South Carolina House Votes to Restrict Drones, 100-0selfnews Post Introduced in early 2013 by Reps. Hamilton, Delleney, Taylor, Putnam and Loftis, House bill 3514 (H3514) would prohibit the operation of drones by an agency of the state unless it is pursuant to a criminal warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. While the bills co-sponsors are all Republicans, the unanimous approval in the House shows the widespread bipartisan support for putting restrictions on drone use, which is expected to grow by leaps and bounds in 2015. The ACLU has weighed in on the issue on a national level as well, warning that unregulated drone use could pose serious threats to our privacy. The legislation does include some narrow exceptions to the warrant requirement to allay the fears of law enforcement officials who did not want to be hamstrung in emergency situations when a drones use might spell life or death. Were really just updating our laws to keep up with some of the technology, the bills primary sponsor, state Rep. Dan Hamilton, R-Taylors, told South Carolina Radio Network. The technology is changing rapidly. A lot of these companies that have sold them for use overseas are now marketing them domestically. I think, before things get out of hand, that we put a box around it and make theyre being used in the way they should be. Tenth Amendment Center national outreach director Amanda Bowers noted that South Carolina could join a growing chorus of states putting strict limited on drones. Already, a number of states have passed similar bills into law, and we are expecting more in the coming weeks and months, she said. From California to Washington State, and from New York to Missouri, legislators and the general public from left to right want to see a dangerous future stopped before it happens. Bills were signed into law in 2013 in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. H3514 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it will first need to pass by a majority vote before the full Senate can consider whether or not to send the bill to Gov. Haleys desk for a signature. TAKE ACTION If you live in South Carolina:ClickHEREto find out what steps you can take to support H3514 Source: 