K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
A federal judge has struck down a Texas drone law, one of the most restrictive in the country, for violating the First Amendment’s protections of freedom of speech and the press.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on March 28 ruled that Chapter 423 of the Texas Government Code was unconstitutional and could not be enforced by any government or police entity. The law, which was passed in 2013 and later amended, had restricted the use of drones to collect images of private property, or to conduct “surveillance” of individuals.
The law was challenged by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the Texas Press Association (TPA) and three Texas-based photojournalists, who successfully argued that the law improperly prohibited the use of drones to collect images used for newsgathering purposes. Chapter 423 included exceptions, allowing drone photography and videography for other purposes, such as surveying, real estate work and academic research, but notably not for news reporting.
In an interview Mickey Osterreicher, NPPA’s general counsel, said the strong ruling would likely affect laws restricting the use of UAVs in other states.
Continue reading: https://dronelife.com/2022/04/04/texas-drone-law-struck-down-restrictions-violate-first-amendment-rights/
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on March 28 ruled that Chapter 423 of the Texas Government Code was unconstitutional and could not be enforced by any government or police entity. The law, which was passed in 2013 and later amended, had restricted the use of drones to collect images of private property, or to conduct “surveillance” of individuals.
The law was challenged by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the Texas Press Association (TPA) and three Texas-based photojournalists, who successfully argued that the law improperly prohibited the use of drones to collect images used for newsgathering purposes. Chapter 423 included exceptions, allowing drone photography and videography for other purposes, such as surveying, real estate work and academic research, but notably not for news reporting.
In an interview Mickey Osterreicher, NPPA’s general counsel, said the strong ruling would likely affect laws restricting the use of UAVs in other states.
Continue reading: https://dronelife.com/2022/04/04/texas-drone-law-struck-down-restrictions-violate-first-amendment-rights/
