Bill > S2310

This bill establishes standards for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, by law enforcement agencies and fire departments in New Jersey. For law enforcement, drone use for surveillance or evidence gathering is generally restricted to situations with a judicial search warrant, or when there's probable cause of a crime and exigent circumstances prevent obtaining a warrant, or with the property owner's written consent. Exceptions exist for search and rescue missions, including locating missing persons or children, and for responding to Amber Alerts or Silver Alerts. Fire departments, including forest firefighters, can use drones to survey fire damage and gather visual and auditory information. The bill defines "anti-personnel device" as a weapon or projectile designed to harm individuals, and prohibits their use on drones by any entity covered by the act, with violations being a fourth-degree crime. All entities using drones must maintain records of their maintenance, fuel purchases, and usage, including the location and purpose of each flight, and these records are subject to inspection by the Attorney General, who will also publish annual reports on drone usage. Any recorded verbal or video communication unrelated to an ongoing criminal or arson investigation must be discarded within 14 days and protected from public disclosure, with evidence obtained in violation of these rules being inadmissible in legal proceedings.