HB498 - Alabama Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act

• Creates the Alabama Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act prohibiting unmanned aircraft systems from surveilling, gathering evidence about, or recording designated facilities (refineries, chemical plants, power generation facilities, ports, water treatment facilities, etc.) without owner consent, with Class B misdemeanor penalty for first offense and Class A misdemeanor for subsequent offenses.

• Allows facility owners to sue for civil damages up to $5,000 per unlawful photograph, image, or video published or disseminated, plus court costs and attorney's fees, with affirmative defenses available if recordings are destroyed or sharing is stopped.

• Restricts government agencies from using unmanned aircraft systems to gather evidence except by search warrant, when reasonable suspicion of imminent danger exists, during public events, or for search and rescue operations; prohibits use of illegally obtained evidence in criminal prosecutions and requires destruction of unlawfully collected images.

• Prohibits sale, transport, manufacture, or possession of unmanned aircraft systems equipped with weapons (defined as objects designed to cause serious bodily injury or death), with Class A misdemeanor penalty.

• Amends existing criminal statutes to include unmanned aircraft system operation as a method of committing reckless endangerment, stalking, criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental operations, promotion of prison contraband, and criminal surveillance.