HLS 24RS-488 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 167
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
CRIME: Provides relative to penalties for unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 14:337(A) and (E), relative to the unlawful use of an unmanned
3 aircraft system; to provide relative to the forfeiture of an unmanned aircraft system;
4 and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:337(A) and (E) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7follows:
8 ยง337. Unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system
9 A.(1) Unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system is either of the
10 following:
11 (1)(a) The intentional use of an unmanned aircraft system to conduct
12 surveillance of, gather evidence or collect information about, or photographically or
13 electronically record a targeted facility without the prior written consent of the owner
14 of the targeted facility.
15 (2)(b) The intentional use of an unmanned aircraft system over the grounds
16 of a the governor's mansion, state or local jail, prison, or other correctional facility
17 that incarcerates or detains juveniles or adults accused of, convicted of, sentenced
18 for, or adjudicated delinquent for violations of criminal law without the express
19 written consent of the person in charge of that state building, state or local jail,
20 prison, or other correctional facility.
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HB NO. 167
1 (2) The unmanned aircraft system shall be seized by a law enforcement
2 officer in the course of arrest or issuance of summons or shall be seized by order of
3 court pursuant to other provisions of law.
4 * * *
5 E.(1) Whoever commits the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft
6 system as provided in Paragraph Subparagraph (A)(1)(a) of this Section shall be
7 fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six
8 months, or both.
9 (2) On a conviction for a second or subsequent offense as provided in
10 Paragraph Subparagraph (A)(1)(a) of this Section, the offender shall be fined not less
11 than five hundred dollars nor more than four thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with
12 or without hard labor, for not less than six months nor more than two years, or both.
13 In addition to the sentence imposed pursuant to this Paragraph, the court shall order
14 the forfeiture of the unmanned aircraft system used in connection with the offense
15 and provide for the destruction, sale, or other disposition of the unmanned aircraft
16 system.
17 (3) Whoever commits the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft
18 system as provided in Paragraph Subparagraph (A)(2) (1)(b) of this Section shall be
19 fined not more than two thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six
20 months, or both.
21 (4) On a conviction for a second or subsequent offense as provided in
22 Paragraph Subparagraph (A)(2) (1)(b) of this Section, the offender shall be fined not
23 less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned,
24 with or without hard labor, for not more than one year, or both.
25 * * *
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HB NO. 167
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 167 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Brass
Abstract: Provides for the seizure of an unmanned aircraft system that is used unlawfully.
Present law provides for the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system and
provides for penalties.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides for the seizure of an unmanned aircraft system by a law enforcement
officer in the course of arrest or issuance of summons or a court order pursuant to other
provisions of present law when the unmanned aircraft system is used in violation of present
law.
Proposed law provides that, in addition to the sentence imposed for a second or subsequent
offense violation of present law (R.S. 14:337(A)(1)), the court shall order the forfeiture of
the unmanned aircraft system used in connection with the offense and provide for the
destruction, sale, or other disposition of the unmanned aircraft system.
(Amends R.S. 14:337(A) and (E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Add the governor's mansion as a prohibited location relative to the unlawful use
of an unmanned aircraft system.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.