IL SB1587

Law enforcement agencies are prohibited from using drones to gather information, except under specific circumstances outlined in the Act.

Exceptions allowing drone use include: countering high-risk terrorist threats (as determined by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security), obtaining a search warrant, responding to imminent threats requiring swift action (limited to 48 hours with reporting requirements), locating missing persons, and documenting crime or traffic scenes.

Search warrants for drone use are limited to 45-day periods and are renewable upon a showing of good cause; drone use in emergency situations is limited to 48 hours and must be reported to the local State's Attorney within 24 hours.

All information gathered by drones must be destroyed within 30 days unless a supervisor determines it contains evidence of criminal activity or is relevant to an ongoing investigation; information may only be disclosed to other agencies under the same conditions.

Information gathered in violation of the Act's limits is presumed inadmissible in judicial or administrative proceedings, and law enforcement agencies must report annually to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority the number of drones they own.