Says Public Safety Is Her Main Focus

Nebraska State Senator Carol Blood has proposed what might be the nation's most comprehensive drone law in the name of "public safety".

Nebraska is one of the few remaining states where no such overarching laws are in effect, but Blood hopes to change that. She told the Omaha World-Herald that her goal is "not to make unnecessary restrictions and regulations that take away from being a drone owner. My goal for this bill is public safety.”

The bill would make operating a drone less than 300 feet above private property without the permission of a property owner second-degree trespassing. It would be illegal to use a drone to "spy" or "peep" on people where they have a "reasonable expectation of privacy".

Also included in the proposed legislation; sex offenders would be prohibited from using drones to commit "unmanned aircraft harassment"; flight at less than 300 feet above "critical infrastructure" or schools would be banned; and UAVs could not be used to achieve a competitive advantage in hunting or to harass or scare livestock.

The normal exceptions that are found in most such laws for law enforcement would be included, but authorities would have to show probable cause or a warrant would be required to gather evidence in a crime.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation, which has a aeronautics division, had no comment on the proposed legislation.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report