New Florida law goes into effect 1 July

[MattInFla]

Interesting new stuff in F.S. 330.41, which takes effect on July 1.

Of particular interest to RC pilots is an apparent state pre-emption of local ordinance:

(3) REGULATION.—
63 (a) The authority to regulate the ownership or operation of
64 unmanned aircraft systems is vested in the state.
65 (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political
66 subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution
67 relating to the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance,
68 licensing, registration, certification, or operation of an
69 unmanned aircraft system, including airspace, altitude, flight
70 paths, equipment or technology requirements; the purpose of
71 operations; and pilot, operator, or observer qualifications,
72 training, and certification.
73 (c) This section does not limit local government authority
74 to enact or enforce local ordinances relating to nuisances,
75 voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage,
76 or other illegal acts arising from the use of unmanned aircraft
77 systems if such laws or ordinances are not specifically related
78 to the use of an unmanned aircraft system for those illegal
79 acts.
80 (d) This section shall be construed in accordance with
81 standards described by federal statutes, regulations, and
82 Federal Aviation Administration guidance on unmanned aircraft
83 systems.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0832/BillText/Filed/HTML

This may mean that local ordinances (like Orlando's silly fee per day flight ban) are moot as of July 1.

Matt

 

[Cyberpower678]

Legal speak is a failing for me. Anyone want to clarify that?

 

[MattInFla]

Legal speak is a failing for me. Anyone want to clarify that?

The State of Florida is saying that regulating ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. our quads / planes / helis) is reserved to the state level. This means that cities and towns cannot make their own regulations for UAS.

Looks like good news to me, since it avoids a patchwork of where you can and cannot fly in the state.

 

[Cyberpower678]

Oh cool.