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Bill Permitting Drones Advances To Gov. McCrory

Aeyron Scout drone
creative commons

More drones could soon take to skies across the state.

Lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday that paves the way for local government and civilian permitting of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Republican Brent Jackson sponsored the bill. He said it updates an existing statute, passed two years ago.

“The FAA has come in since then with new laws and this is manly codifying what the FAA is doing. So when the FAA says you can do it, you can do it. But this bill is sort of mirroring what the FAA is doing,” explained Jackson.

The availability of drones has grown in recent years. Many local entities, ranging from farmers to real estate agents to law enforcement have begun using the devices.

At least one advocacy group has questioned whether this legislation opens the door to potential violation of civil liberties. Still, the measure passed 42-0 in the Senate and is now before Gov. Pat McCrory.

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
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