New Law Overrides Any Local Ordinance, Except In Chicago

The Governor of Illinois has signed a law that gives the state the sole authority to regulate drones in the state, stripping local governments of any ability to write its own laws.

Senate Bill 3291, which was signed by Governor Bruce Rauner (R) last week, states that "the regulation of an unmanned aircraft system is an exclusive power and function of the state. No unit of local government, including home rule unit, may enact an ordinance or resolution to regulate unmanned aircraft systems.”

Unless you're in Chicago. The state's largest city is exempt from the new law.

The Illinois News Network reports that some local elected officials are less than pleased about the new law. Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said that his city recently passed regulations restricting drone use over certain places, such as public utilities. The state law makes the local ordinance moot, which Langfelder called "a little disheartening. It really steps on local authority and just to keep the general public safe and moving in that direction,” Langfelder said.

The law gives the Illinois Department of Transportation the authority to adopt rules it feels are necessary to assure safe and legal operation of unmanned aircraft "so that those engaged in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems may so engage with the least possible restriction, consistent with their safety and with the safety and the rights of others, and in compliance with federal rules and regulations.”

IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell said in a statement emailed to the Illinois News Network that the department "intends to start the rules-making process shortly, likely seeking various stakeholder input as appropriate. The department believes this new law will help create a consistent oversight framework throughout the state and eliminate the potential for a patchwork of varying local restrictions and ordinances on drone use."

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report