Virginia’s senate committee has supported a two-year moratorium on the use of drones by police and government agencies.According to a WTOP article, the measure was approved on Monday by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and is similar to the one that is pending in the House of Delegates.
The Senate version includes an exception allowing police to use drones in an emergency, or to search for missing children or elderly people.
The bills originally imposed regulations on drone use and included a requirement that authorities need a warrant before deployment of small, unmanned surveillance aircraft.
The supporters of the bill claim that drones pose a threat to privacy rights.
Law enforcement groups oppose the regulations, so lawmakers decided on a moratorium to have more time to study the issue.
The bills are up for floor votes today.
