Idaho Bans Drones Without a Warrant

On Thursday April 11th Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed into law a bill that requires police to obtain warrants to use drones to collect evidence about suspected criminal activity.

by Derrick Broze
Intellihub.com
April 17, 2013

The measure does allow exceptions in cases that involve illegal drugs or when the unmanned aircraft is being used for public emergencies or search and rescue missions.

“We’re trying to prevent high-tech window-peeping,” Idaho Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, sponsor of the measure in the Republican-led Idaho legislature, told Reuters earlier this year as the bill was pending in the legislature.

Drone aircraft continues to be a hot topic. In 2011 Congress passed a bill that requires the Federal Aviation Administration to clear airspace for up to 20,000 drones in American skies within ten years. The FAA recently authorized the use of certain small drones up to 400 feet in the sky. The commercial market for the technology is expected to unfold around 2015.

According to documents obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation 88 cities, universities, and police departments have applied for licensing for drones. While the programs spread so do fears of privacy invasion and even possibly assassinations of American citizens.

Most recently the state of Virginia ordered a 2 year moratorium on the technology until more research can be done. In Seattle a drone program for the local police was squashed after outrage from citizens. Idaho is the latest success in the ongoing battle for privacy but not everyone is happy. Proponents of drone technology believe the Idaho law goes too far.

They argue that the bill is too broad and will restrict the use of drones that have nothing to do with surveillance or bombing. Drones, like any tool, are capable of both good and bad. What matters is who is holding said tool.

It’s not hard to imagine a number of ways we can apply the technology to our own lives and help to improve our lives. It might be possible to have activist drones that can give participants in a rally an aerial view of their surroundings. Possibly for use as a cop watching  assistant. There are even ways we could apply the technology to bettering our lives through our food.

For example, the Department of Transportation and the State of Idaho recently announced that the FAA authorized the use of two remote-controlled aircraft to monitor potato fields in eastern Oregon.
According to the press release:

“Equipped with cameras capable of zooming in on a single plant leaf, the suitcase-sized aircraft will take photographs that researchers hope can detect whether plants are getting enough water and fertilizer. If successful, the information will let growers solve problems the human eye might not be able to spot. “

They continue, “The program has yet to raise any privacy concerns in the rural area. Researchers said the drones will be focused on potatoes, not people. Trial flights will begin as early as Monday.”

Drones are here to stay. What matters is how we choose to allow this technology to manifest itself in our lives. While the State of Idaho is working to protect civil liberties and save citizens privacy, they are also searching for ways the unmanned aircraft can be of benefit rather than a threat.

Perhaps through continuing to educate ourselves, and each other, on the dangers associated with drones we will create an environment where drones programs are not rushed forth in secret, and citizens have full access to the details of the programs. Every day new local and state efforts are launching to oppose drones and their invasion into our lives. Find out if your city is already standing against  the drones. If not, do a little research, began printing and passing out literature, stand up strong, and spread the word about what is happening in our country.

Sources:
^http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/12/us-usa-drones-idaho-idUSB...
^http://www.avionics-intelligence.com/news/2013/04/15/idaho-drones-t...

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Derrick Broze is a founding member of The Houston Free Thinkers.

He writes for IntelliHub.com a popular independent news website.

He can be heard on Orion Talk Radio, Local Live Houston and the upcoming Unbound Radio.

Find his workatwww.theconsciousresistance.com and www.thehoustonfreethinkers.com