S-4429.2
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6437
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State of Washington | 64th Legislature | 2016 Regular Session |
By Senate Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Roach, O'Ban, Schoesler, Warnick, Brown, Honeyford, and Benton)
READ FIRST TIME 02/05/16.
AN ACT Relating to dangerous drone operations near correctional facilities; adding a new section to chapter
9A.76 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that technological advances have provided new unique equipment that may be utilized in a variety of purposes. These technological advances often outpace statutory protections. Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, may be used for nefarious purposes such as the delivery of drugs, weapons, or other contraband to state prison inmates. The legislature finds the private use of drones near state prisons are a danger to public safety. It is the intent of the legislature to ensure that private drones may not be used near state prisons by making their specific use criminal.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 9A.76 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of a dangerous drone operation if the person knowingly operates a drone over or within one thousand feet of the perimeter of a correctional facility, as defined in RCW
72.09.015, without authorization from the department of corrections.
(2) A dangerous drone operation is a class C felony.
(3) This section does not apply to drone operations by federal, state, or local governmental agencies.
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