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Bill to Regulate Drones Moves Forward

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A bill to regulate the use of drones in New Hampshire cleared a major hurdle Wednesday in the House.
 
Despite receiving a negative recommendation from the House Criminal Justice Committee, the bill overwhelmingly passed the House 250 to 114 and now heads to the Senate.

The measure lists more than a dozen regulations for drone use, like banning drones from within 250 feet of privately owned property and within 400 feet of "critical infrastructure."

But Republican John Burt of Goffstown argued the bill "isn't ready for prime time."

He said the legislation doesn't clearly spell out what counts as improper use of a drone, and that a $1,000 penalty is too high.

"And this could be your grandson or your granddaughter who is using a drone innocently. Even though they say there has to be an intent to break the law - who is the judge of that?," Burt asked his colleagues on the floor.

Supporters of the measure argued drones need to be regulated to ensure citizens’ privacy is protected. 

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