Drones And The Law

The purpose of this book is to serve as a convenient reference tool that collects the laws of each state into one volume. Though many states have drone laws "on the books" today, every state will eventually have one. For years now, state legislatures have grappled with the use of drones by their citizens. Much of this has occurred in the absence of clear regulatory guidance from the FAA. States were attempting to regulate an industry that was artificially hobbled by a vague, constantly changing federal regulatory scheme. Thankfully, the federal regulations are coming into focus. The long-awaited "Part 107" regulations for small unmanned aircraft systems - or "sUAS" - went into effect on August 29, 2016. Though there are still many questions about these regulations, at least they are in effect. Until they were in place, any commercial drone activity required a special exemption from the FAA. Without the exemption, no one could legally fly. Things are different now. Today, commercial drone operators have a clear path to operating legally under the FAA regulations. This means that many new companies are going to start flying, nationwide. When more drone entrepreneurs start flying under the new federal regulations, the practical effects of state laws that have been passed over the years will become clear. Legislative ideas that looked desirable to some when the drone industry was small may begin to hurt real businesses. This will happen in every state. If the drone industry is to thrive, entrepreneurs and the attorneys that serve them must understand what laws are "out there" that may impact the industry. This book is a step in that direction