California Legislative Update
It appears that members of the California Legislature are undeterred by the Governor’s decision to veto all drone related bills but one at the end of last year. In the first few weeks of January, members of the Legislature have introduced, reintroduced, and amended a number of drone related bills. Interestingly, in what appears to be an effort to address federal preemption concerns, most of the bills include a provision specifying that the bill does not apply to drone use authorized by the FAA or does not conflict with federal law. Below is a summary of the bills that have recently been introduced.
AB 1680, expands the prohibition against a person going to or stopping at the scene of an emergency to watch emergency personnel if it impedes the work of emergency personnel to include people using or operating drones.
SB 811, appears to be an attempt to address the recent use of drones to drop contraband into prisons by prohibiting the knowing or intentional use of a drone on or over the grounds of a state prison or jail. This prohibition would not apply to prison or jail personnel acting in the scope of their employment or to any entity authorized by the FAA.
AB 1662, requires the operator of a drone that is involved in an accident resulting in injury or damage to a person or property to immediately land the drone in the nearest safe place. The operator must then either: 1) present valid ID to the injured person, 2) locate the owner of the damaged property and present valid ID if requested, or 3) leave a note with the name and address of the operator and the circumstances of the incident in a conspicuous place on the damaged property and notify the police. This requirement would not apply to law enforcement personnel acting within the scope of their employment or to anyone authorized by the FAA.
AB 14 was introduced last year but was recently amended to require owners and operators of drones that do not fall under the definition of “model aircraft” to either 1) mark the drone with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, 2) store the same information on the drone in a digital format, or 3) mark the drone with the address of an website where the same information is listed. The markings may not modify or confuse any marks required by the FAA.
SB 809 is the reintroduction of SB 271 to prohibit the use of drones over school grounds.