Carroll Commissioners Concerned about Drone Surveillance

Commissioner Robin Frazier intends to draft a resolution about drone usage in Carroll County following a drone discussion by the Board of County Commissioners in open session Thursday.
 
“I felt it was important to bring this issue to light and to let people know the potential dangers inherent in the use of these unmanned aircraft,” Frazier said in a statement. 

Frazier said she was concerned about drone use as it relates to citizens’ 4th Amendment protections against unwarranted search and seizures. Specifically she referred to the use of drones to enforce environmental regulations on farmers.

Sara Love, Public Policy Director for the Maryland ACLU, spoke in Thursday's open session saying the ACLU is concerned about Congress’ authorization allowing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to change airspace rules to make it easier for police agencies to use drones for surveillance.

Last year, Congress passed the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act, which mandates the agency develop a legal framework that would clear the way for commercial drone use by 2015, according to Capital News Service.

Love said that the ACLU is concerned that such broad authority may lead to a “surveillance society” in which every move is monitored by the government.

"We need a system of rules where we can allow the use of drones while not violating citizens’ rights," Love said. 

Several states have already passed legislation limiting the use of drones in their airspace and the ACLU is encouraging others to do the same, according to a county news release.

In Maryland, Delegate Ronald A. George, R-Anne Arundel, sponsored a bill that would limit the circumstances under which law enforcement agencies can use drone technology, according to Capital News Service. 

George’s bill, the only drone legislation offered in Maryland this year according to Capital News Service  failed to make it out of committee.

Love told the board of commissioners that passing a local resolution may send a message to the state that this is important. 

Commissioner Richard Rothschild said "the opportunities for [drone surveillance] abuse are magnificent right now and there are things we can do at the local level" to protect citizen's rights.

"We can ask again our sheriff and state's attorney to not prosecute based on any kind of evidence that might be obtained from a drone deployed in Carroll County unless its subject to a court issued search warrant," Rothschild said. 

Colonel Philip Kasten, Chief Deputy Carroll County Sheriff, said that the Carroll County Sheriff's Office does not own or possess drones, nor does it have any future plans to deploy the technology, according to a statement. 

Frazier said she would draft a resolution and bring it back to the Board for further discussion and review.