Fwd: Re: [plots-gulfcoast] the Chemical industry legislates against "drones" [aerial photography?]

[Jeffrey Warren]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Chad Netto" <chad....@gmail.com>
Date: Apr 22, 2014 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: [plots-gulfcoast] the Chemical industry legislates against "drones"
To: <plots-g...@googlegroups.com>
Cc:

According to this bill if you take an aerial photo/ video and if this photo contains "critical infrastructure" (water treatment plants, power lines, roads, levees, etc.) you could be fined and imprisoned.  

Help by contacting your State Representative....

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/H_Reps_ByAddress.asp

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To Whom it May Concern,

It has been brought to my attention that legislation concerning unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), more commonly known as “drones”, has passed the Louisiana Senate and is on its way to the House.

Senate Bills 330 and 356 are the two bills I am referring to. While I support outlawing the criminal use of UAS and protecting people’s privacy, I implore you to vote against Bills 330 and 356 in favor for one with more articulate language. I shall explain.

Given the current language, the everyday positive use of UAS can be criminalized. Operators that have never hurt anybody or anything can suddenly become criminal due to technicality. As the state spends time and resources prosecuting these people, the real bad guys can slip through the cracks.

Additionally, there is an economic impact to consider. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) forecasts a lucrative economic impact in their report titled The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the United States. Their findings show that in the first three years of UAS integration more than 70,000 jobs will be created in the United States with an economic contribution of more than $13.6 billion. This benefit will grow through 2025 with more than 100,000 jobs created and an economic impact of $82 billion.

But there is more to consider. 

Currently, Hollywood films more movies in Louisiana than they do anywhere else, including California itself! Using a broad language to outlaw UAS in Louisiana can deter filming in Louisiana. Why is this? This is because a lot of studios use small UAS to carry cameras for their aerial shots. If they accidentally filmed something so ubiquitous as a powerline then who is to say that they haven’t filmed “critical infrastructure” and need to be imprisoned? What would a single instance of that do to the film industry in Louisiana?

Furthermore, the use of small UAS is a boon to industries like professional photography, oil and gas, commercial fishing, real estate, event security and much more!

Louisiana stands to be a leader in the unmanned aircraft sector and take a huge slice of the UAS pie. We already have technology incubators at Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans providing a way for young startups in the UAS industry to jumpstart the economy. Moreover, the University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a program specializing in UAS. With NASA locations like Michoud and Stennis reinforcing our technology corridor the sky is literally the limit!

If Senate Bills 330 and 356 are passed in their current form then Louisiana stands to throw all these opportunities away. Hollywood will shoot movies somewhere else, good taxpayers will be needlessly imprisoned and our economy will lag behind those states that chose to embrace the future rather than vanquish it. 

I implore you to revise Senate Bills 330 and 356 to a stricter language that makes room for UAS economy and jobs or strike them down altogether so that time may be taken to educate ourselves on this important issue.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

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On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 5:24 AM, Scott Eustis <eust...@gmail.com> wrote:

Louisiana:  "Senate backs ban on drones in certain locations" http://feedly.com/k/Qufj3F

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[Jeffrey Warren]

And an update via Meredith Dowling of Southwings:

Just saw this article. Apparently Louisiana SB 330 didn't pass, but it sounds like they intend to try again: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/04/louisiana_senate_fails_to_pass_1.html

_______

Meredith Dowling
Gulf Program Director

New Orleans Office
Tel: 504.717.4737
Fax: 855.546.8260

meredith@southwings.org
Web | Facebook | Twitter

[Chad Netto]

Bill 330 failed which covers privacy, but Bill 356 (infrastructure) passed the senate last week and is in the house.

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