Carpino Votes for Recommendations to Regulate Drones in CT
HARTFORD- State Rep. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) voted in favor of legislative recommendations on Drone Use in Connecticut in the Legislative Program Review and Investigations committee.
“These committee recommendations show the vital need to balance the use of droves for the public good, such as in emergency situations or for the safety of our citizens versus the fundamental right of privacy,” said Rep. Carpino.
Carpino spoke publicly about the intrusion of privacy and potential for abuse. Carpino and other committee members were able to stop a proposed recommendation which would have permitted law enforcement and government drones the authority to surveil and target unpopular groups.
- Remote operation of weapons, including via drones, shall be prohibited. This prohibition should be applied to both governmental and non-governmental drone users.
- Law enforcement use of drones for targeted surveillance shall be limited in duration unless there is probable cause and a warrant. This limitation is intended to reduce possible violations of an individual’s fourth amendment rights, while allowing law enforcement access to possible beneficial uses of drones.
- All state and local governmentally-owned drones shall register with the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). Registration data on governmentally-owned drones should be publicly published on a regular basis. Governmental drone use shall be recorded, summarized, and publicly reported in an aggregate format annually.
- State statutes should be reviewed and revised to reflect the existence and capabilities of drones. Statutes regarding aeronautics, in particular, should be revised to address possible federal preemption issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has delayed their proposed regulations until 2017. The FAA has had a problem with coming up with federal rules because they are not only trying to regulate air safety and space, but privacy rules for drones that fly with cameras.
The study by the Legislative Program Review and Investigations committee was prompted by legislation last session which would have allowed police to operate drones for law enforcement purposes. The bill also would have required officers to get warrants to use drones, unless there was an emergency.