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Drone Liability Legislation Moving In Senate

Florida Senators are working on further drone legislation.
Nick Evans
Florida Senators are working on further drone legislation.
Florida Senators are working on further drone legislation.
Credit Nick Evans
Florida Senators are working on further drone legislation.

Last year state lawmakers placed privacy restrictions on the use of drones, and this year they are pushing for liability in the event of personal injury or property damage.  Miami Republican Senator Miguel Diaz De La Portilla believes with more operators there’s greater danger.

“It’s only a matter of time before drone incidents become serious drone accidents.” De La Portilla said at the measure’s last committee stop in November.

“This bill recognizes the dangerous nature of drones and provides that the owner and operator of a drone are jointly and severally liable for personal injuries or property damage caused by the negligent operation of a drone,” he said.

But opponents object to the use of joint and several liability, which allows a person who was harmed to sue every party involved with the drone.  The bill comes before its second panel Tuesday.

Copyright 2016 WFSU

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.