TRI In The News

Anti-Drone Fight Comes to City, Albemarle

January 28, 2013

From The Daily Progress

Charlottesville and Albemarle County could soon join state lawmakers in opposing unmanned surveillance drones.

Prominent lawyer John Whitehead, president of the Albemarle-based Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit that advocates against civil liberties violations, asked local officials to take a stand against unmanned drones last week.

Charlottesville listened.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, three councilors expressed interest in a resolution written by Whitehead that would ask Congress and the Virginia General Assembly to pass laws making information gathered by drone surveillance inadmissible in court, and prohibit attaching lethal and non-lethal weapons to the remote-controlled devices.

In a news release, Whitehead cited Federal Aviation Administration data that estimate there will be 30,000 domestic drones by 2020.

The council will vote on the resolution in February.

"Even though it's not an issue that is presenting itself today, the whole point of the letter from the Rutherford Institute was that it would really behoove us to get out in front of it and to get some policies and safeguards in place," said Councilor Dave Norris.

Mayor Satyendra Huja and Councilor Dede Smith agreed with Norris. Councilors Kathy Galvin and Kristin Szakos were less enthusiastic.

"I don't feel the need for the drone focus at this time," Galvin said. "It has not been something that has been brought to our attention by anybody until tonight."

The Albemarle Board of Supervisors has been sent Whitehead's resolution, but has not discussed it in open session. Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd said he is opposed to drone surveillance, but is not convinced the county should weigh in.

"I don't know how pressing it is because I don't know what the plans are for using drones on American citizens," he said. "I am opposed to that, but I am not one that thinks we need to be taking positions on ... issues that are not local."

Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker said drones will hit close to home.

"I think that I might be interested in taking a position on it because I think it is something that ultimately affects our citizens very directly," he said. "... I have not engaged in any kind of a study of this, or a discussion with anybody who has a different view, but my view going in is that the use of drones is something that should be limited."

Two bills in the General Assembly, one sponsored by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, and one sponsored by Sen. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, are aimed at regulating the use of the devices.

Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, proposed a third bill that would put a one-year moratorium on drone deployment if the other bills fail.

Whitehead said last week that getting legislation on the books now is critical. The federal government is trying to expand the use of drones, he said.

"What the localities can do is say they want the federal government to protect civil liberties," Whitehead said."Local governments can tell the government to enact civil liberties protections, because right now there are none."

Whitehead said the matter may not seem pressing, but is concerned that localities won't know to act until it is too late.

"The problem with drones is that the technology is moving so rapidly," he said. "It's going to be something we have never seen before. It's hard to anticipate what's coming."