New League Drone Policy Incorporates Local and Law Enforcement Priorities

While the organization has weighed in on drone issues for several years, it did not have an established or robust policy until this action. The new policy will serve as a roadmap for a drone regulatory structure that works for cities and local law enforcement.
 
A task force of 15 elected officials, staff, and law enforcement from the League’s Public Safety and Transportation, Communications, and Public Works policy committees developed the drone policy. 
 
The policy comprises three main sections that address the belief that cities are in the best position to determine certain aspects of drone regulation. The sections are:

• The role of the state;
• Codifying local law enforcement’s ability to enforce state; and
• Local drone laws and the role of local regulations.

The adoption of this policy is timely with threats of preemption ever-present at both the state and federal level from the drone industry and others who seek to subvert local authority. As such, the League is now better prepared to further engage on this issue and will enable cities to regulate drones to their fullest extent possible.