Bill > A1039

This bill establishes regulations for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, by law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency management coordinators in New Jersey. For law enforcement, using drones for surveillance or evidence gathering generally requires a judicially authorized search warrant, or probable cause coupled with exigent circumstances (situations where obtaining a warrant is impractical due to immediate danger), or the written consent of the property owner. Exceptions exist for search and rescue missions, locating missing persons or children, and responding to Amber or Silver Alerts. Fire departments and forest fire services can use drones to survey and monitor fires, while emergency management coordinators can use them to assess damage from emergencies. All entities using drones must safeguard collected data, discard unrelated recordings within 14 days, and cannot use drones equipped with "anti-personnel devices," which are defined as weapons or projectiles designed to harm individuals. The bill also mandates record-keeping for drone maintenance and usage, annual inspections, and reporting to the Attorney General, who will publish this information. Evidence obtained in violation of these rules cannot be used in legal proceedings.