This comes in from Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda 87th A.D. Bronx.
I just had my first piece of drone legislation published (#A06244); it
focuses on limiting how law enforcement can utilize the technology to
conduct surveillance.
I conducted a survey recently in my district to ascertain how the
general public feels about drone activity. Most of the data suggests
that the public is not fully aware of the technology and its
implications, domestically. Only 18% of those surveyed knew what drones
were. Though once they were informed, over 96% had concerns about their
use, with a similar percentage feeling that drones could infringe on
their privacy. Nearly 97% suggested that there be clear restrictions
placed on drones.
This bill is the first of a series of comprehensive pieces of
legislation initiated to address the lack of information on drones, and
their attendant activities. Succeeding bills will focus on: Banning
drones from being armed; clearly defining what constitutes a drone;
restricting the use of drones by private citizens; and streamlining the
mechanisms to secure permits for responsible drone usage concerning its
commercial applications.
I have been at the forefront of pushing for more transparency and
regulations concerning this phenomenon; assessing the trends, I feel
it's incumbent upon the NYS Legislature to seize this issue before it
takes on a life of its own. I don't want the technology to get ahead of
the law, and hopefully, the legislation that I am putting forth, will be
the catalyst for us as legislators to take hold of this issue.
