BILL NUMBER: S1096
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to imposing limita-
tions on the use of drones for law enforcement purposes
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation will impose limitations on the use of drones for law
enforcement purposes.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: This act shall be known and may be cited as the "protect our
privacy (POP) act".
Section 2: This civil rights law is amended to include section 52-e,
which establishes limitations on the use of drones.
Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have entered
civilian life. While drones are useful to regular people, corporations,
and government agencies, they also harm people's privacy. Police
surveillance of protests already produces a chilling effect amongst
members of the public who want to voice their concerns over government
abuse and social injustice. The continued use of drones by police in
public spaces will only further intensify the intimidation of the public
and erode protected first amendment speech.
Law enforcement does not need drones to conduct criminal investigations.
By using a warrant, law enforcement can enter and record any space. Law
enforcement use of cameras in public spaces is already ubiquitous. There
is no justification to require New Yorkers constantly having to look to
the sky to see whether the police are watching them engaged in their
daily behaviors.
This legislation bans law enforcement and other government agencies from
deploying drones to spy on New Yorkers.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S4162 (Ramos) Referred to Codes / A5251 (Kim) referred to
governmental operations
2021-22: S675 (Ramos) Referred to Codes / A33I1 (Kim) referred to
governmental operations
2019-20: S64358 (Ramos) Referred to Codes / A9931A (Kim) referred to
governmental operations
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.