From the Carolina Public Press:
Known most commonly as drones, the emerging technology of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, will soon see widespread commercial use in the United States. In response, states across the nation are scrambling to craft legislation to regulate how UAVs can and can’t operate within their borders.
In North Carolina, where a bill about UAVs was introduced but died in the state legislature last year, a special House committee convened in recent months to recommend a new approach. The 11-member Committee on Unmanned Aircraft Systems held the last of its four meetings on April 23, at which it altered and approved proposed legislation on the matter.
Read the full article here.
According to the article, Republican Co-Chair John Torbett supports drone use; of course, he’s VP of Defense Technologies, Inc., which develops software for ‘unmanned weapons systems’. In addition, Republican Chris Whitmore wants to prevent the use of UAVs from being used to uncover animal abuse on farms and factories, something that is happening all over the country. Democrat Pricey Harrison is concerned about “First Amendment issues” but also wants to ensure that private entities with drones are not encumbered by restrictions imposed upon governmental agencies. And the Water Thief expressed concern about privacy protections, but then wants to let those who violate restrictions off easy for their ‘first offense’.