This bill proposes an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, Section 626.19, Subdivision 3, regarding the authorized use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, by law enforcement agencies.

Key Changes and Additions:

• Expands the situations in which law enforcement may use UAVs to include:
  
  • The risk of a fleeing suspect or the actual pursuit of a fleeing suspect (new provision).
    
• Lists other authorized uses, including:
  
  • Emergencies involving risk of death or bodily harm.
    
  • Public events with heightened safety risks.
    
  • Counterterrorism activities based on credible intelligence.
    
  • Disaster response and recovery efforts.
    
  • Threat assessments before specific events.
    
  • Investigating suspected criminal activity in public areas.
    
  • Crash reconstruction investigations after serious or fatal accidents on public roads.
    
  • Officer training or public relations purposes.
    
  • Non-law enforcement purposes upon written request from a government entity.
    

Impact of the Bill:

• Provides law enforcement with additional authority to deploy UAVs in situations involving fleeing suspects, potentially improving criminal apprehensions.
  
• Clarifies and enumerates permissible UAV uses, ensuring agencies operate within legal boundaries while using drones for public safety.
  

If passed, this amendment would grant Minnesota law enforcement broader authority in using UAVs while maintaining oversight on their application.