved the proposal Monday, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
For Claitor, the systems aren't "a novelty anymore." But they can still command attention, like when Claitor recently hovered his drone on the Senate floor during voting: "They were disappointed I didn't fly it around more."