Praised by many as a common-sense measure, Florida Republicans are empowering homeowners to defend their property from intrusive drones.
A new bill moving through the state legislature would allow residents to use “reasonable force” against surveillance drones hovering near their homes.
The legislation seeks to reinforce Floridians’ right to privacy against increasingly pervasive technology.
Sponsored by Republican State Senator Keith Truenow, the measure would amend Florida’s “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act” to give homeowners expanded rights to protect themselves from unwanted aerial surveillance.
The bill specifically targets drones flying within 500 feet of private residences, a distance that clearly indicates potential spying activities.
Already unanimously approved by a committee, the legislation is headed for a full Senate vote and would take effect October 1 if passed.
The bill comes as Americans across the country grow increasingly concerned about privacy violations from drones hovering over their property.
The Florida legislation does not stop at protecting homeowners. It also makes it a felony to operate drones without permission near critical infrastructure, such as power plants and airports.
Additionally, it explicitly prohibits drones from carrying weapons of mass destruction or hoax WMDs.
Current Florida law already prohibits private drone operators from spying on people in their homes.
However, the new bill increases the penalty to a first-degree misdemeanor and grants homeowners the right to take action against the invasive devices.
The legislation extends a 2024 act that made it illegal to take photos or videos of persons or private property using a drone without permission.
Democrat State Senator Jason Pizzo raised concerns about potential conflict with federal regulations, which prohibit damaging aircraft while airborne.
He said, “Last committee stop, there was mention that ‘reasonable force’ might include shooting it down. And I think a number of us have had some drone issues, I had one here a couple years ago, right on the balcony.”
“But I don’t want anyone under the notion that they can go and just shoot things down from the air, which is actually punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison,” Pizzo added.
The federal government is pushing back against Florida’s attempts to empower homeowners.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken a hard line against citizens defending their privacy through physical means.
The agency said in a statement:
“It’s illegal under federal law to shoot at an aircraft. A private citizen shooting at any aircraft – including unmanned aircraft – poses a significant safety hazard. An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air. Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in a civil penalty from the FAA and criminal charges from federal, state or local law enforcement.”
While the bill does not specifically mention shooting down drones, the “reasonable force” language gives homeowners needed flexibility to address privacy threats.
As drone technology becomes more advanced and widespread, Americans need clear legal protections against unauthorized surveillance.
