By Kathleen Wilson of the Ventura County Star
In a comprehensive bill introduced this week, state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson seeks to limit the use of drones near both private and public property.
“We want to create a seamless set of rules and a framework, so people know what they can and cannot do with drones,” the Santa Barbara Democrat said Wednesday.
Gov. Jerry Brown last year vetoed a bill by Jackson to prohibit drones from flying within 350 feet above private property without the property owner’s consent. Her new measure, Senate Bill 868, would require operators to keep their distance from numerous public facilities, as well.
The legislation would limit drone use within 500 feet of bridges, power plants, hospitals, water delivery systems, oil refineries and the state Capitol without permission. It also would restrict flying within 5 miles of an airport and over state parks.
The state is not the only player in the drone issue.
The Federal Aviation Administration has raised concerns over state and local governments’ attempts to regulate drones. The agency said in a document published last month that a “patchwork quilt” of differing restrictions could severely limit its ability to control airspace and flight patterns.
Jackson, though, saw no chance for interference with the FAA.
The FAA controls portions of the airspace, but lower elevations are still left to the authority of state and local jurisdictions, she said. The bill was written to work in conjunction with the agency’s rules, she said.
In his veto message for Jackson’s previous legislation affecting private property, Brown said more time was needed to evaluate the restriction. He argued that the measure could lead to burdensome litigation for occasional hobbyists and authorized commercial users.
Jackson said the new bill was written to address that concern.
“It is our hope and expectation that we would be able to work with the governor,” she said.
The measure also would prohibit reckless operation of drones and require commercial drone operators to buy liability insurance.
No committee hearing has been set.
The California Chamber of Commerce last year opposed the bill for private properties. It raised concerns over restriction of the airspace for drones, interference with other entities working on safety protocols and the potential for unnecessary lawsuits.