House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	January 28, 2014 09:54 AM
From:	Representative Gerald J. Mullery
To:	All House members
Subject:	Prohibit the Use of Drones to Interfere with Lawful Hunting, Fishing, and Boating Activities

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would prohibit individuals or organizations from using drones (unmanned aircraft) to interfere with lawful hunting, fishing, and boating activities. As you may be aware, some animal rights groups have been promoting the use of drones to monitor hunters and fishermen in other parts of the country. While the operators of these drones claim that they are being used to spot illegal activities, the reality is that they are disturbing wildlife and interfering with the recreational opportunities of law-abiding hunters and fishermen. In an effort to end this practice, several states have enacted laws making it an offense to use a drone to interfere with hunting and fishing activities. The legislation that I will be introducing would amend Section 909 of Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by making it a punishable offense to use a drone in a way that interferes with another person who is engaged in lawful fishing or boating. In addition, this legislation would amend Section 2302 of Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by making it a punishable offense to use a drone in a way that interferes with another person who is engaged in the lawful taking of wildlife or other permitted activities.
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Introduced as HB2084