Drone Operator Safety Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1755
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2017-08-03
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2017-08-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-08-03
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Drone Operator Safety Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to knowingly or recklessly operate an unmanned aircraft that interferes with or disrupts an aircraft or airborne vehicle carrying at least one occupant in U.S. airspace.</p> <p>It imposes criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term, or both&#8212;on a violator.</p> <p>The prohibition includes the unauthorized operation of an unmanned aircraft within an airport's runway exclusion zone (i.e., defined area of controlled airspace around an active runway) unless the operation is the result of an unforeseeable circumstance (e.g., a malfunction).</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1755 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2017 Mr. Whitehouse introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Drone Operator Safety Act of 2017 . 2. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft (a) In general Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 31— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and (ii) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following: (10) Unmanned aircraft The term unmanned aircraft has the meaning given that term in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–95 ; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note). ; and (B) in subsection (b), by inserting airport , before appliance , ; and (2) by inserting after section 39A the following: 39B. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft (a) Offense It shall be unlawful to operate an unmanned aircraft and, in so doing, knowingly or recklessly interfering with, or disrupting the operation of, an aircraft or other airborne vehicle carrying 1 or more occupants operating in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants. (b) Penalty (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. (2) Serious bodily injury or death Any person who attempts to cause, or knowingly or recklessly causes, serious bodily injury or death while violating subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both. (c) Operation of unmanned aircraft in close proximity to airports (1) In general The operation of an unmanned aircraft, including an operation covered by section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–95 ; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note), within a runway exclusion zone shall be considered a violation of subsection (a) unless— (A) the operator of the unmanned aircraft received prior authorization for the operation from the air traffic control tower at the airport; or (B) the operation is the result of a circumstance, such as a malfunction, that could not have been reasonably foreseen or prevented by the operator. (2) Runway exclusion zone defined In this subsection, the term runway exclusion zone means a rectangular area— (A) centered on the centerline of a runway of an airport; and (B) the length of which extends parallel to the runway’s centerline to points that are 1 statute mile from each end of the runway and the width of which is ½ statute mile. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 39A the following: 39B. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft. .