Measures to restrict drones deferred
BRUCE ASATO / 2016
A trio of quad copter drones in flight, controlled by members of the Hawaii Drone Academy, at Manoa Valley field.
Hawaii lawmakers are working to tackle the thorny issue of how to regulate drones again this year but have already sidelined one bill while acknowledging that a second measure will likely morph into a permanent working group to further study the issue.
On Monday lawmakers deferred Senate Bill 632, which would have barred drones at public parks and beaches without the consent of the state Department of Transportation unless they were being operated by state or county law enforcement officers.
The bill raised questions about whether the state has the authority to regulate federal airspace. The measure also attracted opposition from drone enthusiasts and businesses worried about blanket restrictions on recreational and commercial uses of the cameras, as well as state and county agencies that want to use the devices for their own public purposes, such as to assist with rescue operations.
“We will rest on it and see what happens next year when we put our minds together and hopefully come up with something. We do need to come up with something,” said Sen. Lorraine Inouye, chairwoman of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, in announcing that her committee, as well as the Senate Water and Land Committee, had decided to kill the bill for the year.
Lawmakers will have the option of resurrecting the measure next year.
The House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee also decided Monday to delay decision making on House Bill 314 until Feb. 22. The bill, a more expansive proposal, would create restrictions on the use of drones around airports and emergency response vehicles while also prohibiting their use over schools, hospitals, places of worship, prisons or police stations without permission.
The proposed measure also lays out privacy restrictions, stipulating that drone users can’t take photographs or video of people inside private locations. Violators could face fines and a court order to destroy the photos or video footage.
More study expected
Rep. Angus McKelvey, chairman of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, indicated that his committee will likely move toward creating a permanent working group to study the drone issue instead of trying to push through regulations this year.
McKelvey said the working group would collaborate with other states that are studying the issue and try to create some consistency in laws and regulations across states.
“Hopefully, we can harmonize all of our state laws while creating a united front with the federal government on what changes we would want to see made at the (Federal Aviation Administration),” he said.
Both federal and state regulators have been scrambling to figure out how to regulate drones as the popularity of the unmanned aerial devices for both commercial and recreational use has taken off. The FAA has come out with national regulations in recent years, while states have passed a patchwork of measures addressing a wide range of concerns.
As of last month 33 states had enacted laws addressing drones, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The laws address issues such as whether they can be used by law enforcement or other state agencies, the use of the devices for hunting and their use by hobbyists.
The loud buzzing of the unmanned aerial vehicles, as they are referred to by the industry, has irritated beachgoers and hikers in Hawaii trying to enjoy the serenity of nature; alarmed pilots worried about collisions; and given rise to a host of privacy concerns with reports of the flying cameras being spotted over people’s homes or even peering into windows.
But they can also capture stunning footage, help emergency personnel and aid academic research. For lawmakers, trying to regulate the devices is a difficult balancing act.
Curt Cottrell, administrator for the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Parks Division, said his agency hopes to use the cameras to help find homeless encampments and check on remote fence lines that control invasive species.
“There’s a lot of nuances as the technology and use evolve. You have the commercial guys and the pure hobbyists and then the management end where we want to use drones, too,” Cottrell said. “I have a homeless population at Diamond Head that’s very difficult to see and get to, but with a drone we could map out all of the locations and trails.”
At the same time, he’s worried about the impact the proliferation of drones is having on people’s enjoyment of nature, noting that he too has found them to be a nuisance while hiking.
“I felt the invasion of my aesthetic, spiritual sense of enjoyment,” he said. “It’s like the same guys who hike with their music boxes on the outside and their Bluetoothing. It’s like, ‘Dude, put in headphones. I don’t want to listen to that while I’m hiking.’ So imagine, you got music, drones, it’s like, ‘Seriously?’”
19 responses to “Measures to restrict drones deferred”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Nuisance big time. When I paddle out to surf I just want to enjoy the water without this thing hovering around. Not everyone in the water needs or wants to be on camera.
My neighbor bought one. It is noisy, like a weed whacker, but higher pitched. Very annoying, like a very loud mosquito in your ear. And when it is flown up high, thus sound travels far and wide, much farther than a weed whacker, affecting the whole area. Definite noise pollution, not to mention invasion of privacy.
The first time I became aware of this done was when I heard the loud high pitched whirring/buzzing sound, I went outside but could figure out where it was coming from, then I looked up and it was hovering low right over my house. Since then, my home just doesn’t feel the same. It feels less comfortable and secure than before.
There will be lawsuits if our elected officials can’t set limits on these annoyances.
“We will rest on it and see what happens next year when we put our minds together and hopefully come up with something. We do need to come up with something,” said Sen. Lorraine Inouye. Like everything else the lazy no good politicians do. Try doing some real work like fixing POTHOLES,Rail,Homelessness and a list other important things. Flat tires ALL OF THEM.
Drones are an invasion of personal space. You want to use them to survey areas or for a search and rescue mission ok. But If they fly low enough over my house, I will start throwing rocks. Don’t, worry, I have a hillside and the rocks will go there.
Drone insurance? Are these drones required to have some kind of liability insurance in case they damage property or hurt people? How much are they covered for?
Drone photography is a potential huge money maker…whether for recreation or commercial purposes. Private investigators can fly over or near your property, and monitor your activities 24/7. Or, for recreational purposes, a private citizen with a drone can fly over or near your property, take pictures of your family, and sell the photos. Great opportunity for entrepreneurs! Why would lawmakers want to regulate that?
Dumb idea from lawmakers, focus on improving the economy and not drones.
The sooner the better that the legislature controls the use of drones effectively before they get out of hand. I live in a residential neighborhood and have seen drones flying in my neighborhood. No way anyone is controlling them.
The drones are peeking into everybody’s windows searching for illegal activity like sex.
“We will rest on it and see what happens next year when we put our minds together and hopefully come up with something.” ~Sen. Lorraine Inouye (leech of the taxpayer politician)
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! LMMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha.
Putting all your minds together still doesn’t result in much sense.
a few fishing weights attached to fishing lines tied together as a bola, plus a slingshot equal drone killer.
I thought the reports this weekend regarding the KoKo Crater fire was that fighting the fire was impacted by the number of drones flying around? Safety issue being ignored?
Mañana. Kick can down the road. Maybe next year.
Paint it black scrape off serial numbers so it can’t be traced. If you do something dumb leave it and buy another one.
I want to buy a Killer Drone. It kills annoying drones.
Just wait. Technology will soon catch up with signal override equipment of drone controls so one can crash a drone. Maybe some savvy mfg is already making these boxes to help us preserve our privacy of air space.
butinski, it’s already out there. They mentioned it during the Trump inauguration.