State Police Would Get Drone Interception Powers Under NJ Rep's Plan

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — As drone sightings continue across New Jersey and Ocean County and answers from federal authorities remain elusive, Rep. Chris Smith said he is drafting legislation that would allow state police to take action.

Smith announced the proposed legislation on Saturday at a news conference in Seaside Heights where he blasted federal authorities, including U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, over the federal response.

"How can anyone speculate or issue assurances to the thousands of Americans who have witnessed the drones that there is no threat?" Smith said in response to a statement issued by the Department of Homeland Security calling the drone sightings a case of mistaken identity and saying they do not appear to pose a threat.

"Why can’t we bag at least one drone and get to the bottom of this?" Smith said. "Why can’t we even track a suspect drone to its origin? Have we so little control over our airspace?"

Drones have been seen over Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County, authorities at both installations have said. There have been no incursions at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a base spokesperson said Thursday.

"For weeks, we’ve asked for the truth and action to mitigate any and all threats to people and property. Now we are demanding it," Smith said.

On Sunday Mayorkas walked back the statement on mistaken identity, telling ABC News that people were indeed seeing drones, NJ.com reported.

"Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones," he said. "And we do see duplicative reporting. But there’s no question that drones are being sighted."

Mayorkas said federal technology has confirmed drones in the sky over New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey reported.

Residents in Bradley Beach and Sea Girt told News 12 they have seen them, saying they fly much lower than planes and hovering instead of traveling in some direction.

At Saturday's news conference, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy shared more details of drone sightings by his officers, saying the drones would speed off at as much as 60 mph, in contrast to the 40 mph of the drones owned by the sheriff's office.

Mastronardy's office has been using its drone unit to do patrols at night to document drone activity. He said the officers on the unit are experienced, trained operators who have made the sighting reports.

He did say the sheriff's department has received reports of drones that authorities were able to determine were airplanes, noting that the area is in the flight path of Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport and planes fly about 6,000 feet over the area.

The drones are about 1,000 feet, Mastronardy said.

"Obviously they want us to know they're there, they put their lights on," Mastronardy said.

Smith, who represents New Jersey's 4th Congressional District, covering parts of Ocean and Monmouth counties, said federal authorities "must act now and Congress and the President need to move quickly to expand state and local authorities."

He is drafting a bill that would "empower the state police to seriously protect at-risk persons and infrastructure, and if necessary, bring down a dangerous drone or drones."

Smith, who sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to down one or more of these unmanned threats to uncover the mystery of the drones, called the federal response an insult to the intelligence of citizens.

"Knowing how drone warfare has radically changed warfighting in Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East and elsewhere, this is not the time to trivialize or dismiss the threat," Smith said.