Gov. Brown vetoes bill requiring warrant for law enforcement drones
DRONES DON’T NEED WARRANTS: Gov. Brown nixes a bill that would have forced police to get a search warrant before using drones for surveillance.
By Brad Matthews | WatchdogWire.com
On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have forced the police to get a search warrant before using a drone for surveillance purposes.
In his veto message, Gov. Brown said, “The bill’s exceptions, however, appear to be too narrow and could impose requirements beyond what is required by either the 4th Amendment or the privacy provisions in the California Constitution.”
Bill AB 1327 had broad support in both houses of the California state legislature, and was based off of measures passed in other states to restrict the use of drones by local law enforcement.
Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) said in speaking to the Los Angeles Times, “We’re increasingly living in a surveillance society as the government uses new technology to track and watch the activities of Americans.”
Gorell then warned the Times that, in the face of the veto, legislators will instead introduce a complete moratorium on drone use in the state. Gorell said this alternative could cost jobs in drone production.
