HB471 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act Summary

• Creates the Alabama Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act establishing criminal penalties for unlawful drone use, including flying over designated facilities (refineries, chemical plants, power stations, ports, water treatment facilities) without owner consent, harassment of hunters/fishers, and using drones to aid hunting or fishing.

• Establishes Class B misdemeanor for first offense and Class A misdemeanor for subsequent offenses; makes disrupting manned aircraft operations a Class C felony; prohibits sale, transport, manufacture, or possession of armed drones and interference with law enforcement or emergency medical personnel.

• Authorizes facility owners to pursue civil actions and recover $5,000 per unlawfully published photograph or image, plus court costs and attorney's fees.

• Restricts government agencies from using drones to gather evidence without a search warrant, except in emergencies (imminent danger, suspect escape, terrorism threats, disasters), public event surveillance, missing person searches, search and rescue, or crime scene documentation.

• Exempts military use, federally-authorized drones, and allows facility owners to use drones for business operations including inspection, maintenance, security, and property patrolling; effective the first day of the third month following passage.