Bill Text: NJ A4014 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Permits DEP officers to use drones.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-07 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee [A4014 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A4014-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Permits DEP officers to use drones.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of unmanned aircraft systems by certain law enforcement and conservation officers and amending P.L.1977, c.167 and P.L.1983, c.324.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1977, c.167 (C.13:1A-6.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall have the power to vest in the conservation police officers of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the park police officers and law enforcement operation officers of the Division of Parks and Forestry at all times the power to arrest without warrant any person violating any law of this State committed in their presence, including violations observed via the use of an unmanned aircraft system as defined by section 1 of P.L.2017, c.315 (C.2C:40-27), and bring the offender before any court having jurisdiction to receive the complaint of such violation. The Department of Environmental Protection, with the approval of the Attorney General, shall establish and maintain a suitable law enforcement training program for such personnel.
(cf: P.L.2019, c.407, s.4)
2. Section 21 of P.L.1983, c.324 (C.13:1L-21) is amended to read as follows:
21. The commissioner of the department shall have the power to vest in State park police officers and other personnel of the department at all times the power to arrest without warrant any person violating any law of the State committed in their presence, including violations observed via the use of an unmanned aircraft system as defined by section 1 of P.L.2017, c.315 (C.2C.40-27), and bring the offender before any court having jurisdiction to receive the complaint of such violation. These personnel are hereby authorized to carry firearms at all times. The department, with the approval of the Attorney General, shall establish and maintain a law enforcement training program for such personnel.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.216, s.2)
3. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits law enforcement and conservation officers of the Department of Environmental Protection to use unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones, in the execution of their duties.
Currently, a law enforcement or conservation officer is not restricted from using a drone in carrying out their duties with respect to the prevention of lawful taking of wildlife, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.11(C.23:7A-2). This bill expands that freedom to their other duties, such as enforcing trespassing and park disturbance concerns.
