Police Drones and the Law: 4th Amendment, Federal Regulations & Emerging Issues

Police agencies across the country are rapidly expanding the use of drones for tactical operations, crime scene documentation, search and rescue, crash investigations, and proactive policing. At the same time, recent federal legislation has significantly changed the legal landscape by authorizing certain state and local agencies to engage in drone mitigation under limited circumstances, while courts continue to address the constitutional implications of aerial surveillance and emerging technologies.
This course examines the Fourth Amendment principles governing police drone operations, including curtilage, open fields, public observations, searches, warrants, and recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement. Participants will also receive an overview of the federal regulatory framework applicable to law enforcement drone programs, including FAA regulations and the SAFER SKIES Act, before exploring practical issues involving surveillance, tactical overwatch, residential reconnaissance, privacy concerns, and developing best practices for legally defensible drone operations.