VA Lawmakers Approve Two-Year Moratorium on Drones

Cops would have to hold off while everybody decides what to do about the things

The ACLU of Virginia applauded Virginia legislators as the House of Delegates and Senate today approved by overwhelming bi-partisan votes in both houses legislation that calls for a two year moratorium on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, by law enforcement and regulatory agencies in the Commonwealth.

"We are very pleased that Virginia is the first state in which both chambers of its legislature have approved measures that limit the use of drones," said Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, Executive Director of the ACLU of Virginia. "We are honored to be working with Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, Delegate Ben Cline, and Senator Donald McEachin, and we are grateful for their leadership on this precedent setting legislation. Virginia legislators are wise to anticipate the potential negative impact on civil liberties and privacy rights unfettered access to drone technology could have and to take the additional time needed to develop sensible and reasonable policies that balance the benefit of such technology with the privacy rights of Virginians. We hope that the Governor will agree with this approach and sign the legislation when it gets to his desk."