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Minnesota committee advances bill letting police use drones in narrower warrantless scenarios
Summary
The Judiciary, Finance and Civil Law Committee approved an amendment and recommended House File 1396 to the general register after narrowing warrantless uses of unmanned aerial vehicles for evidence at imminent risk, fleeing suspects and missing-person searches.
The House Judiciary, Finance and Civil Law Committee on April 3 advanced House File 13‑96, a bill that narrows and clarifies circumstances when law enforcement may operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) without a search warrant.
The bill, as amended by the A6 change adopted in committee, permits warrantless drone use in three specific circumstances: to document evidence at imminent risk of destruction, to assist in searches for certain fleeing criminal suspects, and to aid active searches for missing people who face risk of death or serious bodily harm.
Madam Chair and Representative Witte said the measure was negotiated with law‑enforcement groups and the ACLU and that the amendment tightens…
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