Lawsuits, bans, privacy fights, and the case law being written around drones.
Wisconsin lawmakers are circulating legislation that would authorize police to shoot down drones they deem threats to public safety—a move that directly contradicts federal law making it a felony to destroy any aircraft, including drones. The bill, coauthored by Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) and Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin), would grant law enforcement unprecedented authority…
A San Diego judge has ordered the City of Chula Vista to pay over $500,000 in legal fees after losing a groundbreaking four-year legal battle over public access to police drone videos, delivering a costly lesson in transparency that could reshape how law enforcement agencies nationwide handle drone footage requests. Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal…
Illegal drone activity is spiking across U.S. national parks as the federal government shutdown enters its 23rd day, with tour guides in Yosemite reporting multiple daily sightings compared to their normal rate of about one drone per week. The enforcement vacuum comes as the National Park Service operates with skeleton crews after losing 24% of…
Wrap Technologies has unveiled what it claims is the first commercially available non-lethal drone interdiction system in the United States. The DFR-X payload system, branded as the MERLIN-Interdictor, mounts the company’s BolaWrap tether technology onto drones—transforming passive observation platforms into active restraint tools that can physically intervene before officers arrive on scene. The
Toronto police charged seven people for illegally flying drones over Rogers Centre during American League Championship Series games on October 12-13, using specialized detection technology to intercept the unauthorized flights. The Toronto Police Emergency Management and Public Order Unit laid eight charges against the operators for violating Canadian Aviation Regulations and breaching a federally
Transport Canada has completed its investigation into a drone safety complaint filed by Skydive Wasaga Beach and determined the town’s micro drone operation during a fall fair was conducted safely and responsibly, according to CTV News. The investigation effectively closes the file on concerns that sparked tension between the Ontario municipality and a local commercial…
A blockchain startup is offering property owners the chance to monetize low-altitude airspace for drone operations. Legal experts say the underlying property rights don’t exist under current law. SkyTrade, a Delaware-based startup, is building what it calls the world’s first marketplace for air rights, promising property owners they can earn passive income by renting airspace…
The Texas Department of Public Safety has become the first law enforcement agency in the United States to deploy helicopter-mounted drone detection technology, marking a significant shift in how agencies protect their aircraft from unauthorized drones during high-risk operations. The system went fully operational in August 2025. The move comes just months after a rescue…
One email with the drone news that matters — DJI, FAA, public safety, and everything in between, straight from the newsroom. No spam, no fluff.
