Category Archives: Drones

VA: Automobile exception doesn’t require “ready mobility” and this car was totaled in a wreck

Defendant’s car was totaled in a wreck, and it couldn’t be driven. Nevertheless, the automobile exception applied to it. After Carney, “ready mobility” is no longer required because of the lesser expectation of privacy in a car compared to a … Continue reading

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MI: Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon drone case argued today

The Traverse City MI drone flyover case goes before the Michigan Supreme Court today at 10 am ET. The oral argument link: 164948 Long Lake Township v Todd Maxon. See, e.g., Law360: Mich. Top Court To Decide If Drone Searches … Continue reading

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NBC New York: NYPD using drones to monitor NYC backyard Labor Day parties, spurring privacy concerns

NBC New York: NYPD using drones to monitor NYC backyard Labor Day parties, spurring privacy concerns by Jake Offenhartz (“The New York City police department plans to pilot the unmanned aircrafts over large gatherings in an effort to enhance security … Continue reading

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S.D.Ind.: Drone use that didn’t go over curtilage was reasonable

The use of a drone to surveil plaintiffs’ home from a distance in a child welfare case was not unreasonable. The drone didn’t fly over the house or curtilage, and the police were concerned plaintiffs had a “small arsenal” and … Continue reading

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Insider: Police use of high tech drones is on the rise, and regulations aren’t keeping up with them

Insider: Police use of high tech drones is on the rise, and regulations aren’t keeping up with them by Sebastian Cahill: • Police departments cross-country are using drones in their daily operations.• New drones have the capability to break through … Continue reading

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MI grants review in zoning drone case: Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon

Michigan SCt to set argument on whether it violates the Fourth Amendment to use a drone for aerial photography in zoning disputes. Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon, 2023 Mich. LEXIS 768 (May 24, 2023).* The issues: “(1) whether the appellee … Continue reading

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E.D.N.C.: SW needed for drone surveillance over a home

A request for a court order for drone surveillance over a home requires a warrant under the Fourth Amendment. A request under the All Writs Act isn’t the way to do it. In re Application of the United States For … Continue reading

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MI: Even if using a drone to take pictures in zoning dispute violated 4A, exclusionary rule does not apply, and the action below was remedial not punitive

The use of a drone to take pictures by a city contractor in case over a zoning ordinance violation probably did not violate any Fourth Amendment right. But even if it did, the exclusionary rule should not apply in this … Continue reading

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IA: Shots fired call where officers heard of a man slumped over a railing and saw cars struck by bullets was exigent circumstances for entry

The community caretaking function justified the warrantless entry here into defendant’s apartment. Officers responded to a shots fired call at an apartment complex, saw bullet damage to cars, and had a report of a person slumped over a balcony railing. … Continue reading

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D.C.Cir.: FAA drone registration requirement violates no REP

The FAA rule requiring all drones when flying to transmit information about themselves violates no reasonable expectation of privacy. They operate in public airspace, which the federal government controls, and the rule requires a digital license plate but only electronically … Continue reading

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MI drone over curtilage case update

In the Michigan drone over the curtilage case (posted here), Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon, the parties are directed to brief application of the exclusionary rule to zoning disputes:

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MI: City’s use of drone photos in zoning dispute violated homeowner’s REP

The township’s use of a drone to fly over defendant’s property to take pictures for a zoning dispute violated their reasonable expectation of privacy. The state legislature said that they have one from drone usage. Long Lake Twp. v. Maxon, … Continue reading

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Forbes: Drones With ‘Most Advanced AI Ever’ Coming Soon To Your Local Police Department

Forbes: Drones With ‘Most Advanced AI Ever’ Coming Soon To Your Local Police Department by Thomas Brewster (“Founded by Google veterans and backed by $340 million from major VCs, Skydio is creating drones that seem straight out of science fiction—and … Continue reading

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NYTimes: Police Drones Are Starting to Think for Themselves

NYTimes: Police Drones Are Starting to Think for Themselves by Cade Metz (“In one Southern California city, flying drones with artificial intelligence are aiding investigations while presenting new civil rights questions.”)

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Vox: Recode: Amazon’s surveillance cameras fly now — which is unsettling

Vox: Recode: Amazon’s surveillance cameras fly now — which is unsettling (“Amazon has announced a new way for consumers to surveil their own homes: a camera-equipped drone that connects to Ring security systems. Ring, which Amazon owns, has a history … Continue reading

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CNN: Police used drones to monitor nudity at a Minnesota beach

CNN: Police used drones to monitor nudity at a Minnesota beach by Jay Croft (“Police near Minneapolis used drones last week to check if sunbathers at a lakeside beach were breaking the law by going nude or topless. The Golden … Continue reading

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CNET: Homeland Security used aircraft to surveil BLM protests in 15 cities

CNET: Homeland Security used aircraft to surveil BLM protests in 15 cities by Corinne Reichert “(And some 270 hours of surveillance footage was broadcast live to a Customs and Border Protection control room.”)

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NYTimes: Council Forces N.Y.P.D. to Disclose Use of Drones and Other Spy Tech

NYTimes: Council Forces N.Y.P.D. to Disclose Use of Drones and Other Spy Tech by Alan Feuer (“The bill, which the mayor is likely to sign, compels the police to disclose the technology they use and data they collect.”)

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Miami Herald: From above, Miami-Dade police drone recorded crack cocaine sale live. It’s a first, cops say

Miami Herald: From above, Miami-Dade police drone recorded crack cocaine sale live. It’s a first, cops say by David Ovalle:

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NYTimes: The F.A.A. Wants to Start Tracking Drones’ Locations

NYTimes: The F.A.A. Wants to Start Tracking Drones’ Locations by Heather Murphy (“A proposal would require most drones flying in American airspace to include technology that would allow the government to keep tabs on them.”)

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