Louisiana Gov. Landry signs new drone defense law; first in nation

[mavic3usa]

Louisiana has become the first state to allow law enforcement to intercept and disable drones posing threats to public safety. Gov. Jeff Landry signed the groundbreaking "We Will Act" Act into law on Wednesday, June 18. HB261 by Rep. Jack "Jay" Gallé Jr., R-District 104 (St. Tammany Parish) grants specially trained officers the authority to use both kinetic and non-kinetic methods to neutralize drones operating unlawfully near sensitive areas like schools and public events. "This law puts Louisiana on the front lines of drone defense," Gov. Landry said. "We are taking bold steps now to protect our people and our skies before tragedy strikes."

Basically this means any LEO in the state can shoot down your drone if you go anywhere near a school or a public event (such as a parade) instead of where the real problems might really be at nuclear facilities and prisons. The officer only needs RAS not PC to take action against a drone that could be spying or anything he believes threatens public safety. Another manufactured crisis. "Offenders could face a fine of up to one year in prison and up to a $5,000 fine, according to the governor’s office." I guess they don't believe in remote ID and attempting to detect, identify, and locate the pilot first. Next the state will invest in drone jamming equipment and anti-drone systems that will inevitably be abused. Does this mean the police can use a shotgun to bring down your drone?

The story: Louisiana Becomes First State to Authorize Local Law Enforcement to Neutralize Dangerous Drones
The law: HB261
This video:

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[BigAl07]

Let's keep this thread CIVIL, factual, and not overly "passionate".

***Admin Approved***

 

[Vic Moss]

This is a very important issue to consider.

Yes, D.C. is working on setting up pilot programs to determine the best and safest way to train and equip LEOs to use mitigation against rogue drones. And I fully support that.

But this type of regulation must come from the top down. Local and state politicians must NOT be allowed to set their own rules about this. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

I've reached out to my contact in the FAA's legal office and we'll see if they respond to Governor Landry's blatant attempt to circumvent 18 USC §32. This is extreme overreach by state officials.

18 U.S. Code § 32 - Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities

www.law.cornell.edu

 

[wco81]

I thought air space was exclusively the jurisdiction of the FAA, not any state or local govt.

 

[mneeze]

Despicable on so many levels. Even if they don't completely abuse it (which they obviously will), it will ratchet up the pressure and suspicion towards all drones and pilots, regardless of guilt or innocence.

Someone who knows more than me - would McCarthyism be a valid analogy here? Or perhaps "Stefanikism"?

Also, "We Will Act" Act? Hilarious name. The title is just as clever as the 'Act' itself.

Edit: thank you for sharing btw - every member of this forum needs to know about this.

 

[GFields]

Education is key!

I have only been approached twice by LEO in my 10 years as a drone pilot and wound up helping one of them purchase a drone and then trainned them how to use it.

 

[Chip]

Louisiana has become the first state to allow law enforcement to intercept and disable drones posing threats to public safety.

I am not surprised given the New Jersey Drone debacle of 2024. State and local authorities learned they were on their own. The Feds have no problem with this kind of law. They did an excellent job proving the need for it.

 

[Chip]

NJ State legislator Dawn Fantasia posted this to her X account after attending drone meeting at NJ State Police HQ attended by DHS on December 11, 2024.

 

[L Vaillancourt]

So who will be held responsible for knocking a drone out the air that comes down on and injures people on the ground? Police armed with a new toy will be anxious to try it out. Anyone old enough to remember when radar guns first came out? Yeeha! Got another one.

 

[mavic3usa]

So who will be held responsible for knocking a drone out the air that comes down on and injures people on the ground? Police armed with a new toy will be anxious to try it out. Anyone old enough to remember when radar guns first came out? Yeeha! Got another one.

The same responsibility when a criminal is fleeing in a vehicle and the police are giving chase and the eluding vehicle strikes an innocent van with a family of 5. Even if the police perform a pit maneuver on the eluding vehicle which loses control and hits the van, the criminal is responsible. Even if the police car flips while giving chase, the driver is typically held criminally responsible.*

It will be 10x easier to pin everything on the drone pilot. /s

*Civil liability is different so the victim will be able to make a claim against the city or the government agency and the taxpayers are on the hook.

I remember back in the day when GEICO was handing out radar units to local police departments. I was a chronic speeder and my own insurance company was "conspiring" against me! Then I discovered something called an "Escort."

 

[tstr14]

Just another case of a state legislature trying to supersede the federal government that will end up in court and not in favor of Louisiana.

 

[mavic3usa]

Just another case of a state legislature trying to supersede the federal government that will end up in court and not in favor of Louisiana.

You mean similar to MJ? That kind of "supersede?"

My POV, no one cared earlier, why start caring now what happens to drones. In today's climate, it's going to be pretty difficult for a court to tell the state they can't touch "nefarious" drones because they are up off the ground and in the air especially when the federal government is reaching out the the states and contracting/coordinating with non-federal law enforcement agencies to do the work for them. What is this, you can detain and arrest the honest, non-violent flyers but you can't use force against the illegal flyers?

Either they stay out completely or they're all in. I vote for the former. But let's be realistic, you cannot stop prison guards from shooting down drones over the prison yard and you cannot stop nuclear security from shooting down drones circling the reactors. I would prefer not to give them the power because it will eventually get abused but we're running out of time and choices.

NJ happened and now there are consequences.

 

[AMann]

Being that educational organizations including all types of schools (K-12 and colleges) are able to have FAA FRIA’s, both our local community college and high school have FAA FRIA designations in fields on each of their campuses. One we use to teach students for our aviation club. Guess they wouldn’t be safe flying areas if they were in that state, and looking at the FAA’s FRIA map online, it looks like there are only a few places, mainly RC clubs in Louisiana with FRIAs. How sad for them.