Legislation would make invading privacy with drone a crime

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A bipartisan bill that would ban the use of a drone aircraft to spy on or harass neighbors has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.

House Bill 328 would make it a  crime to fly an unmanned aircraft system to invade the privacy or harass a person on private property.

Engaging in such conduct would be a misdemeanor, with damage to property or physical injury classified as a Class A misdemeanor.

The use of drones with sophisticated cameras has grown by leaps and bound, with real estate, law enforcement and other industries employing the unmanned aircraft. Along with the growth has come concern over privacy issues.

Incidents of contact with commercial aircraft, including jets, have also been reported.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority has championed the use of drones and experimented with the use of the aircraft in checking areas around the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

The bill will first go to the Senate Transportation Committee.