Unlawful use of unmanned aircraft over open-air facility, offense of
It is against the law to fly a drone low over a large outdoor stadium or venue (one that holds 5,000 or more people and is not fully covered by a roof) without permission. Flying a drone there is a minor violation, but if someone uses the drone to drop off a weapon, it becomes a serious felony, and dropping off drugs is also a felony. Some people are allowed to fly drones there, like facility employees with boss approval, police, firefighters, government workers, and utility workers doing inspections. The facility must post a warning sign about this law.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
577.800. use of over open-air facility, of — permissible acts — violation, — age. — 1. A person commits the offense of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft over an open-air facility if he or she purposely:
(1) Operates an unmanned aircraft within a vertical distance of four hundred feet from the ground and within the property line of an open-air facility; or
(2) Uses an unmanned aircraft with the purpose of delivering to a person within an open-air facility any object described in (1) or (2) of 4 of this section.
2. For purposes of this section, "open-air facility" shall mean any sports, theater, music, performing arts, or other entertainment facility with a capacity of five thousand people or more and not completely enclosed by a roof or other structure.
3. The of this section shall not prohibit the operation of an unmanned aircraft by:
(1) An employee of an open-air facility at the direction of the president or of the open-air facility;
(2) A person who has written from the president or chief executive officer of the open-air facility;
(3) An employee of a , fire , or emergency medical in the exercise of official duties;
(4) A government official or employee in the exercise of official duties;
(5) A or a if:
(a) The unmanned aircraft is used for the purpose of inspecting, repairing, or maintaining transmission or distribution lines or other utility equipment or ;
(b) The utility or notifies the open-air facility before flying the unmanned aircraft, except during an emergency; and
(c) The person operating the unmanned aircraft does not physically enter the prohibited space without an escort provided by the open-air facility; or
(6) An employee of a railroad in the exercise of official duties on any land owned or operated by a railroad regulated by the Federal Railroad .
4. The offense of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft over an open-air facility shall be punishable as an* unless the person uses an unmanned aircraft for:
(1) Delivering a gun, knife, weapon, or other article that may be used in such manner to endanger the life of an employee or guest at an open-air facility, in which case the offense is a ; or
(2) Delivering a , as that term is defined under section 195.010, in which case the offense is a .
5. Each open-air facility shall post a sign warning of the provisions of this section. The sign shall be at least eleven inches by fourteen inches and posted in a .
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Source & history notes
(L. 2020 H.B. 1963) *Word "a" appears in original rolls.
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