Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 520
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       23-00189-20                                            2020520__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to drones; amending s. 934.50, F.S.;
    3         expanding the authorized uses of drones by law
    4         enforcement agencies and other specified entities for
    5         specified purposes; providing an effective date.
    6  
    7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8  
    9         Section 1. Present paragraphs (d) through (j) of subsection
   10  (4) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   11  paragraphs (i) through (o), respectively, paragraph (a) of
   12  subsection (3) of that section is amended, and new paragraphs
   13  (d) through (h) are added to subsection (4) of that section, to
   14  read:
   15         934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
   16         (3) PROHIBITED USE OF DRONES.—
   17         (a) A law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather
   18  evidence or other information, except as provided in subsection
   19  (4).
   20         (4) EXCEPTIONS.—This section does not prohibit the use of a
   21  drone:
   22         (d) To provide a law enforcement agency with an aerial
   23  perspective of a crowd of 50 people or more.
   24         (e) To assist a law enforcement agency with traffic
   25  management; however, a law enforcement agency acting under this
   26  paragraph may not issue a traffic infraction citation based on
   27  images or video captured by a drone.
   28         (f) To facilitate a law enforcement agency’s collection of
   29  evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash scene.
   30         (g) By a state agency or political subdivision for the
   31  assessment of damage due to a flood, wildfire, or natural
   32  disaster or for vegetation or wildlife management on publicly
   33  owned land or water.
   34         (h) By certified fire department personnel to perform tasks
   35  within the scope and practice authorized under their
   36  certifications.
   37         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.