Tallahassee, FL – A Volusia County lawmaker files a bill that would make it a crime for registered sex offenders to use a remote control drone to spy on kids or take their pictures.
Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature passed a bill designed to give people more privacy from unmanned drones and other types of “eye in the sky” devices.
Senator Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) says there’s a loophole in that bill. It doesn’t stop registered sex offenders from using drones to stalk and photograph kids.
Her bill – which was filed on Monday – would fix that loophole, one she calls a safety issue that has to be dealt with.
“This bill’s very tightly written to cover the most egregious situations,” Hukill stated.
Hukill says sex offenders are required to stay away from schools, playgrounds and other places where children gather and passing this bill would make sure those predators can’t just buy a drone and visit those areas remotely.
“What they can’t do personally, they could do with a drone and do it pretty unobtrusively without people being aware or really knowing what they’re doing,” Hukill added.
The Republican admitted that drones are the wave of the future and that’s why it’s important to figure out ways to safely utilize this technology while respecting people’s privacy.
Hukill did say she’s never heard of a case where a sex offender used a drone in this fashion, but she feels it’s a matter of time before someone does.
There is no similar bill in the Florida House of Representatives.
The bill as written would take effect next October if it’s voted into law during next year’s state legislative session.
Click here to see the full bill.
Florida News Network contributed to this report.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.