© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Drone Bill In the State Senate

   

Proposed Oklahoma legislation heading to the Senate would exempt property owners from civil action if they destroy drones not regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Tulsa World reports the proposed bill, authored by Republican Sen. Ralph Shortey, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote Feb. 21.

Shortey says the measure doesn't mention how the drone should be taken down, whether it is with a gun, a net or another device. He says the measure doesn't exonerate a person participating in a criminal activity, such as discharging a weapon where it's prohibited except for self-defense.

Stephen McKeever serves as chairman of the governor's Unmanned Aerial Systems Council, which opposes the legislation. He says drones are classified as an aircraft and that it's against federal law to shoot down an aircraft.