Removes Sunset of Existing Law With No Operational Changes

The privacy of citizens and the infringement of that privacy is an important consideration in the use of drones for surveillance by law enforcement.

Police departments around the country have used drones for several years and in many cases a court warrant is required. However there are specific circumstances when they may not be. These are generally when time is of the essence and include, for example, hostage situations, missing persons, escaped fugitives, and responses to a natural disaster.

Tennessee’s new law does not make any operational changes to the existing law but simply makes permanent the ability for law enforcement to use drones without a warrant in certain investigations. Police will still be required to obtain court-ordered warrants for the same situations as they currently are.

Police work can be dangerous but those involved know that drone and other technology can minimize the exposure of law enforcement personnel by creating a physical buffer between them and dangerous criminals. 

If a drone gets shot down by a criminal it can be easily replaced. “It is a tool that allows us to have an extra set of eyes in certain situations,” said Lt. Michael Foster of the Spring Hill Police Department.

“What this is simply doing is removing the sunset for the use of drones under the current parameters that are already defined by law,” Representative John Gillespie (R-Memphis) said on the House floor.

“If a drone gets shot down, we can replace a drone,” Lieutenant Michael Foster with the Spring Hill Police Department said. “But if an officer gets shot, then that’s a whole different story.” 

FMI:  www.capitol.tn.gov/