Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s concern about unpiloted drones flying near airports led him to take steps in Senate action Wednesday to stop them. Florida’s senior senator had the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee insert a pilot program to deter them into the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill. Senate Bill 2658, which ranking Democrat Nelson of Florida […]

Associated PressFebruary 8, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is meeting with Florida’s airport directors as part of a push to garner support for new technology that could protect airports and other sensitive areas from drones. Nelson was in Orlando on Friday meeting with airport directors from Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Clearwater and Panama City. Nelson is hoping to […]

Scott PowersFebruary 5, 2016

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says drones near airports “an accident that is waiting to happen,” and is asking the FAA for tougher rules and to consider technologies allowing airports to take control of drones flying nearby. Nelson called a meeting at Orlando International Airport Friday of top executives at seven of Florida’s largest airports — Orlando, Miami, Tampa, St. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 19, 2016

An effort to add liability language to the state law governing drone aircraft is moving through the state Senate, now without a contentious clause calling for joint and several liability. On Tuesday, the Senate commerce and tourism committee approved a measure (SB 642) related to drones. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

A South Florida lawmaker is adding to the bills filed to regulate drones, with legislation making their owners and users liable for any injuries the remotely-piloted aircraft may cause. State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Coral Gables Republican, filed the bill (SB 642) on Monday. The legislation would ensure that any injury in which […]

Jim RosicaOctober 12, 2015

A new bill would criminalize the use of drones by sexual predators to take photos or videos of children. State Sen. Dorothy Hukill filed her bill (SB 510) on Monday. The latest bill adds to a long line of legislation aimed at reining in the remotely-controlled and usually miniature aircraft. Generally, Florida lawmakers have been concerned […]

James CallApril 28, 2015

A Legislature crackdown on drones flew out of the House Tuesday with a unanimous vote. SB 766 would prohibit drones – unmanned mini-robots equipped with cameras — from taking pictures on private property without consent. The measure already cleared the Senate, and now is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott. Drones are popping up […]

Associated PressApril 16, 2015

A Florida newspaper that knew ahead of time that a man planned to fly a gyrocopter into restricted airspace at the U.S. Capitol faced questions Thursday about whether its editors should have used the knowledge to try and stop the risky stunt. The Tampa Bay Times, which posted reporter Ben Montgomery in Washington on Wednesday […]

James CallApril 13, 2015

On Monday, a Senate committee approved the bill regulating drones used to take photos without consent. If passed, violations would carry a $5,000 fine. Distribution of the picture would cost the drone operator $10,000. Even though the Federal Aviation Administration expects to issue guidelines governing drones, officially known as unmanned aerial vehicles, Florida is among more than a dozen […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

Can it matter that a famous actress will play a drone pilot on stage in New York and play it as a troubled murderer with an updated effort to wash out the damn spot of blood on her famous hands? With permanent war declared the norm and entirely acceptable, only a generation removed from wisdom […]

Tag: drones

Bill Nelson gets drones-at-airports intercept program into FAA reauthorization bill

Bill Nelson wants limits on drones around airports

Bill Nelson, Florida airport leaders call for FAA rules, technologies, to crack down on drones near airports

Drone legislation advances in Senate

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla files drone bill

New bill would criminalize sex predators with drones

Drone restrictions flying to governor’s desk

Should Tampa Bay Times have done more to alert authorities about Capitol gyrocopter stunt?

Senate committee passes bill limiting drone surveillance

David Swanson: Can Anne Hathaway's 'Grounded' ground war drones?