Why the drone FF? The risk is if FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018 legislation expires or is not passed, law enforcement agencies would lose authority to counter any drone threat and would be in violation of criminal laws that protect aircraft in flight. Drones have become the weapon of choice in the Russia Ukraine war and have steadily advanced in technology if law enforcement losses authority to regulate drones here in the US then citizens could arguably fly drones without restriction.
"The reported sightings do, however, highlight a gap in authority and so we urge congress to pass important legislation that will extend and expand existing counter joint authorities so we are better prepared to identify and mitigate any potential threats to airports or other critical infrastructure and so that state and local authorities all the tools that they need respond to such threats as well." - John Kirby NSC spokesperson John Kirby on drone sightings, says many are manned aircraft CBS News https://youtube.com/watch?v=5oznJ16TkMw [Embed]
[expires Dec 20,2024] FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018 (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Transportation may establish a pilot program to enable enhanced drone operations as required in the October 25, 2017 Presidential Memorandum entitled Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program and described in 82 Federal Register 50301. [[Page 132 STAT. 3302]] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ254/html/PLAW-115publ254.htm
House Lawmakers Want to Extend Expiring Counter-Drone Authorities "Witnesses at the hearing also made the case for extending the authorities. Without them, they said law enforcement agencies risk violating criminal laws. “The reason we need legal authority is that without it, use of the most effective types of drone detection and counter-drone technologies could violate criminal laws, including those that prohibit destroying or disabling aircraft in flight and intercepting signals and communications,” said Brad Wiegmann, the DoJ’s deputy assistant attorney general for national security."
