Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-972
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8]
Introduced: 2013-03-05
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Civil actions and liability

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Evidence and witnesses

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Latest action: action_date: 2013-04-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-03-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013 - Prohibits a person or entity acting under the authority of the United States from using a drone to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or regulatory violations except to the extent authorized in a warrant issued under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.</p> <p>Defines a &quot;drone&quot; as any powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, and can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, be expendable or recoverable, and carry a lethal or nonlethal payload.</p> <p>Exempts from such prohibition the use of drones to: (1) patrol national borders to prevent or deter illegal entry of any immigrants or illegal substances, (2) prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or destruction of evidence when drones are used by a law enforcement party under exigent circumstances, or (3) counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization based on credible intelligence determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS).</p> <p>Authorizes civil actions by aggrieved parties. </p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 972 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2013 Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To protect individual privacy against unwarranted governmental intrusion through the use of the unmanned aerial vehicles commonly called drones, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013 . 2. Prohibited use of drones Except as provided in section 3, a person or entity acting under the authority of the United States shall not use a drone to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or conduct in violation of a regulation except to the extent authorized in a warrant issued under the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 3. Exceptions This Act does not prohibit any of the following: (1) Patrol of borders The use of a drone to patrol national borders to prevent or deter illegal entry of any immigrants or illegal substances. (2) Exigent circumstances The use of a drone by a law enforcement party when exigent circumstances exist. For the purposes of this paragraph, exigent circumstances exist when the law enforcement party possesses reasonable suspicion that under particular circumstances, swift action to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect, or destruction of evidence. (3) High risk The use of a drone to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization, when the Secretary of Homeland Security determines credible intelligence indicates there is such a risk. 4. Remedies for violation Any aggrieved party may in a civil action obtain all appropriate relief to prevent or remedy a violation of this Act. 5. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term drone means any powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or recoverable, and can carry a lethal or nonlethal payload. (2) The term law enforcement party means a person or entity authorized by law to investigate or prosecute offenses against the United States.