DRONE OPERATION NEAR MACKINAC BRIDGE                                           S.B. 432 & 433:

                                                                                  SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bills 432 and 433 (as introduced 7-1-15)

Sponsor:  Senator Tom Casperson (S.B. 432)

               Senator Wayne Schmidt (S.B. 433)

Committee:  Transportation

Date Completed:  2-3-16

CONTENT

Senate Bill 432 would amend the Aeronautics Code to prohibit an unauthorized individual from operating a drone within 1,000 feet of the Mackinac Bridge, and create a misdemeanor penalty for an individual who violated the bill.

Senate Bill 433 would amend the Aeronautics Code to define "drone".

The bills are tie-barred to each other. Each bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Senate Bill 432

The bill would prohibit an individual who was operating a drone from flying the drone to within 1,000 feet of the Mackinac Bridge. The prohibition would not apply to an individual who was an employee or agent of the Mackinac Bridge Authority who was acting within the scope of his or her employment or agency, and flying the drone for any of the following purposes:

-- An engineering inspection.

-- Security.

-- Marketing.

Any individual who violated the bill would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days or a maximum fine of $500, or both.

Senate Bill 433

The bill would define "drone" in the Aeronautics Code as an aircraft, or other flying device, that was remotely controlled.

Proposed MCL 259.96 (S.B. 432)                                Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

MCL 259.3 (S.B. 433)

FISCAL IMPACT

Senate Bill 432

The bill would have a positive, though likely small, fiscal impact on the State and a negative, though likely small, fiscal impact on local governments. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to operate a drone within 1,000 feet of the Mackinac Bridge. An increase in arrests and convictions could place incremental resource demands on local court systems, law

enforcement, and jails. Any associated increase in fine revenue would be dedicated to public libraries.

Senate Bill 433

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State or local government.

                                                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Ryan Bergan

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.