An Act Concerning The Use Of An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
If enacted, HB 6195 will have significant implications for state laws regulating privacy and public safety. It clarifies that invading a person's privacy through UAVs classifies as a tort, enhancing legal protections for individuals against unauthorized surveillance. Furthermore, the bill places strict limits on law enforcement's use of drones, stipulating retention and destruction policies for information gathered through drone surveillance, thus reinforcing the safeguards surrounding personal data and privacy.
House Bill 6195 seeks to amend existing state laws concerning the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones. The bill aims to clarify the application of all current criminal and tort laws to actions relating to UAVs, thus incorporating them into the legal framework governing unlawful uses of technology. Notably, the bill establishes specific prohibitions against weaponizing drones and incorporates new stipulations regarding privacy and surveillance when UAVs are used to collect imagery.
The bill also explicitly prohibits municipalities and state agencies from enacting their own regulations concerning UAVs, thereby centralizing regulation at the federal level. This has raised points of contention among local governments, which may feel that such a restriction undermines their ability to address specific local issues related to UAV use. Critics argue that this could lead to a lack of adequate local oversight and regulation, particularly in urban areas where UAV usage might be more prevalent and intrusive.