By Matthew Albright
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Jeff Landry introduced this week that he had signed a invoice that provides state and native regulation enforcement the authority take down unmanned drones, calling it the primary of its sort.
Home Invoice 261, by Jay Galle, R- Mandeville, permits officers to cease a menace posed by an unmanned plane system performing inside the state in a nefarious method,” utilizing “authorized and protected strategies, together with however not restricted to jamming, hacking or bodily seize.”
In a information launch, Landry mentioned the “We Will Act” Act may set a nationwide precedent, as a result of the authority to deal with unmanned plane has sometimes been reserved for federal entities.
“This regulation places Louisiana on the entrance traces of drone protection,” Landry mentioned within the launch. “We’re taking daring steps now to guard our folks and our skies earlier than tragedy strikes.
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The act particularly makes it unlawful to fly unmanned drones over parades and parade routes.
It makes an exception for drones which might be approved to be used in film, TV or different productions.
The invoice handed each chambers of the Legislature with out opposition.
Earlier this 12 months, Landry mentioned throughout a dinner with President Donald Trump and different Republican governors that unidentified drones had been noticed close to Louisiana nuclear energy vegetation. Entergy confirmed drones had been recognized close to its River Bend Station nuclear energy plant.
State Protect, a nationwide nonprofit that helps state-level legal guidelines to guard towards doable interference from China, praised the regulation.
“Louisiana turned the primary state within the nation to present regulation enforcement officers authority to neutralize hostile drones,” mentioned Joe Gebbia Sr., Founder and CEO of State Protect. “Cheap drones have change into highly effective instruments for criminals and overseas adversaries to spy on, and even goal, important infrastructure. The danger escalates when these programs are made in China and ship delicate information abroad. We thank Governor Landry and Consultant Galle for his or her management combatting this rising menace.”
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