Feb. 12--The growing number of restrictions on where drones can fly could extend to prison yards under a new measure introduced in the Illinois Senate.
The idea is to try to prevent cases such as in other states where drones have flown drugs, pornography and razor blades over prison walls. In Ohio, a dropped package of tobacco, heroin and marijuana sparked a violent brawl among inmates in August.
As the remote-controlled aircraft becomes more popular, it also has become more tightly regulated. The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance in November prohibiting users from flying drones over people, personal property and within 5 miles of airports. Drones also are going to be a topic at the Capitol this session after a task force appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner makes its recommendations on how to limit drone use.
Sponsoring Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, said he filed the prison drone ban measure at the request of Illinois Department of Corrections officials. Under the bill, inmates caught bringing in contraband using drones will have an additional year in prison added to their sentence. Any employee or person who knowingly flies a drone over prison airspace will be charged with a misdemeanor.
One of the biggest concerns is that drones could become the latest way for dangerous inmates to get their hands on weapons or cellphones, Bivins said.
"You don't want a drone dropping a cellphone in the yard at night," Bivins said. "This is something we're seeing in prisons around the country. And smuggling cellphones is a big deal, because these prisoners can get on Facebook, they can harass their victims or even run what they did on the outside."
There are some federal regulations in place for drones. As of Dec. 21, anyone who wants to fly a drone has to register it with the Federal Aviation Administration. But some state lawmakers are taking it a step further in light of mounting safety or privacy concerns. Legislatures in Michigan and Wisconsin are taking up bills similar to the one Bivins submitted.
Corrections spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said while there have been no reports of drones dropping contraband into Illinois prison yards, the bill is preventive measure.
cbott@tribpub.com
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