U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) on June 7 introduced bipartisan legislation that would create federal guidelines to ensure drone technology is used responsibly and that bad actors are held accountable when it is used illegally.
“I am glad to help lead this effort to modernize existing law, deter criminal activity, and enhance public safety,” said Rep. Meijer, who signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Drone Act of 2022, H.R. 7965, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and fellow cosponsor U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV).
If enacted, H.R. 7695 would prohibit: attaching a weapon to a drone; the willful removal of drone identification numbers and the disabling of their transmissions and anti-collision lights; and the reckless or knowing interference of another emergency-response activity, law enforcement agency or military operation, punishable with up to a two-year prison sentence, according to the text of the bill.
Additionally, the bill would subject anyone trying to get a prohibited object into a prison by way of a drone with a 10-year prison sentence, and would apply the same penalties to drone operators who knowingly or recklessly interfere with motor vehicles, boats and spacecraft, the bill says.
Under current law, drone operators are subject to various penalties for knowingly or recklessly interfering with airplanes and runways, according to Rep. Meijer’s staff.
“Drone technology has the potential to transform the way we conduct business in our country,” said Rep. Meijer. “At the same time, we must ensure that bad actors cannot use drones to facilitate illegal activity and cause harm to our society, and this is especially important at our southern border where drug and human traffickers are known to use drones to commit crimes and bolster their operations.”
H.R. 7965 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.