2015 -- H 5453

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LC000980

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO AERONAUTICS

     Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Carnevale, Tanzi, Solomon, and Casey

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 1 of the General Laws entitled "AERONAUTICS" is hereby amended

by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 8

THE RHODE ISLAND UNPILOTED AERIAL VEHICLES ACT OF 2015

     1-8-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Rhode Island

Unpiloted Aerial Vehicles Act of 2015."

     1-8-2. Exclusive aerial regulations. – The state of Rhode Island shall have exclusive

legal authority to regulate any unpiloted aerial vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft, or unmanned

aircraft systems, hereinafter referred to and described as "drones."

     1-8-3. Registration. – (a) Any drone sold, possessed, or operated in Rhode Island must

be registered with the department of public safety.

     (b) Information provided in accordance with § 1-8-3(a) must include the drone's serial

number, name of manufacturer, specifications, and any other available identifying information.

     (c) The registration required by § 1-8-3(a) shall be subject to a fifteen dollar ($15.00)

registration fee payable to the department of public safety.

     1-8-4. Areas of prohibited operation. – (a) No drone shall be operated:

     (1) Within five (5) miles of T.F. Green state airport and the Quonset Point naval air

station;

     (2) Within five (5) miles of any military installation;

     (3) Within two (2) miles of any other state airport;

     (4) Within two (2) miles of any emergency aeronautic vehicle, including, without

limitation, a medi-vac helicopter;

     (5) Within one-half (1/2) mile of any government building;

     (6) Within one-half (1/2) mile of any school, college, or university.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 11-64 of the General Laws entitled "Electronic Imaging Devices"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     11-64-3. Invasion of privacy by drone. – (a) No person shall use a drone, as defined in §

1-8-2, equipped with a device capable of capturing, recording, storing, or transmitting visual

images, to look into an occupied dwelling house or other building.

     (b) A person found guilty of the crime of invasion of privacy by drone shall be

imprisoned for not more than three (3) years in jail and/or fined not more than five thousand

dollars ($5,000).

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO AERONAUTICS

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     This act would establish registration requirements and operational restrictions for

unpiloted aerial vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems, and would

criminalize the invasion of privacy by use of such aircraft.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000980

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