To address growing concerns by Iowans over the potential misuse of unmanned aerial vehicles — also known as drones — the Iowa Senate approved legislation to restrict their use by law enforcement agencies.
As amended, House File 2289 would protect the privacy of our citizens while providing law enforcement the tools necessary to gather evidence in a responsible manner. Specifically, the legislation would prohibit the use of drones by law enforcement for traffic enforcement. The bill does allow a law enforcement agency to use a drone to gather admissible evidence for a criminal or civil case only after securing a warrant or if its efforts are consistent with state and federal laws.
In addition, the legislation requires the Iowa Department of Public Safety to convene a group, including state and local entities, to determine whether the Iowa criminal code should be modified to regulate the use of drones, and to develop model guidelines for their use.