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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Limits On Drone Use On Thursday's Legislative Agenda

Montana Capitol.
William Marcus
/
Montana Public Radio

Thursday at the Montana legislature brings a bill that would limit the use of drones. House Bill 586 would ground these unmanned aerial vehicles if flown within about 3 miles of airports, areas of an emergency, or places where planes or helicopters are spraying.

The bill’s sponsor, Willis Curdy of Missoula, says he’s a commercial pilot himself, and has seen planes grounded because of drone use.

“Some operations had to have been terminated because drones have been in the area and aviators have not been able to continue with their mission.”

For drones caught within that 3-mile range, the owner could be fined up to $1,000 and spend 6 months in jail. That is, unless a plane has to move out of the way of a drone or collides with it. That would cost three times the amount for damages invoked, at least $1,000, and a minimum of 6 months in jail.

The maximum? Ten years in jail.

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