Michigan State Capitol Considers Comprehensive Drone Policy
Efforts to manage drone activity around the Michigan State Capitol are intensifying as a progressive plan unfolds. The Michigan State Capitol Commission’s executive director, Robert Blackshaw, unveiled a three-phase strategy aimed at monitoring and controlling drones in the vicinity.
The initiative begins with the implementation of advanced software designed to track drones. Blackshaw announced that this technology will be operational in the coming months. “It’ll illustrate the drone and even show us where the pilot of the drone is located due to the updated technologies. This is very useful as we can compare this data with any registered flight plans from the FAA to see if they are in compliance,” Blackshaw explained.
The second phase will focus on educating drone operators about the new policies, while the third phase will involve enforcing these regulations. Blackshaw indicated that these measures would be introduced gradually over time.
In parallel with these efforts, Michigan legislators are drafting bills to regulate drone usage statewide. Although drone regulation is typically a federal matter, Michigan lawmakers, including State Representative Will Bruck (R-Erie), believe state-level trespassing laws can apply to drones near sensitive sites like power plants and stadiums.
Representative Bruck expressed concerns about the limitations of current federal policies, which prevent local authorities from addressing disruptive drones promptly. “If it was nefarious, by the time they contact the FBI or for someone to take care of a nefarious drone, it’s way too late by that point. And same with all our critical infrastructure. So that’s really what it boils down to, is protecting critical infrastructure and the privacy of our citizens as well,” Bruck stated in a legislative preview.
The proposed legislation, expected to be introduced by Bruck and a bipartisan group later this week, aims to empower local enforcement to neutralize unauthorized drones and establish new procurement rules for government entities. Specifically, the bills would restrict the acquisition of drones from companies listed on a federal government watch list due to concerns about data security.
Bruck suggests an initial phase where departments can utilize software patches to secure existing drones. “Give them a time where then, normal budgeting cycles will allow those police departments and the (Department of Natural Resources) and others that use these drones to replace them on a normal cycle basis. Then it’s not asking them to throw away their whole fleet of drones and buy a new one,” he clarified.
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