LANSING (WKZO-AM) — The increasing presence of drones may result in state legislation to reduce use of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
In other parts of the country, pilots have been flying the devices over corrections facilities. State Sen. John Proos of St. Joseph wants to make sure there are no fly-overs at prisons in Michigan.
“Drones are being used to drop packages of illegal contraband,” Proos said, adding that tobacco, drugs and pornography have been found in drone-left boxes at prisons elsewhere. “It’s kind of like today’s smuggling of box cutters in birthday cakes, and that’s just something that we cannot have.”
His bills would make it a four-year felony for anyone caught operating a drone within 1,000 feet of a lockup in this state.
The package is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
– John McNeill
