SF1524

This legislative bill, S.F. No. 1524, proposes an expansion of the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies in Minnesota can use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. The bill outlines several specific situations where drones can be legally used by police and other law enforcement bodies, including:

1. Responding to emergency situations that pose a risk of death or bodily harm.
2. Preventing the imminent destruction of evidence.
3. Monitoring public events that have a high risk of safety issues to participants or bystanders.
4. Addressing potential terrorist threats based on credible intelligence.
5. Managing response efforts during and after natural or man-made disasters to save lives, protect property, and support rescue and recovery operations.
6. Assessing threats in preparation for specific events.
7. Investigating areas with reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
8. Gathering data for crash reconstruction after serious or fatal road accidents.
9. Operating over public or privately-owned areas for police training, public relations purposes, or other non-law enforcement activities requested by government entities in writing.

The bill specifies that in non-law enforcement cases, the government entity must provide a written request detailing the reasons for using the UAV and the intended period of use. Additionally, law enforcement can use drones to aid in the search for missing persons. This bill aims to clarify and detail the permitted uses of drones to assist law enforcement in their operations while addressing various public safety concerns.