ANDERSON — Among a slew of new laws going into effect July 1 is one targeting radio-controlled drones, which lawmakers and police worry are becoming cheap enough to cause problems.
Unmanned aerial systems, more commonly known as those camera toting, four-bladed drones, are moving from the realm of professional video and photography and into the backpacks and closets of young, inexperienced pilots across the state as the technology becomes ever cheaper.
But while the flying cameras can offer outdoor enthusiasts a new angle on filming their adventures, lawmakers worry they offer unsavory people a new way to harass or invade the privacy of others.
That’s what pushed Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, to author a bill, which later passed into law, that makes it a Class A misdemeanor to use a drone to harass, interfere with public safety or commit voyeurism.
The law increases the charge to a Level 6 felony for anyone who has previously been convicted of a similar crime or if the images are published online without the subject’s permission.
“This bill essentially says that you cannot do with a drone what you cannot otherwise do,” Koch said after the bill passed through the Senate. “It keeps the law ahead of technology.”
Though Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger said his department hasn’t had any complaints about drone use, he is worried about their increased prevalence.
“To tell you my personal opinion, I am still concerned about drones being used for criminal activity -- very, very concerned,” he said.
Mostly, Mellinger said, as drones become capable of carrying more weight, he is concerned a criminal could use a drone to drop substances on crowds or to spy on people. He says making new laws to cover the use of the emerging technology makes sense.
“No question, because drones are a very unique technology, and… if a law isn’t drone-specific I could see where a jury or judge, for whatever specific reason, say current law doesn’t count,” he said.
Chad Budreau, public relations and government affairs director for the Academy of Model Aeronautics, disagrees.
“(Drones) should not be used for harassment, but there are already laws that cover that type of behavior,” Budreau said.
By focusing in on drones specifically, he argues, the law could become more convoluted and create legal loopholes instead.
“When you start identifying specific technologies, it could present loopholes and could give implied consent,” he said.
Furthermore, as drone use increases, Budreau argues the Federal Aviation Commission, which has convened a drone advisory committee, should work to create laws with industry leaders and government personnel.
As for drone pilots looking to educate themselves on legal and safe flying, the AMA has a list of resources called “Know Before You Fly,” which offers new pilots a tutorial in drone usage.
“Education is a big part… and ‘Know Before You Fly’ has been rather successful,” Budreau said. “I don’t know all these operators intend to be bad actors. They just may not know better, they may not be intending to invade privacy.”