PRINTER'S NO. 2496
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1684
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY GAINEY, READSHAW, ENGLISH, YOUNGBLOOD, THOMAS,
D. COSTA, PASHINSKI, MILLARD, ROZZI, MAHONEY, FARINA, WARD
AND COHEN, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in sports and amusements, prohibiting
the use of drones near stadiums.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 7108. Prohibited use of drones near stadiums.
(a) General rule.--A person may not operate a drone below
3,000 feet above and within three miles of a stadium where a
sporting event or other public event is occurring in this
Commonwealth.
(b) Exceptions.--This section shall not apply to the use of
a drone by any of the following:
(1) a law enforcement agency to counter a high risk of a
terrorist attack if the United States Secretary of Homeland
Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that
there is a risk of a terrorist attack;
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(2) a law enforcement agency if the law enforcement
agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular
circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent
danger to life or serious damage to property; or
(3) an authorized person for operational purposes in
connection with a public event in a stadium, including team-
sponsored broadcast coverage for the broadcast rights holder,
if the person using the drone is otherwise operating in
compliance with regulations of the Federal Aviation
Administration of the United States Department of
Transportation.
(c) Penalty.--A person who violates this section commits a
misdemeanor of the third degree.
(d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "drone"
shall mean a powered, aerial vehicle that:
(1) does not carry a human operator;
(2) uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;
(3) can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely;
(4) can be expendable or recoverable; and
(5) can carry a lethal or nonlethal payload.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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