Floridians have another reason to cheer, thanks to a groundbreaking bill that could soon give them the right to defend their homes against invasive drone surveillance.
The game-changing legislation would allow homeowners to use “reasonable force” against drones hovering within 500 feet of their property, striking a blow against Big Tech’s invasion of privacy.
Republican state Senator Keith Truenow introduced SB 1422 to amend Florida’s “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.”
The bill responds to growing concerns about unwanted surveillance as drone technology becomes more accessible to government agencies, corporations, and individual operators who may not respect property rights.
Under current Florida law, private drone operators are already prohibited from spying on or recording people in their homes.
The new bill strengthens these protections by increasing penalties to a first-degree misdemeanor and explicitly authorizes homeowners to take defensive measures against trespassing drones.
The bill has already cleared its committee hurdles with unanimous approval and is headed for a full Senate vote.
If passed, Floridians will gain these new protections starting October 1, making the Sunshine State a leader in defending constitutional property rights against technological encroachment.
Beyond protecting individual homeowners, the legislation also increases penalties for operating drones without permission near critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants and airports.
In an age of increasing security threats, this measure helps safeguard vital facilities from potential sabotage or surveillance.
In response, Democrat state Senator Jason Pizzo raised concerns about potential conflict with federal aviation law.
He stated:
“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.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken a hard stance against citizens defending their airspace.
“It’s illegal under federal law to shoot at an aircraft,” the FAA said in a statement. “A private citizen shooting at any aircraft – including unmanned aircraft – poses a significant safety hazard.”
The agency continued, “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.”
It added, “Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in a civil penalty from the FAA and criminal charges from federal, state or local law enforcement.”
The bill specifically prohibits drones from carrying weapons of mass destruction or hoax WMDs, addressing legitimate security concerns while preserving Americans’ right to protect themselves from prying eyes.
This balancing of security concerns with individual liberties has been described as a thoughtful approach taken by Florida lawmakers.
Ultimately, Florida’s proposed legislation has been praised as a beacon for other states looking to protect their citizens from privacy violations.
