Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes requirements for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by law enforcement in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Defines “heliport” as the area of land, water, or a structure that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters (Sec. 4561.01).

• Defines “vertiport” as the identifiable ground or elevated areas that are designed to be used for the landing and takeoff of rotorcraft, tilt rotor aircraft, or other powered lift aircraft (Sec. 4561.01).

• Defines “spaceport” as any facility in the state at which space vehicles may be landed or launched (Sec. 4561.01).

• Defines “seaplane base” as a designated area of water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of seaplanes (Sec. 4561.01). 

• Specifies that all heliports, vertiports, spacesports, and seaplane bases must be approved by the Department of Transportation before being used for commercial purposes (Sec. 4561.11). 

• Specified that a pilot’s aviator’s license shall be kept in the pilot’s personal possession and must be presented for inspection upon request by any passenger, authorized representative of the Department of Transportation, or any official manager or person in charge of the airport, heliport, vertiport, spaceport, or seaplane base (Sec. 4561.11). 

• Requires a police officer or other applicable law enforcement to obtain a search warrant to do either of the following to collect surveillance data concerning the house or place instead of an in-person search (Sec. 4561.61): 

• Enter the interior of the house or place through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle system; or

• Observe the interior of the house or place through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle system. 

• Authorizes a law enforcement agency to use an unmanned aerial vehicle for surveillance without a search warrant as follows (Sec. 4561.62):

• To patrol within 50 miles of a National border for the purposes of preventing illegal entry;

• Before, during, or immediately after an environmental catastrophe for public safety;

• To examine the scene of a vehicle accident;

• To photograph or record evidence of a crime; or

• For research, education, training, testing, or development efforts related to unmanned aerial vehicles. 

• Prohibits a law enforcement agency from using an unmanned aerial vehicle armed with any lethal weapons (Sec. 4561.63). 

• Prohibits a law enforcement agency from using an unmanned aerial vehicle for the surveillance of one private individual by another private individual unless the agency obtains either of the following(Sec. 4561.63):

• The express, informed consent of the person being surveilled; or

• The express, informed consent of the owner of the real property on which the individual is being surveilled. 

• Requires law enforcement agencies to document all flight data for each surveillance and verify that the flight data is accurate and complete (Sec. 4561.54). 

Full Bill Text
Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text