Committee passes bill making drone flights over jails and prisons a felony to stop contraband drops

Representative Jones presented LC640073 to prohibit unauthorized drone flights over places of incarceration and to make it a felony to operate or to arrange UAS flights for the purpose of delivering contraband to jails and prisons. Jones said the measure responds to repeated incidents where bad actors launched drones from adjacent properties to drop drugs, cellphones, SIM cards and other contraband into correctional facilities.

Jones told the committee the FAA has in effect granted air rights for these locations and the bill provides law enforcement tools and penalties to deter and prosecute organized attempts to traffic contraband by UAS. "We're stopping the pilot from doing that; we're making that a felony," Jones said.

Committee members asked about enforcement and evidentiary thresholds; Jones said enforcement would be carried out by sheriffs and the Department of Corrections and that existing statutes criminalizing delivery of contraband would be joined by the new drone-specific provisions. The bill also included a technical cleanup to a prior section covering ticketed events.

Senator Gaine moved to pass the bill, with a second from Senator Dickerson; the motion carried unanimously. The committee identified Senator Steele as the likely senate sponsor moving forward.