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Regulating Police Use of Drones

americanlivewire.com

Illinois police departments will be restricted in how they can use drone aircraft under a new law signed by Governor Pat Quinn.

The law will require police to get a judge’s signature on a warrant before they can use a drone.

This bill in no way limits the use for important law enforcement needs

Representative Ann Williams (D-Chicago) sponsored the legislation. When the bill was debated in the legislature, Williams said the proposal was meant to ensure peoples' privacy.

“This bill in no way limits the use for important law enforcement needs,” said Williams.

“What it does is ensure that the privacy protections afforded to us under the Constitution -- under the First and the Fourth Amendment -- are intact.” 

The law has several exceptions in which police wouldn't need a warrant, including searches for missing people, when someone is in imminent danger, or when the federal government identifies a credible terrorist threat.

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Brian Mackey covers Illinois state government and politics from the WUIS Statehouse bureau. He was previously A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. He can be reached at (217) 206-6020.