On Dec. 29, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced new rules regulating the use of drones. The new regulations coincide with the growing demand for the use of drones for commercial purposes. Companies, such as UPS and Amazon, were even approved last August for package delivery via drone. Commercial drones are being used in the nonshipping context as well. Surveyors, broadcasters and even farmers are beginning to use drones for various tasks vital to their business. You might have even seen Michael Jordan’s new golf course—where your food and beverages will be delivered to you directly on the course. While we may be some years behind flying cars, it’s a good bet we are going to become accustomed to seeing these small aircrafts fly above us while we walk to work or take the kids to school.

The FAA has been regulating drone use for nearly a decade. Their authority rests with a variety of federal laws and administrative rulemaking. A review of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Public Law 112-95), Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190) and the Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254) provide a thorough frameworks for the type of laws and rules surrounding these products. Further, the many privacy concerns surrounding these drones have resulted in some limited state and local ordinances regarding their use.  For instance, Pennsylvania passed 18 Sec. 3505, making it illegal to operate a drone in private places or “operate in a manner that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily injury, or to deliver, provide, transmit or furnish contraband.”

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