Bill > H4546

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, in Massachusetts. The legislation defines key terms such as "operate" and "unmanned aerial vehicle" and prohibits municipalities from creating their own local drone regulations beyond federal aviation guidelines. The bill outlines several important restrictions: operators cannot arm drones with weapons capable of causing serious injury, cannot interfere with manned aircraft or airport operations, and cannot disrupt emergency responders' activities. The law also addresses privacy concerns by preventing drone surveillance of individuals on private property without consent, with specific exceptions for law enforcement under certain circumstances like obtaining a search warrant or responding to terrorist threats. Penalties for violations range from $100 to $10,000 and can include imprisonment up to two and a half years depending on the severity of the offense. Additionally, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to destroy drone-captured images and data within 120 days, unless the information is evidence of a crime or part of an ongoing investigation. The legislation aims to balance technological innovation with public safety and privacy protections.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Transportation (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4546