Latest news with #HouseBill2733
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
HB 2755: New AZ law to allow law enforcement to shoot down drug-carrying drones at the border
The Brief A new Arizona law will help law enforcement target drug-carrying drones at the southern border. HB 2733 shields public entities and public employees from damage liability when they intercept, capture, disable, shoot, destroy, or otherwise render inoperative a drone within 15 miles of the southern border. Supporters say the new law is crucial in protecting Arizonans' livelihoods. PHOENIX - A new Arizona law is helping law enforcement target drones that transport narcotics into the state, Lawmakers say drones are being used daily to carry drugs like fentanyl into Arizona, and under the previous law, officers in the state were not allowed to target those drones. That, however, has changed with House Bill 2733. What we know HB 2733, which was signed into law in April, gives officers legal protection to take down drones suspected of supporting criminal activity within 15 miles of Arizona's international border. Officers will also not be liable for any damages caused by the interception. "A public entity or public employee is not liable to an unmanned aircraft operator for any injury to personal property caused by a peace officer intercepting, capturing, disabling, shooting, destroying or otherwise rendering inoperative an unmanned aircraft within fifteen miles of this state's international border if the peace officer had reasonable suspicion that the unmanned aircraft was being used to commit a violation of title 13, chapter 23, 34 or 34.1," read the new law. On May 12, State Rep. David Marshall and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes both talked about how the law will help Arizona communities, saying it's crucial in protecting Arizonans' livelihoods, and combating the opioid crisis. What they're saying "In 2024 alone, Arizona saw 1,479 opioid-related overdose deaths. That is 1,479 lives taken too soon, countless families changed forever because of these deadly drugs," said State Rep. Marshall (R-District 7). "When we give law enforcement the tools they need, like House Bill 2733, they are able to capture these drugs before they cause irreparable harm to our communities." "Protecting Arizonans from the devastation of fentanyl should never, ever be a partisan issue, and this bill proves that it does not have to be," said AG Mayes. What's next AG Mayes said her office will also be working with the FAA to combat drones, and will provide local law enforcement with drone hammers.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill giving Arizona police drone-shooting immunity moves forward
Photo by Abadonian | iStock/Getty Images Plus A proposal that would give local law enforcement immunity when shooting down drones near the southern border passed out of committee Thursday despite concerns that it gives broad immunity to law enforcement. House Bill 2733 by Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, would give local law enforcement immunity from liability for damage to personal property if they are shooting down a drone they believe is engaged in criminal activity. The bill comes amid an increase in drug cartel drones flying over the states' southern border, GOP lawmakers and the Democratic attorney general say that local police should be able to shoot them out of the sky without fear they'll be sued. But even if state law is expanded to allow cops to shoot down drones, federal law still bans shooting at any aircraft — including drones. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Airspace around the borders of the United States is heavily controlled and monitored by the U.S. military and the Federal Aviation Administration. NORAD has previously reported that drone incursions at the southern border have seen a marked increase as inexpensive consumer drones have proliferated. Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, voiced concerns that giving law enforcement immunity and not creating a carve out for larger cities such as Nogales that are on the state's southern border gave him concern. 'As I read that, all I need is reasonable suspicion…which is fairly easy to establish and I could go skeet shooting,' Kolodin said during a House Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee hearing on the bill. In one scenario proposed by Kolodin, a law enforcement officer could shoot down a drone over someone's residence in Nogales, the drone could cause damage to that person's house or other property and law enforcement would be shielded from any liability. 'It is an absolute immunity, as long as the conditions are satisfied,' Kolodin said. 'It just seems like an oversight to me.' But Marshall disagreed with Kolodin, saying that the drones law enforcement are looking to take down are closer to the border and not in populated areas. He additionally dismissed concerns that the shooting down of a drone could lead to collateral damage. 'If you're out there at the border at ten o'clock or midnight, If a bb hits you in the head, put a bandaid on it,' Marshall said, suggesting that law enforcement would only use electronic anti-drone devices or 'bird shot' in shotguns to take down the drones. 'If you're out in the desert and you're flying these drones, you're probably up to no good.' The bill initially allowed law enforcement to shoot down drones within 30 miles of the border, but an amendment by Rep. Kevin Volk, D-Tucson, changed that to 15 miles at the behest of the Attorney General's Office. 'We are literally the transportation superhighway for fentanyl that comes into the country,' Nick Debus, a lobbyist for Attorney General Kris Mayes, told the committee. Debus, Marshall and Cochise County Sheriff Robert Watkins, whose county is along the border, all said the bill was necessary to combat the ongoing fentanyl crisis, as drug smugglers have been utilizing a variety of drones to bring fentanyl across the border. Watkins conceded that the drones his deputies have found have not been carrying drugs. And he also dismissed concerns about officers firing weapons into the air. 'If a cop is dumb enough to pull out his 9mm handgun and start capping rounds at a drone…we have a bigger issue,' Watkins said, adding that law enforcement use of force policies would aid in preventing law enforcement from shooting drones out of the sky with rifles or pistols. Kolodin disagreed, saying that as long as law enforcement acted within the confines of the law having reasonable suspicion, then they'd have complete immunity. The ACLU of Arizona agreed with Kolodin, noting that journalists and private citizens often fly drones along the border, and that giving law enforcement the power to shoot them down could limit the ability of watchdog groups or journalists from seeing how the Trump administration is conducting border operations. 'You can certainly shoot drones down over Nogales in this bill,' Marilyn Rodriguez, a lobbyist representing the ACLU said to the committee. 'How can law enforcement even assess a violation of organized crime?' Drones have long been a growing concern for both local and federal law enforcement at the border. Customs and Border Protection uses specialized 'drone jammers' to disable unmanned aircraft that are flying illegally. And they have also been spotted at critical facilities, including an incursion involving a 'drone swarm' at the Palo Verde Nuclear Power plant in 2019. Drones have proliferated in the past few years with multiple uses from law enforcement, fire fighting and even land surveying. It is unclear how the measure would account for drones operating legally within the border region. The bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support, though Kolodin and two Democrats — Reps. Lorena Austin and Quantá Crews — voted present. The bill will head to the full House of Representatives for consideration next. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Border state officials put cartels on notice as they await green light to take major action
An Arizona state bill would allow local and state authorities to shoot down drones used by drug cartels. House Bill 2733, sponsored by Republican state Rep. David Marshall, would provide qualified immunity to authorities for injuries that may be caused by taking out an "unmanned" drone within 30 miles of the southern border. Cartels regularly use drones as a tool to monitor law enforcement activity around the border in hopes of evading them in their own smuggling operations, even using the technology to send their drugs into the country. Although the situation at the border is calming down, there are still plenty of issues to tackle when it comes to crime, according to one sheriff. Boston Police Commissioner Doubles Down On Ice Resistance: 'We Don't Enforce' Detainers "As the border gets more secure under President Trump's new administration, we didn't think for a second that drug cartels were just gonna go away," Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, who is the president of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "They're getting more creative now – drone technology for smuggling drones over the border and dropping them, you know, external loads out in the desert to be picked up. They've been doing that for a while, but it's increasing in frequency. And so local law enforcement can literally see these things fly through the air, but you don't know where they're going," he continued. Read On The Fox News App Homan Takes Victory Lap After Illegal Immigrant Crossings Plummet During Trump Admin: 'He Is Delivering' The use of small aircraft is becoming a key concern for not only local and state authorities, but also federal border agents, as an expert recently told Fox News Digital that the cartels are trying to find ways to keep the cash flowing in despite the recent border crackdown. The state-level legislation is co-sponsored by a mix of Republicans and Democrats, which is a rare moment of bipartisanship, as some of the state's leaders are bitterly divided on the new administration's border and immigration policies. Still, drug interdiction has been a point of common ground in the Grand Canyon State. Illegal-smuggling Coyotes Now Advertising At Canada Border Amid Trump Migrant Crackdown: Report "This bill gives them the tools they need to do exactly that. Let's empower Arizona law enforcement to disable these cartel drones. Let's give our sheriffs the authority to fight back by passing this bill. And let's work together to take back our border from the Mexican drug cartels," Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes said at a news conference on Monday, as she's been asking for a policy to be enacted on the issue as of last spring. If the bill passes the Republican-majority legislature, it will then head to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk. The governor's office did not respond in time to comment on whether she plans to sign the article source: Border state officials put cartels on notice as they await green light to take major action
Fox News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Border state officials put cartels on notice as they await green light to take major action
An Arizona state bill would allow local and state authorities to shoot down drones used by drug cartels. House Bill 2733, sponsored by Republican state Rep. David Marshall, would provide qualified immunity to authorities for injuries that may be caused by taking out an "unmanned" drone within 30 miles of the southern border. Cartels regularly use drones as a tool to monitor law enforcement activity around the border in hopes of evading them in their own smuggling operations, even using the technology to send their drugs into the country. Although the situation at the border is calming down, there are still plenty of issues to tackle when it comes to crime, according to one sheriff. "As the border gets more secure under President Trump's new administration, we didn't think for a second that drug cartels were just gonna go away," Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, who is the president of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "They're getting more creative now – drone technology for smuggling drones over the border and dropping them, you know, external loads out in the desert to be picked up. They've been doing that for a while, but it's increasing in frequency. And so local law enforcement can literally see these things fly through the air, but you don't know where they're going," he continued. The use of small aircraft is becoming a key concern for not only local and state authorities, but also federal border agents, as an expert recently told Fox News Digital that the cartels are trying to find ways to keep the cash flowing in despite the recent border crackdown. The state-level legislation is co-sponsored by a mix of Republicans and Democrats, which is a rare moment of bipartisanship, as some of the state's leaders are bitterly divided on the new administration's border and immigration policies. Still, drug interdiction has been a point of common ground in the Grand Canyon State. "This bill gives them the tools they need to do exactly that. Let's empower Arizona law enforcement to disable these cartel drones. Let's give our sheriffs the authority to fight back by passing this bill. And let's work together to take back our border from the Mexican drug cartels," Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes said at a news conference on Monday, as she's been asking for a policy to be enacted on the issue as of last spring. If the bill passes the Republican-majority legislature, it will then head to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk. The governor's office did not respond in time to comment on whether she plans to sign the legislation.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona bill would allow local authorities to target drones at border
The Brief House Bill 2733 would allow local authorities to shoot down drones carrying drugs into Arizona. Right now, it's unlawful for local law enforcement to target drones. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes supports the bill. PHOENIX - Arizona authorities are hoping to ramp up the fight against drug cartels. This time, they're targeting drones transporting narcotics at the border. What we know House Bill 2733 would allow local law enforcement to shoot down drones potentially carrying narcotics into Arizona. Right now, it's unlawful for police to target drones, with the responsibility falling on federal authorities. By the numbers Last year, nearly 1,500 Arizonans died from opioid-related overdoses. Many of them came from fentanyl supplied by cartels. What they're saying Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes supports the measure, saying the law would be used for border operations and not for civilian-owned drones. "This legislation is needed to either allow them to disable the drones, using what are called drone hammers, or frankly blow them out of the sky with guns," Mayes said during a news conference on Feb 17. Big picture view Mayes added that this would happen in desert areas where disabling or shooting down a drone would be less likely to result in injuries. She also said her office will work with the Federal Aviation Administration to combat the drones.
