The Senate of the state of Hawaii issued a bill for an act that would severely restricts the possibility to use drone for taking aerial pictures or video.

The main concern seems to be related to the protection of Hawaii citizens privacy. The title of the document is “Unmanned Aircrafts; Right to Privacy“. Using drones for video application would be restricted to just a few selected cases.

“Use of unmanned aircrafts prohibited.  Except as provided under this part, it shall be unlawful for any law enforcement agency, state or local public agency, person, or entity to use an unmanned aircraft to gather information, including but not limited to images, photographs, or recordings.“

We report below the full text of the document, whose original version can be accessed HERE.

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THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
2608
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that unmanned aircraft technology is rapidly developing. Public Law 112-95 (2012) requires the Federal Aviation Administration to “accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system”. While unmanned aircraft technology offers more efficient and cost saving methods to gather information, this new and innovative technology may also provide opportunities for abuse.
In recognizing the progressive opportunities that unmanned aircrafts provide, the legislature also recognizes its duty to protect Hawaii residents from threats to their constitutional right to privacy. The legislature further finds that in 2013 nine other states passed legislation regulating government deployment of unmanned aircraft technology.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that unmanned aircraft technology is used strictly to assist or benefit Hawaii residents and not used in a manner that will impede their right to privacy.
SECTION 2. Chapter 803, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
“PART . UNMANNED AIRCRAFTS
§803-A Definitions. As used in this part unless otherwise required by context:
“Law enforcement agency” means any agency of the State, county, or United States that is vested by law with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce the criminal laws.
“Unmanned aircraft” means an aircraft that is operated without direct human intervention onboard the aircraft.
§803-B Use of unmanned aircrafts prohibited. Except as provided under this part, it shall be unlawful for any law enforcement agency, state or local public agency, person, or entity to use an unmanned aircraft to gather information, including but not limited to images, photographs, or recordings.
§803-C Exceptions. This part shall not apply to a law enforcement agency under any of the following circumstances:
(1) A finding based on credible intelligence is made by the United States Secretary of Homeland Security that the use of an unmanned aircraft is necessary to counter a high risk terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization;

(2) A search warrant is issued pursuant to this chapter that permits the use of an unmanned aircraft; provided that the search warrant shall be valid for a period not to exceed thirty days but may be extended by the court for no more than thirty additional days upon a showing of good cause;

(3) The use of an unmanned aircraft is necessary to assist in search and rescue activities or locate missing persons;

(4) The use of an unmanned aircraft is necessary to assist in the operation, exercise, or mission of any branch of the United States military; or

(5) The use of an unmanned aircraft is necessary to assist the disaster relief agency under chapter 127 or provide relief pursuant to the governor’s declaration of a state disaster under section 209-2.

§803-D Retention of information. If a law enforcement agency uses an unmanned aircraft pursuant to section 803-C, the law enforcement agency shall destroy all information collected by the unmanned aircraft no later than thirty days after such information is collected unless the information is necessary for and relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation or pending criminal trial.
§803-E Disclosure of information. If a law enforcement agency uses an unmanned aircraft pursuant to section 803-C, the law enforcement agency shall not disclose any information collected by the unmanned aircraft unless the collected information is necessary for and relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation or pending criminal trial.
§803-F Remedies for violations. An aggrieved party may initiate a civil action to:

(1) Obtain any appropriate relief, including but not limited to equitable relief to prevent or remedy a violation of this part; and

(2) Recover monetary damages, including actual and general damages, attorney’s fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred, in an amount no less than $1,000; or

(3) If information collected through the use of an unmanned aircraft was publicly disclosed without the aggrieved party’s permission, the aggrieved party is entitled to recover monetary damages, including actual and general damages, attorney’s fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred, in an amount no less than $10,000.

§803-G Reporting. (a) In January of each year, any law enforcement agency that used an unmanned aircraft during the previous calendar year shall report to the legislature its unmanned aircraft activities and shall provide a copy of the report to the judiciary. The report shall include the following information:

(1) The number of times an unmanned aircraft was used, organized by the types of incidents and the types of justification for deployment;

(2) The number of crime investigations aided by the use of each unmanned aircraft, along with a description of how the unmanned aircraft was helpful to each investigation; and

(3) The total cost of the law enforcement agency’s unmanned aircraft program.

(b) In January of each year, any court that has issued a search warrant permitting the use of an unmanned aircraft, an extension or modification of such warrant, or denied an application for such warrant during the previous calendar year shall report to the judiciary the number, kind, and duration of search warrants or search warrant extensions applied for, granted, modified, or denied.”

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Unmanned Aircrafts; Right to Privacy

Description:
Prohibits the use of unmanned aircrafts, except by law enforcement agencies, to gather information and establishes certain conditions for law enforcement agencies to use an unmanned aircraft to obtain information. Requires all law enforcement agencies using unmanned aircrafts and the courts to report on their activities relating to unmanned aircrafts. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.