Florida lawmakers are considering proposals that would ban unauthorized flying of private drones over seaports, airports and other “critical infrastructure” as part of an expanded no-fly list.
Senate and House bills (SB 908 and HB 645) would add water-treatment facilities, deepwater ports, railroad switching yards, airports, spaceports, dams and certain military installations to a list of places drone operators could face second-degree misdemeanor charges for flying without authorization.
“Hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers per week, military assets, space assets, fuel, power, infrastructure and many other critical functions make our ports home, and it is dangerous and unwise to allow private drone usage over such things without permission or involvement of the ports and their partners,” Senate sponsor Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, said before the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved her bill Tuesday.
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The Federal Aviation Administration has issued rules about operating drones close to “fixed-site” facilities that involve infrastructure such as energy production and transmission.
Florida also has a law that, in part, restricts unauthorized drone use around electric stations and transmission facilities, chemical storage facilities, mining facilities, oil and natural gas pipelines, wireless communications facilities and correctional institutions.
The House Transportation & Modals Subcommittee unanimously approved the House version of this year’s bill on Monday.
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