(Source: wtsp.com)
Under the proposed law, the government and police would be forbidden from using drones for surveillance, and so would everyday people like your neighbors.
The ban would only apply to private property and only to places where someone has “a reasonable expectation of privacy.”
So, if you’re out in your front yard, a drone pilot could take all of the pictures they want. But if you’re behind your fence or in your house, you could sue someone who takes pictures of your family.
It’s already illegal in Florida for law enforcement to gather evidence for court with a drone. But they can still watch you like a hawk using a hovering drone. This bill would shut that down.
In the bill (SB 766 in the Senate and its similar House partner HB 649), there are exceptions for emergencies like terrorist threats or searches for missing people.
You could also still use a drone in private places if you have written permission or a warrant.
Alan is serial entrepreneur, active angel investor, and a drone enthusiast. He co-founded DRONELIFE.com to address the emerging commercial market for drones and drone technology. Prior to DRONELIFE.com, Alan co-founded Where.com, ThinkingScreen Media, and Nurse.com. Recently, Alan has co-founded Crowditz.com, a leader in Equity Crowdfunding Data, Analytics, and Insights. Alan can be reached at alan(at)dronelife.com