Despite FAA Warnings, New Legislation Aims to Extend Drone Privacy Laws and Allow “Reasonable Force” to Remove Unauthorized UAVs
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
Florida drone pilots may have to be more careful about flying over and around populated areas as a proposed bill moves through the Florida Senate that would allow homeowners to shoot UAVs flying illegally around private property. The bill, an extension of a 2024 act that made it illegal to take photos or videos of persons or private property using a drone without permission (although it was silent on the issue of live surveillance), would empower homeowners to use “reasonable force” to take down drones flying over their property.
Current FAA regulations are fairly clear that private citizens can’t shoot aircraft out of the sky, with violators earning hefty fines and possible jail time. While the FAA declined to comment on pending legislation that has not been passed into law, they did make it clear that firearms are not a solution to unwanted drones.
“It’s illegal under federal law to shoot at an aircraft,” the FAA said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “A private citizen shooting at any aircraft – including unmanned aircraft – poses a significant safety hazard. An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air. Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in a civil penalty from the FAA and criminal charges from federal, state or local law enforcement.”
The bill’s sponsor declined to comment to Fox News.
While the bill is unlikely to allow Floridians to shoot into the sky at will due to the enforcement priorities of the FAA, further regulation against drones has continued due to privacy and safety concerns. As negative press around drone sightings continues to be politicized, further bills to increase penalties for unauthorized or illegal drone flights have become more prevalent. Related proposed regulations in Florida included new rules introduced by Republican House member Jennifer Canady that significantly increased penalties for drone violations, including making it a felony to fly drones over critical infrastructure.
The full bill, including amendments, is available here.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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