Augusta, Georgia Approves Drone Ban Over Crowds

Augusta, Ga., has approved one of the region’s first local drone laws, which bans the unmanned aircraft from flying in areas where 100 or more people might gather.

Officials with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association knew of no local drone laws in Georgia besides the proposed Augusta ordinance, The Augusta Chronicle reported.

The Augusta Commission signed the ban into law March 30.

The new ordinance “provides a road map for other local communities to model,” as the Federal Aviation Administration threatens to pre-empt local regulation of unmanned aircraft systems, even at low altitudes, Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis said.

“I think Augusta has taken the lead on this issue for the state of Georgia,” he said.

The ban on drone flights applies only to areas where 100 or more people are gathered or could gather, such as large sporting event venues. It was passed in time for the one of the nation’s largest sporting events – The Masters golf championship – which is held annually in April in Augusta.

The ordinance also outlines permitted uses by public utilities and law enforcement, and it allows operators to apply for a special license with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to fly a drone over a crowd.

Augusta Commission member Bill Lockett had led a commission subcommittee that revised the ordinance.

“That shows how progressive we are,” Lockett said. “The whole nation is aware of the importance of implementing a drone policy.”

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