OREGON SENATE BILL 71 (SB71)

Relating to drones and declaring an emergency

Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing  rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary)       

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to drones; and declaring an emergency. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:  SECTION 1.  { + As used in sections 1 to 7 of this 2013 Act:

(1) 'Airspace of Oregon' means the space above the ground that is not part of airspace governed by federal law.

(2) 'Drone' means an unmanned flying machine that is capable of:

      (a) Capturing images of objects or people on the ground or inthe air;
      (b) Intercepting communications on the ground or in the air; or
      (c) Firing a bullet or other projectile.

(3) 'Public body' has the meaning given in ORS 174.109

SECTION 2. 

(1) A person may not possess or control a drone unless permitted to do so by the federal government or by the Oregon Department of Aviation under section 7 of this 2013 Act.

(2) A person who possesses or controls a drone in violation of subsection (1) of this section commits a Class B misdemeanor.

(3) A person who possesses or controls a drone in violation of subsection (1) of this section and uses the drone to capture an image of a person or object on the ground or in the air commits a Class A misdemeanor.

(4) A person who possesses or controls a drone in violation of subsection (1) of this section and uses the drone to fire a
bullet or other projectile commits a Class C felony.

(5) A person who possesses or controls a drone for the purpose of hunting or stalking game commits a Class C felony.

(6) A person who possesses or controls a drone and causes the drone to fire a bullet or other projectile at an aircraft while
the aircraft is in the air, or intentionally causes or attempts to cause the drone to crash into an aircraft while the aircraft
is in the air, commits a Class A felony.

(7) A person who gains unauthorized control over a drone commits a Class A misdemeanor. 

SECTION 3.  

(1) A person who operates a drone in the airspace of Oregon without permission from the Oregon Department of Aviation, or from the person with the right to possession of the land below the airspace, is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(2) It is not a defense to a charge of violating this section that the land below the airspace was not marked with a no-trespassing sign or similar notice.

SECTION 4. 

(1) A public body may not operate a drone in the airspace of Oregon without registering the drone with the Department of State Police.

(2) The department may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 against a public body that violates subsection (1) of this section. Any penalty collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account.

(3) Evidence obtained by a public body through the use of an drone in violation of subsection (1) of this section is not admissible in any judicial or administrative proceeding, and may not be used to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed.

(4) The department shall establish a registry of drones operated by public bodies, and may charge a fee sufficient to reimburse the department for the maintenance of the registry.

(5) The department shall require the following information for registration of a drone:

      (a) The name of the public body that owns or operates the drone.
      (b) The name and contact information of the individuals operating the drone.
      (c) Identifying information for the drone as required by the department by rule.

SECTION 5. 

 (1) Any person or public body that owns or exercises control over a drone in Oregon that causes injury to person or property is strictly liable for the injury.

(2) Any person who suffers injury to person or property caused by a drone operated in violation of section 2, 3 or 4 of this 2013 Act is entitled to damages from the person or public body that committed the violation of not less than $5,000 and an award of reasonable attorney fees.

SECTION 6. 

In addition to any other remedies allowed by law, a person who gains unauthorized control over a drone is liable to the owner of the drone in an amount of not less than $5,000. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff in an action under this section.

SECTION 7.  The Oregon Department of Aviation may issue licenses to persons to operate drones in the airspace of Oregon for the purpose of implementing section 2 of this 2013 Act.

SECTION 8. This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its passage
 
Note: Homeland Surveillance & Electronics LLC Mission is also to protect the privacy rights of the individuals and to work with government agencies, organizations and businesses to help insure that those rights are not infringed.

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