S05461 Summary:

BILL NOS05461A
 
SAME ASSAME AS A01515-A
 
SPONSORKENNEDY
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add Art 48-D §§2500 - 2504, V & T L
 
Regulates the use of unmanned aircrafts in the state; defines terms; authorizes permitted uses of unmanned aircrafts; restricts use of unmanned aircrafts; makes related provisions.
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S05461 Actions:

BILL NOS05461A
 
05/01/2019REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
05/03/2019AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
05/03/2019PRINT NUMBER 5461A
01/08/2020REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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S05461 Committee Votes:

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S05461 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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S05461 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         5461--A
 
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                       May 1, 2019
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --  commit-
          tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
          mitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation  to  regulating
          the use of unmanned aircraft in the state
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
     2  article 48-D to read as follows:
     3                                ARTICLE 48-D
     4                              UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
     5  Section 2500. Legislative purpose.
     6          2501. Definitions.
     7          2502. Permitted use of unmanned aircraft.
     8          2503. Restricted use of unmanned aircraft.
     9          2504. State preemption.
    10    §  2500. Legislative  purpose.  It  is  the purpose of this article to
    11  encourage the safe operation of unmanned aircraft and to give  users  of
    12  unmanned  aircraft  clear  rules  of  operation that also give state and
    13  local law enforcement the tools needed to protect public safety, privacy
    14  and property.  This section is intended to ensure consistency and  avoid
    15  conflict  between  local,  state  and federal law pertaining to unmanned
    16  aircraft and their use.
    17    § 2501. Definitions. 1. "Person"  means  an  individual,  partnership,
    18  corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity.
    19    2. "Political subdivision" means a county, city, village, township, or
    20  other  department,  agency,  political  subdivision, public corporation,
    21  authority, or district in this state.
    22    3. "Unmanned aircraft" means an aircraft operated without  the  possi-
    23  bility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00207-03-9

        S. 5461--A                          2
 
     1    4.  "Unmanned  aircraft system" means an unmanned aircraft and associ-
     2  ated elements, including communication links and components that control
     3  the unmanned aircraft that are required for  the  pilot  in  command  to
     4  operate safely and efficiently.
     5    §  2502. Permitted use of unmanned aircraft. 1. The flight of unmanned
     6  aircraft over the land and waters of this state is lawful.
     7    2. A person may operate an unmanned aircraft system in this state  for
     8  commercial  or  recreational purposes if the unmanned aircraft system is
     9  operated in a manner consistent with federal law and regulation.
    10    § 2503. Restricted use of unmanned aircraft. 1. A person operating  an
    11  unmanned  aircraft  shall  not  interfere with manned aircraft and shall
    12  always give right of way to manned aircraft.
    13    2. A person operating an unmanned  aircraft  shall  not  intentionally
    14  operate an unmanned aircraft in a manner that is imminently dangerous to
    15  persons or property lawfully on the land or water beneath.
    16    3.  A  person  operating  an unmanned aircraft shall not intentionally
    17  operate an unmanned aircraft in a manner that  constitutes  a  frequent,
    18  repetitive, substantial and unreasonable nuisance.
    19    4.  A  person  operating  an  unmanned  aircraft  shall not operate an
    20  unmanned aircraft in this state without first complying with all  appli-
    21  cable  licensing, registration, and marking requirements required by the
    22  Federal Aviation Administration.
    23    5. A person operating  an  unmanned  aircraft  shall  not  operate  in
    24  violation  of  any  flight  restriction  issued  by the Federal Aviation
    25  Administration.
    26    6. A person shall not knowingly and intentionally operate an  unmanned
    27  aircraft  system  in a manner that unreasonably obstructs with the offi-
    28  cial duties of any of the following:  (a) a police  officer;  (b)  fire-
    29  fighter; (c) paramedic; or (d) search and rescue personnel.
    30    7.  A person shall not knowingly and intentionally operate an unmanned
    31  aircraft system to subject an individual to harassment. As used in  this
    32  subdivision, "harassment" means that term as defined in sections 240.25,
    33  240.26, 240.30 or 240.31 of the penal law.
    34    8.  A person shall not knowingly and intentionally operate an unmanned
    35  aircraft system within a distance that, if the  person  were  to  do  so
    36  personally rather than through remote operation of an unmanned aircraft,
    37  would be a violation of a restraining order or other judicial order.
    38    9.  This  section  does  not  affect  the ability to investigate or to
    39  arrest, prosecute, or convict an individual for any other violation of a
    40  law of this state.
    41    § 2504. State preemption.  1. In concert with federal  law  and  regu-
    42  lation, the authority to regulate the ownership or operation of unmanned
    43  aircraft is vested solely with the state.
    44    2.  Except as expressly authorized by statute, a political subdivision
    45  shall not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that regulates the
    46  ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft or otherwise engage  in  the
    47  regulation  of  the  ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft.  Poli-
    48  tical subdivisions must work in  compliance  with  state  law  regarding
    49  limits placed on the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft.
    50    3.   Any existing or future local law or ordinance which is inconsist-
    51  ent with any provision of this subdivision or any  rule  and  regulation
    52  promulgated hereunder shall be preempted.
    53    4. This article does not affect federal preemption of state law.
    54    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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