Bill Introduced In The Council Would Limit Operations To Law Enforcement With A Warrant

A New York City Councilman has introduced a bill in the council that would ban nearly all UAV flights in the city ... shutting commercial interests and hobbyists out altogether.

The bill was introduced by Councilman Dan Garodnick and appeared on the December 17 agenda. It was referred to committee by the council. It would "amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles except by the police department with a warrant."

The bill defines an "aircraft" as a "device that is used or intended to be used for flight in the air, including a captive balloon or UAV, except a parachute or other [contrivance] device designed for use[,] as and carried primarily as safety equipment," and specifically defines a UAV as a "vehicle capable of flight without a human pilot on board that is operated either autonomously by computers in the vehicle itself or by an individual from any location outside the vehicle."

The proposed amendment would not allow any operation of a UAV within the New York City limits other than police with a warrant for the flight in hand or "A person avigating such UAV pursuant to and within the limits of an express authorization by the Federal Aviation Administration."

And even the police would have limits. Search warrants allowing the use of a UAV would be required to specify the location for the flight, be based on probable cause that the flight would produce evidence connected with criminal activity, and comply with all applicable requirements of the federal and state constitutions, statutes and regulations. The search warrant authorization to fly a UAV would expire within 48 hours.

The proposed amendment does not lay out specific penalties for operating a UAV in the city.

(Image from file)

FMI: http://council.nyc.gov/html/home/home.shtml