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11/04/2024 08:28 AM

Police Commission Backs Possible Drone Ordinance


OLD SAYBROOK

At a meeting on Sept. 23, the Old Saybrook Police Commission unanimously voted to endorse a recommendation from Police Chief Michael Spera to ask the Board of Selectmen to consider an ordinance that would limit drone use during emergency operations.

In recent years, flying drones, or unmanned aircraft, has become a popular hobby for many nationwide. The ability to capture a birds-eye view of a location or event is a welcome opportunity for professional and amateur photographers alike.

However, drones can also prevent problems when they interfere with security and safety operations. In 2017, the state passed a law that allowed towns to create a local ordinance that established a drone-free zone under specific circumstances. At a Police Commission meeting on Sept. 23, Spera told the commission he was interested in seeking a potential ordinance prohibiting drones from flying over emergency operations.

Spera stressed that, at this point, it was only an idea and that no official language had been proposed. He acknowledged it’s possible the selectmen will not be in favor of any ordinance, at which point the suggestion would die.

Spera outlined that it would be a multi-step process for the idea to be approved. First, the idea would need to be presented to the Board of Selectmen for its review; if that board was in favor of the move, the town attorney would need to approve the language of a proposed ordinance, a public hearing would need to be held for residents to state their concerns, and a town meeting would need to be held for residents to approve or deny any proposed ordinance.

At this point, Spera explained he was just seeking a motion from the commission to show support for the idea so that when it is presented to the selectmen, he can show the idea has some backing. Spera said he was also looking to receive support from other relevant departments, such as the fire department.

Spera said there has not been a specific incident that made him concerned about drones but did acknowledge that the department gets calls about them “from time to time.” Spera said that he wanted to be proactive rather than reactive and waiting for a problem to present itself when considering the ordinance, and he pointed out some potential issues to consider.

For one example, Spera said in the case of a serious emergency where helicopters are needed, the pilots will ask if drones are in the area. Spera said with an ordinance in place prohibiting drone use in an active emergency and by utilizing an available software program that detects drones and drone user locations, he would be able to inform the pilots that the drone had been cleared from the scene to the best of the department’s ability.

Spera said he would also consider preventing drones from flying over schools. He reasoned that if there was ever an active emergency at a school, a drone could compromise a police response by showing where officers are going.

Spera also pointed to aspects of common decency, such as not flying a drone over the beach where people are in bathing suits or in the case of an emergency scene with a fatality.

“I don’t think a drone should be able to see a deceased body before we’ve notified the family,” Spera said.

While the commission members did unanimously support Spera’s suggestion, some members did ask about situations where drones could be of use. Spera said that it’s possible the person in charge of an emergency scene could ask for assistance from anyone with drones in an event, such as someone missing in the woods after other search means have been attempted.